THE COLONG'S BUDGET.
(Continued from Page. 2.) The motor car is intended chiefly for the use of the Criminal In- vestigation Department and will save considerable expenditure now incurred in hiring cara."
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
Pablic. Works Recurrent This head has been recast in what is hoped will prove a more convenient form and is summarised of page : 754 |
Restoration of Votes: 'Under" "Other" · "Charges the principal increase is in-Capitation Grants. These were reduced from $117,930 in 1925 to $100,000
Those are mainly estimates for in 1926 and it is necessary to in crease them to $116,600 with the maintenance and minor improve return to more normal conditions ments, and recurrent expenditure In 1927. Provision has been mandouich na rainstorm and typhoon for increased, subsidies to en courage education in the Now Territories.
The last sub-head; Expenses of convoy systent $19,800 provides for the 50 machine guuners employed Under "Special Expenditure the Prior to the boycott in piracy pre-vote for Building Grants which had stood at $150,000 in each of vention work on the river steamers, The men are held in rondiness for the years 1924 and 1925 was the resumption of the convoy sy omitted entirely in 1926. It is tom and are meanwhile being considered essential to restore it used to supplement the Police in the 1927 Estimates and a sum Forco which is below strength of $100,000 Is provided. The in- crease in the equipment vote is owing to unfilled vacancies.
chiefly required to complete the equipment of the now King's Colfege.
Prisons.
Provision has been inserted for rent for quarters for European Warders. Owing to the insuffi... ciency of the Jail Quarters it is necessary to provide rented quar ters for married warders in close proximity to the Jail."
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1926.
Koch in the course of which much was sold on the need for improved methods of, dealing with heavy rainfalls.
It is hoped that the completion of these works with obviate the damage from floods in this area in future.
year, the gunboat to belloaned to this Government which would then undertake the cost of upkeep, fuelling and trained personnel.
The Volunteers The Scheme will depend for its success on the response made to a call for Volunteers and this call: cannot be made until the details have been more fully worked out. with the Naval Authorities. It la nat possible to make more than a very rough estimate of the annual In anticipation of the comple-cost, but it ist anticipated that $10,000 for the half year will be sufficient, and in view of the in portance attaching to this new proposal the Government fools justified in asking the Council to make provision for starting the Scheme next year.
The Government regrets that it damages. It is the considered is unable to proceed with the pro- opinion of the Government that posed new prison on the Kal Tak when economy and even retrench-Reclamation.
The July. Storma ment are necessary it is of the utmost importance to maintain existing roads and buildings in ation of the now prison repairs had state of complete repair and it been reduced to the minimum at has been observed that the sums Victoria Gaol and it has therefore voted under this Head have very became necessary to ask for
Another Sub-head, representing frequently been exceseed in the special vote this year. past. The amount expended in 1924 was $1,793,068, in 1925 the balance of the vote of $907,650 required to repair the damage done $1,574,481.
on Hongkong Island alone by the storm of July 10th last is a gentle reminder of the damage one night can do and of the need to hold in reserve some unallocated surplus balance to meet contingencies of this kind.
was
Tho Estimate for 1926- $1,199,700 and the actual expen- The total increase in the amount alture will probably be $1,880,000 provided for education amounts to $748,980 of which represents ex no loss than $235,488. The total penditure due to the great storm voto is however only $16,569 more on July 19th last. While it is not than the amount provided for 1925 possible to provide for such excup- and even in these days of retrench-tional catastrophes it is considered ment I do not think that Honour- able Members will grudge the restoration of the vote for this matter of vital importance to the future well being of the Colony.
- Public Works.
in
a wise precaution to provide for the full normal expenditure. The votes have therefore been generally increased and the total has been carried out at $1,540,000.
!
