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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
THURSDAY,
BUDGET DEBATE IN COUNCIL.
(Continued from Page 1.) encouraged to use the hospital, will give greater satisfaction to the pub- lic, with whose money it was that the hospital was built in celebr tion of Her Majesty Quee Victoria's jubilee.
The increased use being made of the services of locally trained pro- bationer nurses is welcome, for not only are these nurses doing very useful work, but this will in time be the means of spreading a knowledge of Western medicine and hygiene throughout South China.
Water Supply.
1.
the well-being and progress of the Colony. It is therefore especially gratifying to find that to-day tho Unofficial Members have been happy to leave the expression of their collective views on the Budget in the hands of the Senior hehalf, I want to thank him for Chinese, Member and, on their the able way in which he has presented them.
THE HON. DR. KOTEWALL.
Plen On Behalf Of Education,
Press.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1927.
Government as a legitimate charge land sales of 1923 and putting tinual watch on the position and in- un the revenue. While I recognise them on the basis of 1926, .c.vestigate generally: One of the that a limit must be set to auch $286,312, which on the present troubles would appear to be the grants owing to the need for scono estimates is a high figure, the various profits which are made from my, I venture to hope that the Gor-actual position between 1906 and the time foodstuffs arrive in the ernment will consider special applic- 1908 as compared with 1923, our Colony until they reach the ultim ations in a sympathetic and liberal record year, and 1926 is most ato consumer. spirit, for any action tending to illuminating, because the figures made to bring the retail consumer Efforts might be retard the natural expansion of a show a loss of revenue for the into more direct contact with the school which is doing good work year 1908 of $930,804, whilst for supplier. It must be borne in would be a retrogressive step, to the year 1926 only $449,726, or mind that the facilities and induce- be much deplored.
$481,076. favourable to the year 1926 by ments for spending money have the year 1920 and the year 1926 that the residents of the Colony are The position between much increased in recent years, also is too obvious even for comparison. living at a standard of luxury hard- ly contemplated fifteen or twenty
welcome
years ago,
quisite.
I have noted with particular in-
My senior Chinese colleague and I note with satisfaction that $10,000 has been provided in the Estimates for the purchase of water-meters for Kowloon. This is
Strength of Resources, news in that the popular demand,
Such a state of affairs after hitherto made by the Chinese with-
I note it has been found necessary to detail an officer specially to look out result, is now being met, if only the trying and difficult years The Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall to a partial extent. We raised the through which this Colony has after the accounting and financial said: Vehicular Ferry,
I Sir-The task of presenting the question last year, and it is passed when disrupting clements work of the Supreme Court."
have done everything in their have difficulty in understanding this In connexion with the Estimate views of the Chinese community on gratifying to us to find that our r of the Public Works Department we
the Budget has fallen on the this presentations have borne fruit. power to ruin it, can only be a necessity because in years past On behalf of the Directors of the matter for mutual congratulation when the business of the Courts was. should like to refer to the scheme year, and my senior Chinese col-Tung Wah and Kwong Wah Hos- and outstanding evidence of the greater than it now is, no such pro- for a vehicular ferry. We hope league desires me to say that he that the matter will not be lost associates himself with all the views! Pitals, we beg to thank your Ex-great strength of its resources and vision was made or considered re-
cellency for having sanctioned the the stability of Ita constitution. sight of, and we await with interest and sentiments I am about to ex-payment of the cost of free burials Secretary has, in the course of his The Honourable the Colonial the report we understand the Gov.
Malaria and Health. carried out by those two institu- ernment will publish when the mated Taxes," which appears on page keenly sonsible of the sympathetic Your Excellency, to finance certain terest the provision which is being
Arising out of the item "Assess- tions. The Chinese community is speech, intimated the policy of ter has been fully considered.
