222
The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK: Sir, with re- ference to this motion I would point out that a good deal of the argument of the Hon. Colonial Secretary tends to show that instead of asking for three years' exemption we ought to have asked for six years, because he says it is a very low rate here, a very trivial thing. If that is so, then we are asking for something which is very moderate indeed as a concession on the part of the Government, because we are asking the Government to agree to a comparatively small matter.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR: No, that is hardly so. It is a small matter to the landlord, but to the Government it be comes large.
The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK; I think my friend, the senior unofficial Chinese member, made a very good point indeed. We have had experience of it at Hung- hom and Praya East that, when you develop in outlying places-and so far as I can see there is not much room for development except in outlying places- it is difficult, as my hon. friend has pointed out, for the builder of houses to at once get tenants to occupy them, or if he can get tenants, to occupy them at an ade- quate rent. I think, Sir, that in view of fact that my hon. friend, who, of course, has a very long experience of this Colony, has been for so long a member of this Council, and is capable of speak- ing for the Chinese, I ought to press this motion to a division.
The motion was then put by H.E. the Governor who declared it lost.
The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked for names. Five Unofficials voted in favour and seven Official members against.
FACILITIES FOR BUILDING.
The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK pursuant to notice then moved:-
"Also that a Committee of three Members of this Council be appointed for the purpose of considering what measures can be taken:
(i) To facilitate the prompt acquisi- tion by applicants of sites which they require: (ii) To facilitate the prompt passing
of building plans.
185
[September 3rd. 1921.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS &
dreads to think what sum of money with that suggestion. Private enterprise would be lost by such delays as have has never been lacking in Hongkong and been experienced. The Colonial Secre- if it is given a fair show it is a horse tary mentioned, just now that the you can back without fear. But he is, Building Office was overflowing with perhaps, a little fretful and nervous, plans for new buildings and the staff is and, if you keep him hanging about on working overtime and there is not the post, the chances are that he will really sufficient staff to cope with it. With not start at all. 'An incident of this all deference to the Colonial Secretary, nature occurred, recently, where an ap it seems to me that such a state of plicant, after waiting 3 months for a affairs is a rather serious indictment to reply from the Government lost interest bring against the Hongkong Govern in the project and withdrew his appli- ment, because, if the staff is inadequate cation. As regards clause (2) of the to cope with the situation, then it ought resolution, if you should decide to ap to have been increased. I think that, point a committee I venture to suggest if a committee of this Council were ap that the passing of the plans would be pointed, it is very likely that one of greatly facilitated if some permanent the points we should fix upon would be committee were appointed, consisting of that the staff in the Building Office was the Director of Public Works, two un- inadequate, and the same opinion has official members (one European and one been expressed to me, as a matter of Chinese) and two architects. That fact, by an architect to whom I have would relieve the building authority of spoken with reference to this motion. It the responsibility of exercising its is also very probable that we should find, powers of modification and exemption, on enquiry, that the surveyor's staff was and I would suggest that a few more insufficient also. It is not only a ques- sections might be added to section 24 tion of surveying land; sometimes the (b) of the Public Health and Buildings surveyor may have to go out to the New Ordinance so as to free you, Sir, and Territories, and, though the job may the Executive Council, of the trouble not occupy half an hour, it will cut and anxiety of having to decide when a considerably into his day's work. I man should have a water closet in his think the Government should very care- house and a dog kennel in his backyard. fully consider whether they will not, in If the applicant were dissatisfied with the case of non-urban sites, refrain from the finding of the committee he could putting the land up at public auction. then refer the matter to the Executive It occurs to me that perhaps there is Council. 