+
Improvements to Kowloon Point Medical Department.
are estinate of $50,000. This re-
In spite of the need for economy
presents one of the very few new
the Government has considered it
works of any magnitude provided discussion. The roadways outside necessary to make a considerable
for in the Estimates now under Public Works Extraordinary. the Star Ferry Wharf have proved fueranse in the personnel of the Medical Department in order to
This is the one Head of Expen- entirely inadequate to deal with With the curtafiment of the diture on which it is possible to the ever increasing traffic Safety safeguard effectively the all im- portant question of Public Health. amount of work for which the curtail expenditure in times of and convenience alike demand Provision is made for three new Government flnds itself able to Medical Officers one for the en-make provision next year it has difficulty without seriously early attention to this area and larged Victoria Hospital and to been possible to make a small pairing the general efficiency of the Government considers that im the administration of the healthprovements should no longer be Personal the assist at the Tung Wah Hospital reduction
works are of a special and extra- New Area Development. and one for the Kowloon Hos- Emolumenta vote for the Public and comfort of the people. The delayed. pital for which only one perman- Works Department. The amount ordinary nature and however de-
The markets provided for ander ent Medical Officer is at present provided may appear excessive forsirable such works may be they can other sub-heads are expected not
the work to be done but it must provided.
Provision is inserted for the be remembered that the staff of only be undertaken if money is only to assist in the development of new areas, but to bring in sub- first time for the staff of the a large Department cannot be ex- available to pay for them.
The policy of the, Government in stantial revenue. Peak Hospital, including five nure-panded and contracted in a moview of the inancial situation i Ing sisters. An Assistant Bac-ment.
The staff has only recently been to continue and so far as possible teriologlet is provided, for owing to the growth and importance of increased at grent trouble and ex- complete the large works to which the Bacteriological work; it is pense to deal with a very large the Colony in its very proper hoped that by this arrangement expenditure amounting in 1924 to policy of development found itself we shall in future be able not nearly $10,000,000 and in 1925 to committed when the crisis of last only to supply our own require nearly $11,000,000. At the mo ments in the matter of vacccines ment we find ourselves compelled and sera but also to supply outside to reduce this expenditure to requirements as well and that the something just over $6,000,000 savings and profits will more than but the Government is optimistic cover the cost of the additional enough to think that the time is not far distant when it will be possible to proceed with some of the postponed works and that it would be false economy to dis. perse the trained stall we have so laboriously collected together.
staff.
The only other matter, calling for special comment is the X-ray It was not plant, sub-head 43. possible to obtain the new plant this year and the, Government is advised that the amount provided in the current estimates was in adequate. The amount has there- foro been increased to $15,000 of which $10,000 is a révote.
year arose.
$85,000 for surfacing road to Kowloon Hospital is considered justified in view of the necessity for improving the means of access to the new Hospital.
The only important alteration under the head is the provision for
Volunteer. Corps The Government considers this necessary in order cloney of the Corps. to maintain and improve the eff
whole time: Adjutant for the
The Military. Contribution shows a reduction of $621,228 the one drop of cold comfort derived from
falling revenue.
Miscellaneous Services.. The Sub-head bathing placos. shows a small reduction justifiod. by past experience. I would obe serve at this point that it has not been found possible to includa in the 1027 Estimates any vote for Speelal Expenditure to carry out the
recommendations of the Bathing Beaches Committee. The report involven considerable In- véstigation and estimates could not be prepared in time for the Budget.
The various grants in aid of scientific and other institutions have been carefully revised and changes made where the circum stances appeared to justify them.
A small increase is shown as the result of certain amendments in Exhumations $39,000. The the Rent Allowance Scheme 'in- remove anomalies. area to be exhumed lies in the troduced to middle of an area in course of These have already received the Com- development and the work of ex-approval of the Finance humation can no longer be de-mittee. layed.
Charitable Services.. These like the service under the last head have been carefully reviewed the only alteration of importance is the increase in the vote for the Alice Memorial and Amliated Hospitals This Is In Laccordance with the request ex- pressed by our iate fellow member the Honourable Mr. P. H. Holyoak in the debute on the Budget last year. An increase in the vote for the present year has already re- ceived the approval of the Finance Committee.
A small vote is provided fo assist the Cheung Chau Kaifong in its work for the improvement of the amenities of Cheung Chau This brings me, Sir, to the close of my review of the Budget and I know that the Government can
The Government is fully aware. of the many works which in the opinion of the Public are desirable necessary and among
Provision is made for commen- and even these the Government places high on the list the rebuilding of the cing the filling in of two danger
and unhealthy swamps at Government Civil Hospital but ous. taken by an increase of There has been some difficulty these works could only be under-Tong Mi and Kowloon Tong. taxation or by barrowing. over the foundations of the walls the for the Waterboat Dock at Lai consideration After fall Government Is of opinion Chi Kok and it has been found Personal Emoluments.
that it is in the best interest of necessary to make provision for Considerable savings are how the Colony to reduce our commit-strengthening them..
