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policies in this Colony. These policies are, I understand. cashed by the relatives of decease! Chinese, and no probate duty is paid. That is a matter I think which deserves looking into, and steps should be taken by the Government not defrauded of that they are 560 any revenue in that direction. It is a small thing, still I am gratifled to learn that your Excellency has decided to discontinue felling trees. I was one of those most strongly opposcil to the policy inaugurated by Sir Matthew Nathan and Sir Henry May which resulted in
; vast tracts of land being denuded annually. The only excuse for it was that we made a trumpery revenue out of the trausaction. It was pointed out by those who supported this policy that
you could not plaut 09 frees until you had pulled down the old ones, but that did not seem a particularly
With sound form of argument.
regard to the public buildings. I made a note at the time of your Excellency's speech, sud the remarks I made in connection with the Post Office were not fully reported in Hansard. Your Excellency spoke of the advisability of naking a thoroughly good building while you wore about it, or what you called a building for the future. The consegnence is that part of the Post Office is at present empty, and it is j suggested to rent that part. The unofficial members entirely endorse the policy of building for the future, but they do not endorse the policy that the Government should compete with private owners by taking in tenants when there are vacant buildings elsewhere. Turu- ing to the question of expenditure, there is a small increase in the cost of the local audit, and from what we understand it is desir able at the change be made, as it will have a good effect. The vote of $2,000 to the Medical Congress is not a large sum, and we fully en- dorse the vote. We feel confident that medical meetings held here must result in the great im- povement of the general health of the Far East. Comine now to the question of the University, your Excellency has asked us to agree to vote * sum of $9,000 for a professor's chair. That mesta with our entire approval, and we would suggest that at the earliest moment it is desir- able that the Government should appoint a regins professorship at a cost which we estimate of £,200, or a little more. Any time your Ex- cellency asks us to vote this amount, I am quite sure the nuofficial members will gladly support it. The Police is of course, a matter which con- Santly attrac's our attention, and is forfu a'ely at times very severely criticised. We, of course, entirely approve of the slight increase in the Force which your Excellency asked for. I do not propose to say more. I have run a big polles forze myself and know the difficulties in dealing with such affairs in Asiatic countries, and perhaps the hon. member oppo-ite will not take it hardly if I ask that the police exercise proper control over chair coolies and ricsha coolies. Co respo douce has passed between us on the subject during the last few da s, and I trust that the steps now being taken may re-ult in better regulation of that part of the traffle. I now come to the Innaio Asylum, and I am glad to hear your Excellency has that matter under consideration. It was a question which I intended to bring up at this meeting. We can- not but consider that considerab e improvement might be made in that direction. As a tem- porary housing for lunatics the building is ap- parently all that could be desired. Some of the unofficial members before making criticisms on the asylum thought it would be advisable to again visit the plece, and we did so, the P.C.M.O. being good enough to show us over it. As far as the Chinese are concerned, they are kept hero for a short time, and their accommodation and
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housing is the best poss bla." The only sugges tion we have to make in that direction is that they should be sent at more frequent intervals to Canton so as to reduce their stay in Hong- kong. With regard to the European section, in our opin it is entirely inadequate for the purpose. It is so constructed that there is practically no means for any of the unfortunate women in abitants to have any exorcise at all except in a sitting room. The men have a small yard which is shut in by high walls and they see practically nothing. The women have a view of the harbour from the verandah, but none of the inmates have any work to do and there is no means of getting work. Wo consider that this is a utter that should be changed, as if Europeans be put into that building it is in. deed a case of all hope abandon ye who enter here." There is no possibility of anyone with a weak miud recovering after entering a place like that. We are glad to know that your Excellency has the matter under consideration, and trust to be informed of what steps you propose to take. There are two solutions to the question. Que is that the site, which is a valuable one, be disposed of and a building erected higher up the hill or on the maiuland with more ample grounds where the inmates, if they pleased to do so, might engage in agricultor 1 pursuits. The alternative would be to treat the Europeans as the Chinese are, that is to say, return them to their native land at the expenso of the Hongkong Government, and have arrangements made with asylums in Europe, America and elsewhere, where they could be treated in larger establishments with others of their own nationality, Your Excellency spoke at considera' le length on the question of educa- tion, and as for as that goes we bave nothing but praise to offer. All the stops taken by Government for improving the educational facilities of the Colony are extremely satisfactory, especially the im- provement made by preventing overcrowding in the lower classes, these classes being increas. ed with a view to earning increased capitation grants. The formation of a board of control to overlook all Chinese primary schools and bring them to a uniform standard cannot but be considered of very great good. We have heard a good deal lately of compulsory educa tion. Personally. I hink it is impossible to bring about such a scheme in Hongkong and I do not think it is necessary, because all Chinese, even of the lower classes, bave an ion that the best they must give their children education falling within their reach. That an Educational Board may in time be required is quite possible, and we will welcome any sugges
ion from your Excellency on that point, as we feel sure it will be of great assistance to the Head of the Education Department. As it is, we spend not more than about 24 per cent. of our total revenue en education. Therefore, we are perfectly prepared to suppert your Excellency in respect of any reasonable in- crease in this direction which you may think it desirable to recommend, I now come to the question of Public Works. The first point referred to by your Excellency was the iyphoon refuge. I am informed, and from inquiries made, have reason to believe that my i formation is correct, that the work of dumping stene into the trench, although it bas not altogether come to a standstill, is certainly not carried on સ rapidly as it should be The original estimate for the work was $1,900,000 and the present estimate of cost is $2,300 000. I think I am right in saying wo were informed that the work wuld be complet- ed in five years. At the end of this year (bree years will have passed, and less than a million will have been spent. From what I have learned} outside, and I think my information can be Ferified, the contracter, who had every
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