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ments on this side. Since that time an energetic policy has been pursued and there has been a remarkable development in the road improvement between here and Deepwater Bay, upon which, on behalf of the unofficial members. I beg to tender heartiest congratulations to the Government. In the Estimates for the year 1919 I do not notice any reference to the road from the Dairy Farm to Aber- deen Dock, a part of which is still very dangerous. I hope in the coming year it will be possible to provide such inprove nents as will make the whole of that road in good condition. We hope, also, that Kennedy Road will be open to motor-cars, or, if the whole of it cannot be opened, that at least the first part of it will in view of the fact that very shortly it will be the terminus of the Peak Tramway for some months to come.
at
I come now, sir, to consideration of Charitable Services" and the grants-in- aid to charitable institutions, and I would suggest, sir, that votes towards the Alice Memorial and Affiliated Hospitals be increased from $300 to $1,000. The Hos pital is doing excellent work, and is in need of funds, and in view of the work it is doing, I submit that it should receive larger support than it gets from this
Government.
F was somewhat astonished to find $15.000 allocated in the Estimates to Ger- man charitable institutions, That can only refer, I presume, to the fact that it is intended to carry on work which was taken Over from German institutions such as the Hildesheim Mission for the Blind and the Berlin Foundling House. If this be the case I am amazed that the Government should use the word Ger- muan in connection with it, seeing how offensive that word is to all right-think- ing persons. It would have been better to describe the money as going in sup- port of charitable institutions taken over from Germaus.
My last criticism is in respect to the Widows and Orphans' Fund. I think the Government must be aware of the ex- treme dissatisfaction that seems to exist throughout the Civil Service in connee- tion with this Fund, and therefore I am sure it will be prepared to deal sympathe- tically with what have to say.
As far as I can make out from the Estimates, the sum of $53,000 was estimated as the revenue, and the outgoings were placed at $27.000, which leaves a profit for the year 1919 of $26,000. That. 1 presume,
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it is intended to use as revenue. As far as I am aware this Fund began in 1891. Four per cent. was taken from the salaries of all Civil Servants and six per cent, was added by the Government. In 1908, by order of the Secretary of State, the Fund was taken over by the Govern- ment and administered, and since that time six per cent. has not been credited to the Fund.
My statements are open to correction. I mention these matters because I have had deputation after de putation during the last six months, and if the Government is not aware of the great dissatisfaction and the great suspi cion that exists in connection with the administration of the Fund the sooner it recognises it the better. The contention, apparently, is that, if the original funds had not been taken over by the Govern- ment, by this time the compulsory deduc tions enforced and the six per cent. Government addition would have grown now to something like a million dollars or over, and that therefore the pensions to individuals would be on a very much higher ratio than at present. the fact that a bachelor has to pay into there is a very considerable grievance at this Fund, willy nilly, and if he dies a bachelor he regains no part of what has been compulsorily taken. I submit that is a gross injustice.
Further.
On behalf of the Civil Servants 1 ask for a full statement and explanation of the pre- sent position, which seems to me to call for a very full investigation. If the needs require a revaluation of the Fund a Committee of Inquiry should be formed to revise the whole matter.
Hos. Mr. HO FOOK---Sir, | rise 10 endorse the remarks of the hon. member representing the Chamber of Commerce in reference to the Saivingpun School and the salary of its Headmaster. wish at the same time to touch upon the question of vernacular education in this Colony. At the beginning of 1917, in order to meet a long-felt and much-needed want, the Confucian Society, supported by the generosity of certain Chinese gentlemen, opened a number of free Chinese schools in different parts of the Colony for the education of the children of those who would otherwise be unable. through poverty, to send them to school. Mr. Lau Chu-pak, in his capacity as President of the Society, represented the
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Lake power to require them to furnish security for their future good behaviour, or, in default, to quit the Colony.
I am glad, sir, that in your Budget speech you expressed appreciation of the good work done by the Police Reserve in supervising the search of passengers' Since baggage at the various wharves. they were put on this work some five months ago on the recommendation of a Committee on which I had the honour to serve. not a single complaint of squeeze against the searchers has come to notice. On behalf of my Chinese colleague and myself as representing the Chinese community I desire here to re- eord our grateful thanks.
matter to the Government, and asked that the schools be brought under the Grant-in-aid scheme. Although the re- presentation was made as far back as March, 1917, i am sorry that no provi- sion for this very necessary expenditure has been made in the Estimates now be jore us.
It is no exaggeration to say that the children of the Chinese labour- ing class to-day have smaller chances of receiving even an elementary education in their own language than those of a ude or so ago when, as some of you may remember, the Government inain- Lained a number of free Chinese schools. There must be thousands of children here whose fathers belong to this class, and who are British-born subjects, and the State owes them the duty of giving them HON. MR. H. W. BIRD wish to fully at least an elementary vernacular educa associate myself with the words which tion so as to enable them to become useful have fallen from my colleagues, and to members of society.
I am, therefore, join in the congratulations to the Gov- strongly of the opinion, which, I know.ernment on the budget which is now before is shared by the leading members of the Chinese community, that the Government should re-establish free vernacular schools, and assist those free Chinese schools, which owe their existence to private enterprise, by bringing them under the Grant-in-aid scheme. If it is now too late to make provision for the latter in the Estimates for next year, I suggest that a supplementary vote be taken as soon as possible.
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I propose to make a few further re- marks, which the other Unofficial members may or may not agree with, on several mat- ters which I consider of great importance. I regret to see that the Government pro- poses to spend $24,000 on additions to the Lunatic Asylum a building which is Why totally unsuited for its purpose. these premises and the Government Civil Hospital have not been pulled down years ago is a mystery that I cannot explain. Roth these buildings are a standing dis Arising out of the consideration of the
grace to the Colony, and I urge the Gov- estimated expenditure under Law and ernment immediately to take in hand the Order," I desire to make some suggest- formation of a site for the erection of ions for the suppression of serious crimes
#11] up-to-date hospital and attendant in the Colony. Murders, armed rob. buildings which will be worthy of the beries, cutting and wounding, and bur Colony for years to come.
I have sug- glaries seem to be on the increase, and I gested a site at Kennedy Town which, think that the number of such offences together with the large lot to the east- can best be reduced by stronger measures.
ward at present occupied as a timber It being taken to prevent, the smuggling of yard, presents great possibilities. arms into Hongkong and the unlawful would be easily accessible for stretcher possession of deadly weapons. Some mea-
cases by motor-ambulance, which means of sure of success might be achieved in this conveyance ought, to my mind, to be direction if notices in English and adopted even for the present hospital Chinese, warning passengers against in-for out-patients by tram, and harbour cases by launch. Before making my suggestions fringements of the Arms Ordinance, were
I consulted a well-known doctor who has posted up on board the steamers calling at this port. I have no doubt that owners and agents of such steamers would gladly co-operate with the Government in this matter. In the case of persons who are known to the Authorities to be undesirables and without regular employ ment, but who cannot for want of evid- ence be deported, the Government might
had long connection with a hospital, and the only objection he could see to the scheme was the fact that the slaughter- house was close at hand. I submit that that building could easily be located else- where. If, however, the Government will not look with approval on this sugges- tion, I have another to make, viz., that when Morrison Hill is cut down to pro-