The unsatisfactory matshed ever anticipated on the Personalments on large works and, while Emoluments Vote as it is intended maintaining what we have and used for the School at Cheung so far as possible to leave unfilled keeping our staff ready for action Chow was practically destroyed such vacancies as may occur dur-to postpone the initiation "of any by the last typhoon and it is neces As in the case of the Medicaling the year.
new policy of large public workssary to erect a proper School Department a due regard for the Opportunity has been taken to re-until the financial and political building-($40,000). Public has led the Government to provide an increase in the per-organize the wireless staff in the horizons are alike more favourable
Hope for the Future. light of our growing experience sonnel of the Sanitary Depart of this subject and at the same We are already committed by ment. The European Sanitary time to group under the Electrical necessity to starting down the Inspectors have therefore been in Department the wireless staff facile path of borrowing it would creased by one Senior and four working under the Electrical En-be easy to accelerate the pace but the Shing Mun Water Scheme rely on Honourable Members to 2nd Claas Inspectors while onegineer but lent to other Depart the Government could not recom- has Inspector has been transferred to the clorical staff leaving a Bettments. The new posts under staff lent to Police Department are to provide operators for new wire less equipment on Police Launches
Sanitary Department.',
increase of four.
Under Speetal Expenditure pro- vision is made for two more
and at Police Stations. Motor refuse lorries: motor
The Port Development Depart lorries have proved cheaper and more efficient than bullock carts ment has been re-absorbed into for the transport of refuse and the Public Works Department the policy of replacing the anti-under the supervision of the quated bullock cart by the motor Director of Public Works and the lorry is being pursued.
The cost of the refuse barge pro- vided in the last Estimates will fall to be paid in 1927 and a revote is therefore provided. Botanical & Forestry Department. The only items calling for special comment are first that it after. is proposed to fill the post of tion Assistant Superintendent which has been left vacant for some time as a "measure of retrenchment and secondly that provision has been made for extending the Forestry
Education.
Reserve a: Tal Po
The subject of Education is one to which Your Excellency has devoted much personal attention since your return to the Colony last year, and the importance which the Government attaches. to it is reflected in the increased pro- yislen made in the Estimiantes' for next year. It will be remembered that drastic reductions were made last year in anticipation of re duced attendance.
This anticipation has happily. not been realized and the Depart ment consequently, finds itself seriously understaffed. The whole of the teaching staff as regards its numbers, its elassification and its salaries has been passed under review. with 'esultant changed too numerous and detailed for re capitulation here. I shall be happy. to deal la Committee. with any points which may be raised. The net result is an increase in the Personal Emoluments vote just over one lakh, which provides for a total increase of 80 in the staff of whom 13. temporary mistresses were formerly paid for from say- Ings and were not shown in the Dstimates.
$15,000 is to provide. a very necessary means of communica- tion along a difficult portion of the Frontier.
It will be noticed that
for the moment dis- give to it that careful attention, appeared from the Estimates, which the Importance of the sub- for reasons which I have already ject demands. The Government The loan proposala expects and welcomes criticism of explained. will in due course be laid before its proposals, knowing that the Unofficial Members are at one with you in their appropriate form,
itself in working for the common good of the Colony.
Inherent Vitality.
I must apologize to Honourable
mead so dangerous a policy at the moment. We have every reason; especially in view of the events of the last few days, to hope that the horizon will clear, and when the
Kowloon-Canton "Railway, Colony is flourishing again, as we
The policy of the Government is are sure it will, the revenue will in- crease, opportunities for favour to maintain the Railway in the able borrowing will arise and the highest state of efficiency so that Government will be prepared to it will be ready to take full ad- Members for the length and 1. separate post of Port Engineer start again on the forward policy vantage of that re-opening of fear, the dullness of my remarks. has been abolished--the holder which is for the moment held in through traffic which we hope will It has been difficult to restrict them take place at an early date. The within a reasonable contpalaj: "and" now on leave being transferred to abeyance,
In pursuance of this policy the Railway, owing to circumstances, for their dreariness I must plead the post of Manager, Railway, which will shortly fall vacant.
expenditure on Public Works. Ex-outside our control has proved an my lack of personal knowledge Port Development.
traordinary has been reduced to expensive luxury during the cur-due to a very abort residence-have This change has been made $3,706.264, itself no mean figure rent year but it would be very and to a pressure of work which
the fullest
considera for a Colony of the size of Hong- false economy to allow it to de-has prevented me from obtaining that close personal acquaintance by His Excellency kong, as against a probible expen- teriorate. is satisfied not
The earnings of the Railway de-with places and people which is so only ditare this year of nearly six mil-
pend on the state of South China eminently desirable. So far as the that in the present state of the lion dollars.
