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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Diocesan Boys' School are in a position to make a commencement next year with their new buildings in Kowloon, it will be neces- sary to ask this Council for a further vote.
The Volunteer Defence Corps The Volunteer expenditure, on page 74. is reduced from $71,481 to $38,359, owing mainly to the large falling off in the mem- bership of the local forces which has result- ed from the re-introduction of the volun tary system. A considerable falling off was, of course, to be anticipated when the ystein of compulsory service was abandon. ed, but it must be confessed that the re- cruiting for the new volunteer force has been disappointing.
P.W.D. Salaries
The question of the salaries of the Public Works Department European Staff has not yet been settled, and the estimates show the old rates with the addition of the temporary allowance of 20 per cent. which was granted pending revision.
Under the Correspondence Sub-depart ment, at page 76, provision is made for an Office Assistant, a post rendered necessary by the constantly increasing work.
Public Works Recurrent, at page 80, shows a normal increase, from $785,600 to $840,600, due to the growth of the Colony.
Railway Expenditure
The recurrent Railway expenditure has increased from $420,167 to $515,998, owing mainly to increase in salaries. The Rail- way employs a large number of men who came under the strike award. Provision is
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pensions have been increased by 25 per cent., pending reconsideration of the rates generally.
Public Works Programme
The programme for Public Works Extra- ordinary, shown at page 82, has been fully considered by the Public Works Committee of this Council.
Under item 3 a sum of $500,000 is pro- vided for Officers' Quarters. The policy of housing Public Officers has been approved by this Council, and the money now asked for is required in connection with the development of the Homestead and Pavi- lions sites where six or perhaps seven houses and six flats are to be erected, and also for four houses on Findlay Road and one house on Barker Road.
With regard to item 5, it is proposed to build on the site between the Central Market and the sea a large six-storeyed building to house the Fire Brigade, the Chinese Affairs, the Secretariat for Imports and Exports Department, the Laboratory, the Port Health Office, and the department of the Principal Civil Medical Officer. The Harbour Depart- ment will take over the Imports and Ex- ports Offices and will be able to house in one building its sub-departments which are now in the Post Office and at the Sailors' Home, and a number of offices in the Post Office Building will be released.
Government House Extension
Under item 9 I am asking the Council to vote a sum of $100.000 for works at Government House. The kitchen and
garage blocks are quite unsuitable for modern requirements, and would have been reconstructed long ago but for the economy necessitated by the war. The vote now asked for provides for their recon- struction and also for the provision of additional bed-rooms. The existing bed-
at accommodation
Government
made, at page 98, for special expenditure in the sum of $382,310, including a sum of It is $182,500 for seven new carriages. proposed to purchase two motor carriages which will be available for small parties of passengers in cases where the expense of an ordinary train is hardly justified. The other principal items are in respect of a yard for housing engines and motor House is scarcely adequate for a Governor, carriages at Lowu; for a bridge to span who has any family of his own, and it is the new road from Shamshuipo to Kow-constantly necessary to provide for guests loon City; and for re-railing the Beacon Hill tunnel.
Pensions Increased
With regard to Pensions, at page 99, I may state that officers now on pension have been granted increases varying from ten to thirty per cent., according to the rate of pension. All Widows and Orphans
room
who are passing through Hongkong and who are entitled to expect to receive the hospitalit of His Majesty's repre- sentative. Additions to the present build- ing would be very difficult and costly and I propose, therefore, to meet the case by building a small separate bungalow on the grounds, which will contain two or three bed-rooms.
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