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ing our railway with the Canton-Hankow line, and nothing that can be done will be left undone in that connection. The Honourable Director of Public Works has
new
nswered the next two questions raised. There is a project for building a Queen's Statue wharf, but it would be a considerable and expensive undertaking and hon. members will perhaps agree that it might stand over for the present. The clock on the station tower at Kowloon is A small matter, and if bon, members press it and are willing to vote the funds next year no doubt we could get a clock. The cost would be about £450, The Saiying- pun School report, to which the hun. mem- ber representing the Justices of the Peace referred, condemned the site of this school. It is cramped and crowded in by a large number of buildings. The only real remedy is to remove the school altogether. That is an expensive and rather difficult project. Crown land in that vicinity is, very scarce. It is a matter which will doubtless come one of these days, but, in the meantime I do not see any immediate remedy. I am not aware that any increase of crime has taken place in Yaumati urban and district.. It is partly an -partly a rural district, and attention has been called to the need of greater police I will go protection more than once. into the matter with the Captain Super- intendent of Police and see if any addi- -tional protection is really required. As regards the site of the Imports and Ex- ,ports Office, I do not see how that can be moved. First of all it is necessary for quick and expeditious work that it should 'be adjacent to the Harbour Office. It is particularly well situated for dealing with the large junk traffic, and it is not far removed from the principal offices of the European shipping firms. I really do Dot think that we could find
a much
more convenient site, and I am afraid we shall have to adhere to this one, as we 1 have already made arrangements for chair building on it. With regard to coulies and wet weather, it is a difficult problem. Even in London before the war the Police authorities there found at practically impossible to make cab- fdrivers keep to their stands in very wet weather. You can remember yourselves the difficulty, when coming out of a theatre on a wet night, of getting a hackney coach of any description. The only real remedy is to in- CINES! the chair coolie slo.lers,
We have provided Bome, and I will consult the Captain Superintendent of Police to see if anything more can be done. In conclusion, I wish to congratu. late the hon. member who spoke upon the estimates upon his very lucid and very clear statement of criticism.
Hou. Mr. POLLOCK-I want to make my point clear about the Prays East. It is not only undesirable that the boat- people should dig about in the mud, but it is very undesirable from the public point of view that they should eat the shell-fish they get.
HIS EXCELLENCY-They seem to thrive, pon it.
Hon. Mr. PoLLOCK Some do, but we only see those who are left.
HIS EXCELLENCY-There is the question of public right.
Hoa, Mr. POLLOCK We might get over that I think the Hon. Attorney- General will agree that it might be dis posed of.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Is it really worth while creating a new offence and interfer- ing with these people! As far as I can zemember the Colony I have seen these people dig for shell-fish and it does not Reem to result in any epidemic or any outbreak of disease or serious incon- venience. I think it would be better to wait until the foreshore is covered with cement and stone and brick
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-The hon. men- ber who retired from the Council to-day was very strong on this point, and regarded it as a bad thing that the boat-I people should eat these shell-fish.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I will make enquiries from the sanitary point of view and see if our medical records show anything in these things that might prejudice public health.
The Bill was then read a second time. The Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and, on Council resuming,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the Bill be read a third time.
The COLONIAL TREASURER Seconded, and the Bill was then read a third time and passed.
The Council adjourned sine dic.
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