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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN-It was lumped in with the estimate for Miscellaneous Services.
HON. MR. HEWETT-If it is a definite vote, I think it should be put in as a definite vote, and not under Miscellaneous Services.
Small Stores Transport
500 4,000
B.--FIRE BRIGADE.
Clothing
100
1,000 300
Coal and Oil-Fuel Light
$19,950
THE CHAIRMAN-If you look on page 39 of the Estimates for next year you will
THE CHAIRMAN-There are various see the vote there. This is a special vote
items here. The first is simply due to the this year to Mr. Austen Chamberlain's
increased cost of coal which is consider- endowment fund. The ordinary contribuably higher than when the Estimates were tion is £100.
HON. MR. HEWETT--I thought you were wrong in your Miscellaneous Account and you asked for this vote.
THE CHAIRMAN-This vote is for the special endowment fund.
Harbour Master's Department The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $445.20 in aid of the following votes:-
E. Gunpowder Depôt :.
+
1. Personal Emoluments, 4
Indian Police Constables $358.84 2.- Other Charges, Uniform
for Constables
86.36
$445.20
Total
THE CHAIRMAN-This is merely a transfer from the Police to the Harbour Department for extra constables and certain other charges in connection with them at the depot at Green Island. It is a vote which has to be taken because it is to be charged against the Harbour Master's Department and not the Police.
Police and Fire Brigade
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $19,950 in aid of the following votes:—
Police and Prison Departments. A. POLICE.
Coal for Barracks
$ 1,000
Furniture
Incidental Expenses
350 1,200
Launches and Boats: -Stores
1,500
Passages, and Bonuses in lieu
of Passages
10,000
drawn up.
Under Furniture $350: cer- tain accidents occurred which made it quite clear that every police station should have a medicine chest, and this sum has been expended in getting those medicine chests, containing certain simple things for first aid. Incidental Expenses, $1,200 : Most of this is caused by having to pay house rent for married men, as 11 ດ quarters are yet avail- able. They are being built. Item 4 has simply been under-estimated and resti- fied. Item 5 is a large sum, due to more recruits being engaged from England and more married men going home on leave. If you wish, I will ask the Captain Superintendent to explain. I understand before they do not go on leave, under the regulations they get a bonus.
THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE--Police who don't go on leave get a bonus of three months' pay
estimate be made of it?
HON. MR. HEWETT--Couldn't a closer
THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE-An extra number of men came out this year.
HON. MR. HEWETT-Don't you think it would be much more advisable for the men to go home on leave instead of taking the bonus? I think the police work very hard indeed, all sorts of hours and night and day, and they cannot have much pleasure. Therefore, it seems to me most desirable that men like the police and sanitary inspectors should be compelled to go home instead of drawing three months' pay and remaining in the Colony, else there is no break in the monotony. By going home and getting braced up they will prove better servants to the Colony.
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE-I agree with you.
HON. MR. HEWETT-1 very much deprecate allowing these public servants drawing their bonus and remaining in the Colony. I think they ought to be com- pelled to go home when their leave is due. I know that one or two firms, and one of the biggest in the Colony, make it a rule that their clerks must leave the Colony at least three weeks in every year. I only throw this out as a suggestion for future guidance.
THE CHAIRMAN-The point you have raised will be considered.
HON. MR. HEWETT-With all due deference, I think it is worth considering, as I think you will get better public servants if you compel your men to take a holiday.
THE CHAIRMAN-The item, Small Stores $500, is due to an increase in the establishment of the Police Force. The item Transport $4,000, is due to a larger number of deportees being sent to their native country, and the transport of police from one station to another. Fire Brigade clothing, $100, is due to changes of fire- men through transfers. The item, Coal and Oil Fuel $1,000, is due to more coal and oil fuel being used for instruction of motor drivers and engineers. The item, Light $300, is due to the installation of fans at No. 5 Station,
West River Flood Relief Fund
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $50,000 in aid of the vote
124
Miscellaneous Services, West River Floo586
Relief Fund.
THE CHAIRMAN--This has already been brought before the Council, but the actual payment of the sum has not yet been authorised.
Printing and Stationery
The Governor recommended the Counoil to vote a sum of Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) in aid of the following votes:- Miscellaneous Services.
1. Printing and Binding Mis-
cellaneous 2. Stationery
Total.......
$7,000
8,000
$15,000
THE CHAIRMAN There has been a great deal of extra printing this year, not only due to the war- proclamations have entailed a great deal of extra printing but in con- nection with the Imports and Exports Department (the Opium Monopoly), Education Department (Examination papers) and Post Office also, and this sum represents what is required to pay the Government Printer at the contract rate.
The second item, for stationery, is to meet the Crown Agents' account for the second half year for indents amount- There are certain indenta ing to 8577. for the Gaol Department which caused au excess in the vote. I think it is quite obvious that the vote is under-estimated. The whole question of the amount re- quired for stationery has been gone into lately, and we hope to effect certain econo- mies, and the vote for next year has been cut down accordingly.