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the hon. member by the Colonial Secre- tar on April 14th. The hon. member asked whether the Government would t ke a vote of residents as to whether the road was required, and he also want. ed to know what was the estimated cost of making the road when such estimate was obtained. The answer given was that "the Government is not prepared to take such a referendum as is suggested because the construction of the road has been approved by the Legislative Council. The road will be of the greatest value not only as a means of access to all parts of the Peak eventually. by motor vehicles, but also it will reduce the cost of carriage of road and building materials to at least one-half the present price." I would ask the hon. member to note that
'It may also have the desirable result of lessening considerably the employment of women and children in carrying burdens to the Hill district. The new alignment of the road will make it possible to construct branch roads connecting other portions of the Hill district with the lower levels." It was further stated that the Public Works Committee of the Council at a meeting held on October 8th, 1920, unanimously recommended the construc- tion of this road at an estimated cost of $86,250. At a further meeting of the Committee held on January 13th, 1921, a change in the route was recommended at a revised estimate of $118,000. Since then the unofficial members of the Council have considered most carefully the continua- tion of the road to Victoria Gap and have approved that being done. I consider it is essential that we should have this road, not only for the reasons already given in that answer but for other reasons. There is the question of access to the Peak during hours the Peak Tram is not running, urgent cases in which doctors are required, and the tremendous help it would be in removing baggage up and down the Peak at a very much lower rate than at the present time. I consider that in view of the Report on Child Labour, recently presented, that the removal of building material to the Peak at a very low rate and getting rid of the child labour used for its transportation is one of the chief reasons why this road is going to be of very great public benefit. Every day shows it is going to be a far more valuable asset to the Colony than it was ever thought or suggested it would be.
A VOTE FOR CHEUNG CHAU?
The hon. member referred to the vote of $500 for District Officer South and suggested it should be increased to $5.000 for expenditure in the island of Cheung Chau. The $500 is of similar character to the vote for the District Officer North for helping to carry into effect small public works such as small bridges and paths. It is a vote of a very special kind, and is doled out in quite small amounts. It is of great help to the people of the district when small work has to be done with their own labour and not under supervision. As regards Cheung Chau I appreciate very much what has been done by the few foreign residents there in the making of paths and improving the por- tion of the island in which they live, and if it should appear necessary to use public funds to supplement their efforts that can be considered and a special vote taken for the amount required.
YAUMATI FERRIES.
The next question the hon. member re- ferred to was the running of the ferries to Shamsuipo and Yaumati, and he want- ed to know whether the Government was getting enough from those ferries. The sum they pay is a very considerable one, but before the period of the present lease expires, which will be fourteen months hence, the whole question will have to be very carefully considered. When the ferry was started quite a short lease was
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