6 of the draft Estimates, I beg to bring to your Excellency's notice takes in their welfare.
interest which your Excellency schemes of general public utility made to deal with malaria, and in- coming under the category of Pub-structing the villagers in sanitation sent method of valuation under the an anomaly which exists in the pre-
I must not conclude, sir, without lic Works Extraordinary, by loans and hygiene. Unquestionably in Rating Ordinance. This is to be associating the Chinese community secured on the public revenue of the past the ravages of malaria have
with the congratulations as well as
this Colony. This policy although robbed the Colony of an immensa owner of scen in some cases in which the the assurance of loyalty and sup- not new to the Colony is exceptional, amount of manpower, so great that house has to pay a larger sum
a partially occupie
port tendered by the Honourable as the previous policy has been, to it is impossible to value it in money, for the rates for one quarter than the troublous times through which diture out of current revenue.
Senior Unofficial Member. During meet, as far as possible, all expen- therefore, no effort is too great to the rents he receives for one month.
deal with this scourge. Bound up the Colony has passed, the commun- Whilst it cannot be denied that it with malaria and other diseases are The payment for rates is altogether ity has been greatly hearten- is unfair to make the present gen- sanitation and hygiene in our vil out of proportion to the rents reed by the practical sympathy shown eration pay for the advantages lages; because, cleanliness and care ceived; and I submit that the Or- by His Majesty's Government on which posterity will reap the most in the villages will go a long way dinance should be so amended as to give the Assessor discretionary ty
more than one occasion. The loyal advantage of, nevertheless in the to eradicate malaria. power, which he has not at present,
which the Chinese feel present condition of the Colony's to make a special valuation in these
Lowards the Government is finances, the utmost care should be cases. Happily, such cases are few, equalled by the loyalty they exercised in embarking on now but where they exist, they consti-
feel for your Excellency per- schemes, confining them as far as tute an obvious injustice.
sonally. The patience, judgment possible to essential requirements, and untiring zeal which you have as against luxuries. School Fee Increases,
displayed in governing the Colony in these extremely difficult times The item "Public School Fees" have won the respect, admiration page 0 shows an increase and. I may say, affection of the $67,000. When comment people. Your example has been an Ing upon this increase
in inspiration to us all--an inspiration speech at the last meet- which has steeled us against ing of this Council, the Hon. adversity, and renewed our faith in Colonial Secretary characterised it the future. (Applause). as "a small increase." and said that it could not be considered a seri ous burden. I agree that the sum is small when it is spread over the whole population, or when it is com- pared with the amount spent on education by the Government. But to those individuals who have chil.
Another important public, work which has had to stand over is in- creased water supply. We note that a Sessional paper will shortly be issued on the proposed Aberdeen Reservoir. If this was the one re- ferred to during the Budget debate nearly a year ago as having an es- timated capacity of 200 million gallons, we cannot think that this will do much towards meeting the growing needs of the island as it would increase our storage capa: city by less than 10 per cent. At that debate your Excellency stated that you hoped before long to lay on the table of this Council "a se9- sional paper giving very full in- formation on every aspect of our water supply problém, and furnish- ing all the data necessary for for- mulating our future policy in this respect," and that a Commis sion would be appointed to study it. The importance of an adequate sup-. ply of fresh water for the island of Hongkong and Kowloon cannot be over emphasized and we trust, sir, that this sessional paper will not be unduly delayed.
Aerodrome.
The proposal to build an acro-
drome, to which your Excellency alluded in your speech at the last
||
on
of
his
HON. MR. W. E. L. SHENTON.
:
A Général Review. The Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton said: Your Excellency, In your apeech introducing the estimates which are now before us, you have directed general attention, to a
Caution Advisable.