1 feel sure that such a committee not sufficient decentralisation in the would be of great service and I believe Public Works Department. We all of us the building authorities will welcome it. appreciate the fact that, for many years If such a committee were appointed, in past, the Director of Public Works has order to render the good service I anti- been a very hard-worked, almost ancipite, it would be necessary that the over-worked, official, and it seems to me machinery for bringing matters before the time to adopt some system of decentrali- members should be better oiled than it sation in that department. Far too is at present because, with regard to many things are referred to the Director references of matters to the Executive of the Public Works which need not Council, this body recently had referred necessarily be so referred, and one of to it the question of a covering to a motor the questions which may be considered pump in a private lane which is also a by a committee will be whether it is not cul-de-sac. That has to come before the advisable to create a separate Building Executive Council, and, so far as I know, department and a separate Surveying it has not reached there yet. I do not department and make the heads of those think the Public Works Committee could departments responsible for the speedy quite deal with these matters because un- carrying out of the work of this kind. less there happens to be a member of the instead of the over-worked Director of Council on it with technical knowledge, Public Works being the party ultimately and conversant with the Building Ordin- responsible for everything. I have only ance, the opinion of the Director of thrown out a few general suggestions Public Works would carry too much which I think the committee should look weight. into and report upon. My honourable
The Hon. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: friend Mr. Bird. who will second, will I should like to make a few remarks upon no doubt be able from his expert know the general criticisms that have been pass- ledge to pass a criticism on the presented upon the Public Works Department. As system.
Three
He said: With reference to the first part of the resolution, I cannot help expressing my regret at the answer which the Government have given, to- day, to the question which was put by my hon. friend Mr. Bird. It is clear from that question that the hon member The Hon. Mr. H. W. BIRD: I trust was only asking in respect of building this resolution will meet with your sym- sites in non-urban districts, and I can pathetic consideration because there is scarcely imagine that, in these cases, it no doubt that some steps should be is necessary to put up the land for auc- taken to deal with the matters referred tion for the purpose of ascertaining the to therein. With regard to clause (1) exact sum which it will fetch at of the resolution, the state of affairs auction. Another point I have to urge, that exists at present is most unsatis- in that connection, is that it is common factory.
or four months, and knowledge that some months, as a rule, more, is a general period that elapses are expended from the time an applica before any reply is received from the tion is sent in until the land is actually Government and, when the reply arrives, put up for auction. During these months it generally takes the following form,- the applicant is held up, possibly put to that the Government, not having made a great deal of inconvenience, and, in up their minds how this particular dis- a case only mentioned to me this morn-trict is to be dealt with, the application ing the applicant, because of the delay cannot be considered at present. I sub- of six months which took place in put-mit that the Government ought to look ting up the land to public auction was put to a very considerable amount of expense by reason of the fact that the price of building went up very consider ably in that six months. The experi- ence of that gentleman is not a solitary one. It is common knowledge that, during the past year, the price of build- ing has gone up, and has a tendency to do so, and, therefore, in the building of large business premises, one quite
to the motor pump mentioned by Mr. Bird there has not been a minute's delay because the pump was erected before the
ever got to matter
the Council.— (Laughter). With regard to the staffing of the office I may say that the Colony has always been going ahead quicker than the staff had been able to keep up with The staff to-day is double what it it. was four or five years ago, and, even so, There is no it is not up to the work. town that has gone ahead like this, or one that presents greater difficulties to con- tend with. Also I may say, that even if we have a larger staff we have no accom- modation for them; the office is congested everywhere; if you give us permission for ten more men we could not find room for them. With regard to decentralisation there is no one more anxious to decen- round and find out suitable land decide tralise than myself. As far as I can, I upon their lay-out, and what means of leave matters to the heads of departments transport and water supply be and content myself with minuting them afforded. They should not wait for and forwarding them, but to gather up applications to come along before they important matters in my own hands is begin to think about the matter. The absolutely essential. With regard to Attorney-General, when introducing the plans for building before I took charge, Rents Bill remarked that he thought I had established systems that directly the lack of housing accommodation was the engineer had finished a road I got due, in some measure, to the lack of him to indicate possible sites on the roads. private enterprise. I entirely disagree and for the last two or three years we
can