The Fire Brigade.
and until South China is once more Estimates themselves are concern- Colony's finances the continuance of a separate Port Development
This year' will, it is hoped, noe in a state of peace and prosperity ed, apart from the manner of their Department would be unjustifiable the completion of the Fire Brigads the revenue derived from the Rail-presentment to Council, my own but also that the Port Development Station, the now cells at the Magis way must inevitably aufer: As shortcomings are; I am works are in this Colony so closelytracy, the extension of the Sisters you are aware the Fanling-Sha Honourable Members will agree, interconnected with works falling Quarters at the Government Civil Tau Kok Branch has been re-open more than counterbalanced by the under the Public Works Depart Hospital, King's College, the Ven-ed and provision is made for its unrivalled knowledge of the Colony ment as to make it necessary in tris Road Quarters, the Quarry maintenance and running expenses: and the intense personal interest! the interests of efficiency to bring Bay School, the Kowloon Hospital, Naval Reserve, with which Your Excellency has them all under the same control. the Shek Lai Pul Reservoir, and
Defence is divided up into the supervised their preperation. Provision has been made under connected works, the Pipers Hill sections,- Port Development for one new tem Reservoir and various roads and porary Engineer to carry out the Police Quarters. The details of survey of the Harbour, the noces the works to be undertaken this sity for which was recently repre- year are given in the printed Es- timates. The only new works to sented to the Finance Commities.
which I think special reference should be made are:
who
Government Garages
The Resumption Office has been Sub-heads 5 and 6 Garages are shown as a separate branch of the considered necessary for the pros Public Works Department. ductions amounting to $26,559 have been found possible under Other Charges owing to the ro duction in the amount of the work to be undertaken.,
Re-tection of Government vehicles
(A) Volonteer Defence Corps, (B) Royal Naval Volunteer Re serve and
Bure,
I opened my remarks, Sir, on a note of optimism and I would close. them on a similar note, but I cannot close them without expressing my indebtedness to the Assistant (C). Military Contribution.
Colonial Secretaries and to the staff With the first and the last of the Colonial Secretary's Honourable Members are already office for their ablo and willing familiar. The second is now, nesistance which have gone far to though the Gounell may recollect lighten, the burden of preparing that earlier in the year is Excel the Estimates, always a consider community when the question or the Colonial Sceretary is now to and to save depreciation of Gov-lency met members of the business able task and particularly so when
Naval Volunteers for Hongkong the Colony. ernment property.
was raised, "UNIOR!
A sober, optimism as I have re- The matter has been carefully marked before is justified by the gone into with the Naval Author present outlook. We do not pro ties in Hongkong who are of tend that the Colony has not auf- opinion that the NavA Volunteers fered from the machinations of its would be of great assistance both enemies, but it is not the desert to them and to the Colony in times island, its detractors would like the is practicable, K
think that the Budget now pres of emergency, and that the scheme world to believe; and, I venture to The Admiralty have bron askod seated is one among other proofs If one gunbont of the "Lasect" of the inherent vitality of this im bors to the recent debate on a class could be sent out to Hong-portant British Colony (Ap motion by the Honourable Dr. kong about the middle of next plause),
Other Sub-heads are for the im- provement of roads, some of them dangerous, which it is considered: unwise to postpone.
Provision has been made ander
Flood Prevention. Special Expenditure for equipping
Items on which it is hoped to Government Garages and Work shops ($8,000) with a view to spend no less than $288,000, next economy in the cost of repairs year are all connected with and for three new motor cars, one scheme for preventing the constant
for Kowloon and two for Victoria. flooding of the Happy Valley urea. Rapidity of transport in a modern In this connection I would invite necessity and it is cheaper to pro- the attention of Honourable Mom- vido Government cars than to pay the cost of hiring.
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