In this connexion advantage might be gained from an examina- tion of our financial position for the past five years by comparing our revenue against our expenditure, leaving out of our calculations (for reasons I have already stated) the revenue obtained from land sales. In the year 1922, the surplus was $1,000,258.33, the year 1923 shows à deficit of $276,939.36, the year 1924 a deficit of $4,426,024.58, the year 1925 a deficit of $5,592,689, the year 1926 a deficit of $2,679,469, the year 1927 an estimated deficit. including land sales, of $1,787,305
Under public works recurrent, the Honourable Colonial Secretary has dealt with the maintenance of bridges, and the upkeep of our splendid roads. I would, however, like to draw the Honourable Colonial Secretary's attention to the fact that the Taipo bridge, which: is in the main line of traffic, has been demolished for something like two years and during the whole of that period, there has only been a temporary wooden bridge, capable of carrying light motor traffic. For all practical purposes the posi tion to-day is the same as after the " demolition of the bridge two years ago.
From a perusal of the estimates. it would appear that whilst a small increase is expected in business and commercial transactions, a substan- tial increase in immigration from China may be looked for.
I note
births and deaths may be exepected
At the end of the year 1928 on to increase by fifty per cent. the the present basis of figures it would public executioner's fees are ex-
the year 1920, we shall be faced our present liquid assets. Assuming tent. the present conditions prevail for
with having to exercise more rigid economy or look for fresh sources care cannot be exercised in em- of taxation, therefore, too much
British Products.
A careful consideration of the
dron to educate, particularly to meeting of this Counell, affords thuse of the working classes earn- retrospect of this Colony's history and the year 1928 an estimated de- that whilst the fees for marriage pleasing evidence that the Colony ing from $30 to $100 a month, the for the past thirty years-a period ficit, including land sales, of licences and the registration of is keeping fully abreast of the additional fee would be a very seri- of great interest, not only to the $2,079.655. times, When the aerodrome is completed Hongkong will have anlonged trade depression, with the who are concerned in any manner ous burden indeed. Hit by the pro-residents of this Colony, but to all important new asset, and will take the cost of living steadily rising, its place as a link in the chain of these people already find it hard to in the Far East. Unquestionably. I appear that we shall have used up/pected to increase to a similar ex- airways with which the Imperial make both ends meet; and many closely followed in many parts of Government is binding the Empire parents of large families are not a
Your Excellency's review will be yet closer together. The commun-
little exercised in their minds as to the world. No resident of this ity's satisfaction with the prospect how they are to keep their children Colony could have listened to or of this new acquisition to our com. mercial and social amenities is in at school wher: the increase Lakes read Your Excellency's survey of
details of expenditure of the various tion that several steam launches, creased by the knowledge that the effect. One inevitable result would events and figures without a feel-
departments, reveals the informa Secretary of State for the Colonies be that a large number of children ing of satisfaction as to the stable barking on new enterprises.
motor boats, motor cura
and has proposed that the Imperial school earlier than they would and a sense of pride in its con- would have to be withdrawn from basis on which this Colony rests,
machinery are to be purchased in Government shall bear three-quar
the coming year, and it is to be ters of the cost, and the Colony one- otherwise be to the detriment of tinuous prosperity in the face of themselves and, consequently, of
all adversities. Your Excellency We are, however, fortunate in hoped that the selection will be quarter. It is sincerely to be hoped
ambitious programme confined to those of British manu- Society. that this proposal will receive the
Representations, couch has referred to three set bucks in that the approval of His Majesty's Governed in the most earnest terms, from this Colony's career during the which was undertaken in the past, facture and if construction is call- ed for or production possible in all classes of the Chinese commun- period under review, but a close will, I understand, have been com- ity, praying that the Government scrutiny of the figures goes to picted and paid for out of revenue this Colory preference will as far We as possible be given to this Colony. may see its way to reconsider its show that although we are at by the end of the year 1928. decision, have been made to my
present experiencing a time of must not be forgetful of the fact Similar principles might with au senior Chinese colleague and my commercial depression, neverthe-that those responsible in the past vantage be adopted by all Govern- self; and we feel bound to supt art less its resources are stronger have handed down to us an inherit- ment Departments as well as by this request.
ance almost unencumbered, a posi-private concerns in this Colony as than they have ever been.
concerns require The years which Your Excel-tion possibly unique, and posterity our industrial
will have every right to look to us special assistance in these times. lency has chosen by way of com-
We for a similar stewardship.
