I
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1933
HONG KONG S
FINANCES
HIS
of his leave of absence which may, as we earnestly hope, restore "him to such a state of health as may induce him to accede to the very urgent wish of the Chinese community that he should remain In his post for a few more years. Mr. Wood being only 49, the pro- longation of his service for a few raore years would not be an undue obstacle to the advancement of
his junior colleagues, while it would be to the best interests of the Colony,.
EXCELLENCY'S REVIEW
(Continued from Page 6.)
I strongly endorse his remarks, for a malaria outbreak of a serious nature in Shing Mun Valley would delay the completion of the works, which should on no
|
THE HON. DR. S. W. TSO
The Hon. Dr. S. W. Tso said:-
THE HON; D.PW
Your Excellency: My Hon. Col- The Hon. leagues the senior Unofficial Mem- | Works:
Director of Public For PERFECT COOKING
ber and the Senior Chinese Mém- Sir, I propose to reply to the ber having respectively, fully and observations of Honourable Mem- ably represented the collective op-bers which refer particularly to inion of the Unofficial Members works under the control of the and joint views of the Chinese Public Works Department Members on the Budget, there re mains little for me to say except that I wish to associate myself with the remarks and observations- which they have made in The
their
mead this suggestion to the con-eyidence of any complacency on sideration of the Government. my part in regard to our increas
The honourable, senior unofficial ing cost of administration. member has stressed the necessity
increase has been steady and enor- for anti-malarial measures to be
mous during the last several years, adopted at the Shing Mun water- and I view it with grave, concern works.
and apprehension. Let us Com pare the actual expenditure of the year 1928 with the estimated ex- panditure for next year, exclusive of Public Works Extraordinary. take the year 1926 because it was a year of trade depression some- what similar to, although not as severe as the one we are under- going. The total expenditure for 'that year was $18,804,715, while that for 1934 is estimated to be 329,750.745. The increase is $10,- 946,030, or much as 58 per cent. in only eight years! The time has certainly come when a halt should be called to this increasing ex- penditure, especially when the Colony is passing through a trade depression of unprecedented sever
speeches.
However, I should like to make a few remarks on the following matters in which, I may say, I take
a personal interest
CENTRAL BRITISH -
SCHOOL SITE,
The preparation of a new site for the Central British School was put in, hand as soon as wa possible after the Board of Educa- tion had signified its' concurrence in September, 1932 As, the new
with that body with Department,
Under Harbour Special Expenditure, on page 28, again appears the item “Training Expenses, for Assistant Govern- ment Marine. Surveyor in Eng- land." The amount required in 1934 is $7,880. In connection with the Budget for the year 1932, the honourable senior unofficial mem- ber, on behalf of the whole un- official body, said that the system of training" men after they had been engaged, in order to qualify them for their work, seemed to be one that was open to con- demnation, and that it was not only uneconomical but did not conduce to efficiency. He further uxpressed the hope that in future only properly qualified men would be engaged. I have been unable to trace any reply by the Govern- "THPreto, this comment.
system 15 certainly expensive. costing the Colony from nearly $8.000 to $9,000, according to the rate of exchange ruling at the rime, to give training to one single Assistant Government Marine Surveyor. If there is good reason for this expenditure, that reason should. I submit. be given to this Council,
account be permitted when we are still suffering from annually recurring water shortage. The possibility I have mentioned is by no means remote, for it might be recalled that when the Kowloon- Canton Railway was being con- structed, an outbreak of malaria at Shatin, Valley considerably imped-, ed the progress of the work.
· GOVERNMENT. HOUSE In regard to the new Govern-
having examined the proposal in ment House, the Chinese members,
all its aspects; acquiesce in abandonment
of
the
the present-ity. house and site, and the location I cannot agree with the opinion of the new house at Magazine expressed in certain quarters that Gap. In view of the distance of Hong Kong is still lightly taxed the new site from town, I would, as compared with other countries, suggest that, when the Governor
and that additional taxation is moves into his new residence, the inevitable in the no distant future. Governor's Book may be deposited It is to be devoutly hoped that the at the Colonial Secretary's Office Government will not regard this for the convenience of the public.opinion as representing the senti- The matter may seem trivial, but ment of the public. The public, in reality it means a great deal or a preponderant majority of it, to the large number of people who is opposed to any new. Impasts: it call to sign the Governor's Book, simply cannot bear them Exper- as a mark of respect to the head ience has shown that there is a of the Government. I may men- limit to the taxable capacity of tion that my unofficial colleagues the people. beyond which revenue,
instead of gaining, support my suggestion.
