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Council
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LEPIEJ TM
question which the hon. member pui at an earlier stage of this meeting. In regard to the same subject the Government a speedily as possible is marking out land in the Ho Mun Tiu district and hope very shortly to come to some arrangement with the parties uterested in the building of a geriam number of houses there. It is also marking out land at Kowloon Tong and Brrangements there are being advanced as Speedy as possible. I think the grant of cheap land and easy communication will very largely solve the housing difficulty. It was found in the recent allotment of money Shut the large majority of the applicante were men of straw who had no possible Becurity to give. Their only suggestion was that the Government should provide the houses for which they should pay some $25 nonth. Only one has made a definite proposition and he has been given, very cheap land at Fanling and an advance of half the cost of his house.
The hon, member has learnt with astonishment that no steps have been taken to proceed with the proposed tramway to Wanchai Gap. 1, for my part, bear this statement with astonishment, because the unofficial members, who are members of the Public Works Comunittes of this Council, advised that it should be left out. I would mention that a rough survey has been prepared and a very rough estimate of the Cost is two lakhs, without taking into account motive power of any description. We might take power from the long- kong Electric Company. One reason why it got going on is that sites at Wauchar Gap are being opened up by the new road.
One of the reasons for the Wanchai Gap Tramway. was
the inadequacy of the present tramway to the Peak. We are negotiating with the Peak Tramway Company to bring the tram down to Queen's Road and to enlarge the cars to carry nearly double the number of people they now carry. I hope the arrangements made will not necessitate any large increase in fares.
In non. Mr. POLLOCK-1 should like to Ask When the uzonçisi mempers said they Alu ve yunt the tram to wanɛbal Gap.
A.. THE GOVERNUR-During
absence, i think, Mr. Tullock.
your
đi được UNIAL BEETAki—the hon, mono- þer also rujoryou to omary land in Nathan Hoau, Kowloon, and expressed the hope that were would be nearly co-opera- tion between the mulary and Government
tual mutler. We can assure him
Ou
on that point. The project generally is that the military should go over to the other side and that they should give up that area wong Nathan Road, known as Whitfield buriacks; that the European troops should be accommodated at Gun Club Hill and King's Park, leaving the golf course intact and that native troops should be to the north and east of Kowloon city. It is hoped that we may be able to take over the military hospital and that a new hospital for the minary would be built on one of those hills directly west of the Cement Works. The smoke nu.sauce will have to be abated. With regard to the U.S.R.U., it is suggested that this should be on the site of the presont parade ground at Whitfield.
These pro- posals are, of course, purely tentative,
The Fraya Basi Metiamation is being pushed on as quickly as possible. The pro. minary work is very heavy and two engi neers are devoting their whole time to the En Lter. As soon as figures are ready tenders will be called for. The hon. mem. ber has expressed the hope that, in order to assist the Kai Tack Reclamation scheme, the Kowloon East ferry service and
the motor-bus service should be pushed on. As, regards the ferry service, tenders are being caled for this week. As regards the motor-bus service, we have referred the proposed schedule and rates to the Kowloon Residents' Association and we are merely waiting till they have given us their views.
The non. member suggested appointing a Committee to discuss and report on teasibility of the Naval Wireless Station Stonecutters being used for commercial parpusese and in this connection 1 may refer also to the remarks made by the mem- htt
representing the Chamber of Com- merce. The matter has been fully dis- cussed and it will serve no useful pur- puso to go into it again. It has been pointed out that the station is not powerful enough and the system on which it is run is not fitted for commercial work in the ordinary seuse. With regard to the general question I have here the report of the Imperial Wireless Committee, 1919-20, which considered the whole subject of wire 168 telegraphy throughout the British Empire. It is apparent to everybody we caunot stand alone. We must have stationa Junked up in order to get our messages through to England.
the
read
The COLONIAL SECRETARY then several extracts from the report to the effect that stations not more than 2,000 miles apart were recommended, a commencement to be made with the chain cnding in Hong- kong.
The Hon. Mr. HOLYOAK-I have read the report very carefully myself. What I wish to emphasise is that we must have a station and we must have it at the earliest possible moment. This morning's paper reports wireless messages between Bordeaux and Shanghai and New York and Manila.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In reply to Mr. Lau Chu-pak on the question of the hawkers am astonished that Mr. Holyoak has expressed his sympathy with the hon. member's remarks. I am surprised because Mr. Holyoak has also stated that Hong- kong has not begun to realise that there is such a thing as moter-traffic. The ques- tion of hawkers is primarily one of traffic contro, and of good order and cleanliness. It is admittedly difficult for the Government to state exactly the number required in the puse interest before they transgress into a publio nuisance. They admittedly squat with their stalls all about the thorough- fares and litter the place with refuse and add very considerably to the labours of the Sanitary Department in scavenging. They insist on selling their wares in pro hibited areas and geñorally obstruct traffic. Anyone who has been through western Victoria or Yaumati will agree. We have waged incessant warfare to get the streets reasonably clear and I submit it is unfair that we should bo asked to issue licences indiscriminately and then put on extra Polico to chase them from pillar to post. The Government estimates a revenue of $28,000 oil 7,000 licences, as against 9,000 in the present year. It is not proposed to reduce the numbers by taking away licences; all hawkers who now have licences will have them renewed and if there are more than 7,000 applicants for renewal, licenses will be renewed accordingly. Licenses will also be given to 1:0 applicants in special cases, but they will not be granted to all and sundry. It is not proved that be. cause a license is refused to a person he immediately becomes a criminal bus it is true in many cases that a hawker takes
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