Kowloon Matters. parison are:-
must also bear in mind that poster.
ment.
Concluding Remarks. "Before concluding, Sir, I wish to express our entire agreement with the sound policy you are pursuing in husbanding the financial re- sources of the Colony while at the same time pushing ahead essential publie work that can be undertaken without undue financial strain. Hongkong to-day, with all its trou- bles, is still one of the greatest ports in the world, and may look to re- gain the premier position one day. A Colony like this cannot stand still, for to stop is to go back. Hongkong does not intend to go The vitality it has shown in face of every trial in recent years more than justifies our faith in the Your Excellency has re- ferred to the wonderful results that can be achieved when Britons and
back.
future.
dollars: it
Your
point.
spent by us on education was of
#
1906 as compared with 1908. 1918 as compared with 1920. 1923 as compared with, 1926.
of 1908
revenue
was
$7,035,011 and for 1908 $6,104,207, difference of $530,804. The revenue for 1918 was $18,665,248 and for 1920 $14,689,671, a dif- ference
of
Judicious Borrowing.
Confidence Wanted.
will
Not in Terms of Dollars. Heavy as our expenditure on edu- cation is, I respectfully submit that
ity may have legitimate claims for I desire, on behalf of the Kowloon money so spent by the State should
borrowing, or circumstances may Residents' Association, to draw not be regarded as a strictly busi-
arise in the future, as in the past, Your Excellency's attention to two The ness investment, such as, for exam- plc, money spent on a railway,
which may call for claims on the matters Bathing facilities and the Colony's credit, consequently, it Star Ferry Kowloon approach road. when the outlay must be commen surate with the direct return ex-
would be undesirable to borrow, up As to the question of bathing I notice that the Gev- dealt with by the Bathing Beach pected. The value of State educa-
to the full extent of the Colony's facilities, this matter has been fully. The resources. $3,975,577.
ernment has not confined its bor-Committee, and estimates prepared tion cannot be assessed in terms of in many ways analo-
revenue for 1923 was $24,788,762 and for 1926 $21,131,681, a differ- rowings to money in the past, for in connexion with their Report. gous to the governmental policy in
on page 66 of the estimates (item The Association, whilst appreciat- regard to Public Health.
ence of $3,652,181. The land sales for 1996 were $412,941.53, for 1908 19) I, find we have borrowed aing fully the general financial posi Excellency has been even more pre- cise in stressing the
$69,358.19, for 1918 $299,289.23, mechanical device, now in operation tion, so ably elucidated by the at the junction between Des Voeux Honourable Colonial Secretary, $556,849, for 1920 Chinese collaborate in the develop-When replying to the unofficial
for 1923 Rond Central and Pedder Street, hopes that Your Excellency
be able ment of a 'country. An example of members during the Budget de- $3,488,797 and for 1926 $286,342.
to see
your this is to be seen in the present bate last year, you said that money Land sales, if I may be permit for keeping the public of the Colony will
way, year by year, to al splendid co-operation between the
ted to say so, should not be taken presumably in the right path.
locate money in this direction, in- British and Chinese sections of the the utmost value to British inter- into consideration when calculat
creasing the amount as conditions Kowloon-Canton Railway. The ests in China, and you further ex-ing this Colony's revenue, as they
The period through which the improve. Whilst I am informed by Colony needs only loyalty and co-
pressed your agreement with the vary according to the whim of the
are a varying Colony has now passed has been a people who are able to speak with operation which were displayed by Chinese unofficial members when speculator and
very difficult one for every busi personal knowledge, that in this all sections of the community in the they said that they did not grudge factor over which there is no con-
the expenditure..
trol.. Large revenue from land nesa porcern, and though we ap- Colony far more has been done by face of the big crises of 1925 to make it invincible against all at-
sales unfortunately indicates pear happily to have turned the the Government to assist public.