suffer Hong Kong has, I verily believe, reached that limit. Only two years
the Government made ago thorough revision of all" license and other fees, and introduced many new forms
taxation, Office | which, have affected all classes of the community, directly and in- directly, If, therefore, future Bud- gets had to be balanced, the public would expect this to be effected by economy in administrative "ex-i penditure rather than by increase ed taxation." con- THE DEPRESSION-OPTIMISM
NEEDED
The honourable senior unofficial member, on behalf of his unoff cial colleagues, has expressed sa- On page 5 of the draft Estim-tisfaction that some concessions ares provision is made. for the in the method of computation for expenses of the Juvenile Offenders Military Contribution has been Remand Home. In connection secured from
War the with this matter, may I enquire through the Secretary State for the Colonies. An examination of Appendix II on page 107 of the draft Estimates has revealed that the total saving to the Colony by these concessions is only $118,105, an amount by no means substantial,
of
when we
of
will
2
sider that the Colony has still to pay as much as nearly $5,000, As I have said, the Colony is
economic 000 in 1934. There are apparent-suffering from an
de- equalled in its ly some other savings, according pression never
a
The Hon. The Colonial Secretarysite included the portion of land offered to and accepted by the in his speech, drew the attention
Church Missionary Society for the of Hon. Members to the new grade
re-erection of the New Victoria of 3 Sub-Inspectors in the Canton- ese. Contingent. under Head 20 Home and Orphanage, it was first Police Department. it was hoped necessary to re-open negotiations to recruit for these posts roung
view. to men of education who will after their accepting an alternative a few years' training, ce competent site. It will also be appreciated to take their place in Commissioned that before tenders for site 'pre- ranks. I fully agree to the crea-paration could be invited, it was tion of these new posts. It is a necessary to make a contour sur- policy in the right direction. It vey of the area and prepare the opens a way for the better class necessary schedule of quantities. of Chinese to take an interest in the Police Work. As The Hon. Colonial Secretary says in his spee- Police Force must grow ch our with the time. If some Commis- the Cantonese aloned Officers of Contingent be Chinese. It will be a saving in the personal emolu- ments of the Police Department.
But turning to Head 20 in the Estimates I was surprised to find that the emolument provided for these new posts is nothing better than that of a Junior Chinese Clerk of the sixth class. I consider the pay is too meagre to induce men of education to take up such
better
the
a responsible post. I may say that the Chinese Company of the Police Reserve ́ls a good recruiting ground fer, the type of men wanted. But
Inducement unless
and brighter propects are offered, it will be difficult to secure the pro- per type of men for these posts.
Under Head 22 of the Estimates provision is made to take over The Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital next year by the Medical Department, I should like to point out here that this hospital is, situated in poorest district in the Colony. It Is a boon to the people living there because of its nearness to their homes and it saves them the ex- penses of conveyance. in case of sickness if the hospital were situated at a cistance. The various clinics carried on by the hospital such as the baby clinic, ante-natal clinic and the treatment of woman liseases and the V-D clinic were initiated by the late Dr. Mrs. Hick- ing whose energy and hard work- ing were unsurpassing. It was en- tirely due to her that the hospital was so successfully carried on and her memory will never be forgotten by those who associated with her In her work.
I am now expressing a hope that hese clinics may continue to be carried on either in the Tsan Yuk somewhere else close to the lo-
when the Juvenile Court will ecm- mence to function? The Juvenile Offenders Ordinance "was passed as long ago as the 11th February. 1932, and it would be of interest to know what are the causes which have held up the implementation of this very necessary legislation. CHINESE POLICE CONTINGENT
The Hon, Colonial Secretary in his Budget speech invited atten- tion to the new grade of Sub- to certain remarks of the Hon. history. It was bad enough in Inspector in the Chinese Police Colonial Secretary: but the the years 1925 and 1928, when the Contingent, and said that it was amount is cot disclosed. Mr. economic and financial fabrics hoped "to recruit for these posts Tratman at the last meeting of of the Colony were shaken to their young men of good education who
this Council said that "in addition very foundations by the General will, after a few years probation to relieving the annual expendi- Strike and Boycott directed from ary training, be competent to fake ture the concessións should also Canton. But at that time it w their place in the commissioned release a certain portion of the only trade with the neighbouring ranks." He went on to say that lability under this head which provinces that we lost for a while: Whitherto recruitment has
Suspense. Account we still did a fairly large volume. only appears. As a been of men who, however off- in the financial statement." A" of business with other countries cient they may bein
state which were than enjoying varying other reference to the financial
the respects, are not the type that ment on. page 109 of draft degrees of prosperity. To-day the
economic depression 13 makes Assistant Superintendents." Estimates shows that the sum of
world It is a matter of gratification to $076.752.27 is entered against Sus-wide, and consequently our trade the Chinese community that this pense Account. It is, I submit, a with many countries has greatly important opening has been made matter of importance to the public diminished, and with certain ot- to the Chinese. It is our hope to know how much of this sum hers almost stopped. Though I have enjoyed during the last ten
future, and belief that sufficient qualified represents concessions from the am optimistic of the candidates will be forthcoming, War Office in respect of Military think it nevertheless imprydens and that the appointments will Contribution.
co delude ourselves with the belief HON, MR. T. N. CHAU prove themselves worthy of these
that the downward course of our Mr. T. N. Chзu said:- positions of greater responsibili-
trade has touched the lowest level. Bir-As my two Chinese collea- ths now offered to the Chinese
or that its present condition will guer have dealt with the Budget community for the first time in
not continue for some time. Any so fully, it only remains for me to the history of Hong Kong.
unwise action on the part of the express concurrence in their "re- Government in the way of taxa- marks. There is, however, a sub- tion would therefore impair our ject about which, because of its chance of recovery. Fortunately great importance to the Chinese for the Colony, the present Budget | community, I should like to say clearly indicates that Your Excell- a few words in addition to the ency is of the same mind.
observations of the senior-Chinese If the present careful and en- member, I refer to “Assessed lightened policy of the Govern-Taxes" commonly called "Ratea."
cality as may be conveniently ar- ranged: so that the poor of the Western District may continue to receive the benefits which they
Iyears,
I now deal with a subject which the honourable senior unofficial member has delegated to me. The Hon. Colonial Secretary in his Budget speech pointed out what he considered to be drawbacks in the allocation of Cadet Officers and clerical officers to individual departments instead of showing them under what he called Gen. Btaff, and he proceeded to give an illustration of the obfuscation to which the system was said to have given rise. I respectfully zubmit | that the illustration is not sum- the least doubt that Hong Kong, cient reason for a reversion to the with its geographical and other unsatisfactory system of lumping advantages, would be among those salaries under 'Omnibus' heads countries first to recover from the which, "wheri in vogue a few years general depression, There are. ago. gave the public no idea of however, not wanting a Class
Changes in the personnel of the ly,the number is small-who each floor, and of allowing a re- administration are bound to occur believe that Hong Kong will nev- { fund of rates only when the whols after the preparation of the an- ex regain its former prosperity, house is vacant, is one that is While I am still on the subject nual Estimates, but it should not and, who go about heminaning to clearly inequitable. It does not of Public Works Extraordinary, be very difficult for the acccounts all and sundry their diamal fore→ seem to be fair that rates should
Under Public Works Extraordin- ary on page 104 appears the item "Dredging," the estimated cost of which is $320,000, and the provi- sion made for next year is $224,000, In the Notes ON Public Works Extraordinary prepared by the Hon, Director of Public Works it is stated that a portion of this cost will be borne by the Admiral- ty and the Hong Kong & Kow- loon Wharf & Godown Co., Ltd., As the sum involved is large, it would interest the public to know the respective amounts of the con- tributions from these two sources. NORTH POINT BATHING
FACILITIES,
;
CROSS HARBOUR PIPE. As stated by Sir Cecil Clementi in 1929 the construction of this type of cross harbour pipe was in the nature of an experiment, and it was essential that its behaviour should be carefully watched, before the second taking a decision on line. The experience. now gained is being kept in view in enquiries at present being made in England in connection with the second pipe
It will not be possible to com plete the second pipe line and contingent works by the end of 1934, but, provided that no radical change is made in the design, it. is anticipated that it will be com- pleted by the middle of 1935.
DREDGING
The sum of $320,000 shown li the Draft Estimates 1934
fot dredging is the estimated net cost of this Government's share in the scheme. The contributions of the Admiralty and the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. will be based on a similar unit cost to that used in comput- ing the proportion chargeable to the Colony."
P.W:D, CONTRACT NO. 55-~
OF 1929.
This "contract was for the all- ing in of areas north-west of Nan Chang Street and west of Taipo Road. Instructions to commence work were given to the Contrac- tor on the 28th October, 1929, and the completion date under the Contract was 27th April, 1931.
On account of work additional
and the contract,
changes which the Contractor was obliged to make in truck lines, road cross- inga etc.-owing to the building of houses over areas the lines had originally been laid On which
-a six months extension granted, making the completion date 27th October, 1931,
to
Later, as certain truck lines had to be entirely removed, the Con- tract, which was started with a large amount of rolling stock, had to be completed by lorry, and on this ground the completion date was further extended to 31st May, 1932.