corner, and there are signs of bet-bathing than in Shanghai, Singa tempts to check its progress; and
either trouble in China or an un- we can assure you, Sir, with all
healthy financial condition in this ter times, nevertheless a very con- pore, Colombo and many other bo places, nevertheless one should not confidence, that you can count
Colony. It must also be borne in siderable improvement upon the same measure of loyalty
mind that by reason of the large required, before the former position lose sight of the fact that sea bath- Is again reached. At the present Ing in this Colony has increased in and co-operation in that future to
reclamation schemes now in course of development, the demand for it cannot be denied we are chiefly popularity enormously in the last fast hope and unshaken faith.
ditions in China, but there is, never and hygiene, and is, therefore, of theless. general all-round want general benefit to the Colony. It HON. MR. D. G. M. BERNARD.
of confidence, which is assisting to should not be forgotten that a.largo. stagnate every market. Every proportion of the bathing public, Co-Operation With Chinese. and the bad effect which the in- For the purpose of my argueffort, whether by legislation or by is, for various reasons, without The Hon. Mr. D. G. M. Bernard, crease will have on the community ment, therefore, I propose to re-individual effort to restore the old motor transport or matsheds. said: As the Senior European through a setback to education. duce the revenue from land sales confidence and re-establish institu- As regards the Star Ferry Kow- Unofficial Member of this Council, it will at once be apparent that the during the year 1923 to a normal tions and concerns to their former loon approach road, the congestion I wish to associate my colleagues balance weighs heavily in favour basis, and for the purpose of position, should be the aim and obat most times of the day is appall and myself with the address which of postponement.
demonstration I shall adopt theject on all sides. has just been delivered by the
year 1926, and the position, there Senior Unofficial Member. This
fore, is that the difference in is the first occasion on which the There is a further matter in con- revenue between 1900 and 1908
A matter of great concern and views of the Unofficial Members nexion with education, to which I was $930,804, between 1918 and undoubted importance, is the con- have been presented by a Chinese desire to call attention. The Hon. 1920.33,075,577 and between 1923 tinually rising cost of living in this Member, and I wish to take the Colonial Secretary, in his speech at and 1926, after deducting the land Colony. It affects everyone, but opportunity of congratulating my the last meeting of this Council, sales of the year 1923 and adding more so that large body of essen- I further desire, on behalf of the honourable friend on the able warned non-Government schools re the land sales of the year 1926, tial residents, who are employees, Kowloon Tong Residents' Associa-" manner in which he has performed ceiving grants under the Grant $449,726.
We,
consequently, and without whom the Colony can- tion, to draw Your Excellency's at- this very important duty.
Code, that in future a limit arrive at this conclusion that, not not exist. This matter should retention to their request for a In his concluding remarks he must .be fixed for granta withstanding the fact that revenue ceive speciál, consideration and it market. There are now 200 com- drew attention to the necessity of under the Code; and that in 1923 was about three and a half might be possible to hold a represen-pleted houses and the remainder co-operation between British and expansions involving claime beyond times as great as the revenue in tative Inquiry to ascertain, if pos- will, I believe, be completed next Chinese which I think is generally, the amount provided in the Estim-1908, and the expenditure even sible, Its causes, also to appoint a year. This scheme provides homes recognized as being cascutial for ates would not be admitted by the greater, after deducting the large permanent official to keep a con- for a section of our community
(Continued on Page-11.).
Since these utterances were made, nothing has occurred to justify a change of policy on the part of the Government."
I would therefore respectfully but. strongly urge your Excellency, to postpone enforcement of your decision until times are.
which we are looking with stead-better. If this small financial Crown Land is likely to be restrict- auffering from the disturbed con- few years-that it makes for health
gain is placed against the ed for some time to come: hardship to the people who will be unable to bear the extra burden,
Grants-In-Aid.
Favourable Comparisons..
Cost of Living.
ing and the Association Have pre- pored and submitted to Your Ex- cellency an elaborate scheme, which it hopes will meet with Your Ex- celleney's approval.
+
Kowloon Tong Market.