The work was completed on the 28th November, 1932, and a fine of $1,820.00 ($70 Der week. as pro- vided for in the Contract) was im- posed for the 26 weeks from the 31st May to 28th November, 1932. (Continued on Page 0.)
ment were continued, I have not The recent request of the Hong SHANGHAI LOSE
Kong and Kowloon Property Own- ers Association for a change in the method of assessment seems to me to deserve serious and sym- päthetic consideration. The pre- sent system of assessing tenement |
AGAIN
what any one department spent. of people though fortunate houses by the house instead of by But Sandy Malcolm
INCREASING COST OF ADMINISTRATION
Scores!
máy I take this opportunity to ex- | to, be adjusted at the-Treasury. | bodings. Such people do infinite be required to be paid in respect Interporters come and Interporters press, on behalf of the Chinese The views of the unofficial mem- harm to the Colony in these days of a floor that is vacant, and go, but Sandy Malcolm will be with us Community, our grateful thanks bers have always been that the when investors are holding tight from which no rent has been re-forever. His very presence on any to Your Excellency for the sym-estimates of each department their purse-strings, and financiers ceived Nor is the system econó- Breen seems to all the place with an air of cheerfulness strangely foreign pathetic manner in which you should embody as far as possible are pursuing a policy of more mically sound, for it has the ten- to Hong Kong, and the way in which have dealt with the petition to | all- expenses-personal emolu than ordinary" caution. I should dency of compelling landlords, as he runs after bis woods and talks to allow the existing bathing payil-ment, other charges and special like to see evinced a greater spirit has been pointed out by the sea them mast be unique, not only in ions at North Point to remain expenditure-chargeable to that of optimism in my fellow-citis for Chinese member, to close the Hong Kong, but in the whole of the where they are. Though Your department, and they are glad eng a greater faith in the Colony whole house when there are two lawn bowl world. Excellency was unable to grant that these views have the sup and its future. Only a week ago or more floora vacant, in order to the request in toto; you have pe port of the Government Auditor we read in the Press the hearten- enable them to obtain a refund mitted the pavillong to remain un- who commented on the subject in ing words of Mr. Neville Chamber- of rates. This may have the til the beach is required by the his report, for the year. 1930. ́. lain, who is not a man given to effect of spreading the population, Government for public purposes.
making extravagant slatements, but in these days of extreme com- This concession is much appre
that Great Britain was seeing the mercial depression, the sight of ciated by the public, and is proof
beginning of a permanent advance entirely empty houses dotted of Your Excellency's solicitude for I 1oin with the honourable sen-
and progress, and that she could about all over the town, does not the welfare of the community.
jor unofficial member in express look forward to the future with conduce, to a restoration of con- My colleagues and I realise that ing satisfaction that Your Ex- every conndence, for the unturn adence, so essential to our econo sooner or later these pavilions cellency has not found it necessary was definite and continuing stead-mic recovery. I sincerely hope will have to move elsewhere, and to resort to fresh taxation. There fly. These good signs have not that the Government will accede We also cannot think of any more are some people who expected even yet manifested themselves here, to the request of the petitioners, sultable, site than the Baiwan a reduction of taxation, but per- but knowing Hong Kong as I do and I venture to believe that if Beach contemplated by the Gov-sonally I cannot see how the Goy--Its-natural advantages. Its re- the concession is made, the re ernment. We hope, however, that|ernment could have taken off anymarkable resiliency, the peace and ↑ venue will not suffer, since many before giving notice to the bathing taxes yielding substantial revenue security it affords the people, ita of the houses now entirely race it clubs definitely to move from without having to sacrifice some good government, and the policy will be at least partially occupied North Point, the Government will of the essential public works or of justice and tolerance which and rates will be payable in re- | the shot and match. have a motor-road, sufficiently essential public services. That characterises Your Excellency's spect of such partial occupation. The teams were wide for buses, constructed from there is no fresh taxation is in administration-I am conndent The proposed method of Rasvis- Shaukiwan to Saiwan Beach, If itself a blessing for which we that this Colony will have its ment might be treated as an ex- . Hong Kong funds permit this, new motor- should all be thankful in these share in the recovery of interna-periment which could be abandon-J.'8. ogen road could, with advantage, be days of shrinkage in public and tional trade and prosperity, which ed in favour of the old method In A. Macfarlane extended so as to link up with private Incomes.
a trom all indications are at 1st case the revenue were found to H. B. Muskett the Bhaukiwan-Bheko road at Big I hope, however, that no ons: returning a sorely stricken have materially suffered by the W. V. Field Wave Bay. I respectfully com-will construe these remarks as world.
change.
soored
a fivé in
Those who went to watch the game between Shanghai and the Second Division of the Lawn Bowls League at the H. E C. ground yesterday wero given an excellent time by Sandy who was in great form. The Northerners lost, but it must be conceded that Hong Kong had what luck that was
Hong Kong fourth head but apart from that there was no other beavy scoring though there were thrills galore. The score at the last head was 20-18 in favour of Hong Kong, and when the Shanghai skip was about to send his last wood down, they were lying one. His drive, however, took the "jack" but failed to achieve its object and gave Hong Kong
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