"
220
"In view of the present need of room for further office accommodation in this Colony, will the Government ap- proach the Military Authorities with the view to the military parade ground being handed over to the Government an early date? "
"
The answer was: 'The Government is in correspondence with the Military authorities on the subject." Well, Sir: from that day to this we have received no information or intimation in this Council as to the effect of that corres- pondence, or whether it has had any effect at all. That being the state of affairs at the beginning of last month, on the 6th August-over 18 months hav- ing elapsed since I made my motion of the 29th January, 1920-1 gave notice of this motion which is now before the Council. I have slightly amended the motion since, but not in any very mate- rial respect.
My present motion is: That, in view of the shortage of Euro- pean office and business accommodation in this Colony and in view of the short- age of sites for Chinese business pre- mises in this Colony, it is imperative that the Military Establishments should be transferred from their present site in the centre of the City to some other site or sites at the earliest possible date." I think, Sir, that I have said enough to show that this matter is a very pressing and urgent one, and I believe that my honourable friend, the member for the Chamber of Commerce, who will second this resolution presently, will fully con- firm me when I say that there is an extremely strong wish the part of the inhabitants of this Colony-the civil inhabitants of this Colony-that this removal which we are asking for should take place at the earliest possible date in order to give room for commer- cial expansion. I am in hopes that be fore the Council closes this afternoon, the honouracle and gallant member on my left (H.E. the General) will be able to give us some information with regard to what has been and is about to take place with regard to this important question. I think that everybody in this Colony who is interested in the business welfare of the Colony will be anxious to hear what is being done. It is felt, I think generally, that it is very necessary in this matter that we should hurry up with all speed. The demand for office accommodation in this Colony has over- taken the supply, and it is very neces- sary indeed, at a very early date, to have these sites for commercial expansion put in possession of the Government of this Colony. I do not think, Sir, I need say 'more now. I have a right of reply under the rules, and if I want to supplement my present remarks I will do so then. I will now call upon my honourable friend to second this resolution.
on
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS &
side.
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[September 3rd, 1912.
a workable scheme. I do not hesitate to say that the occupation by the Military Authorities, or by the Naval for that matter, of so large a portion of the very centre and heart of the Colony, dividing it as it is to-day, is an absolute economic bar to the progress and development of the Colony. With the vast quantities of land which could provide suitable occupation both on the Island and the Mainland,
the diffi- culty should be faced and,
think, in all deference, it can easily be overcome. It was prophesied at the beginning of this year that the exclusion of the Germans from this Colony would directly lead to empty offices and empty houses. To-day, sir, it is well known to all of us that it is extremely difficult to find an office or any house whatever-a house cannot be obtained no matter what price you are prepared to pay-and that rents have the years soared higher and higher as have gone by, and so long as the present pressure remains is likely to do so. Therefore, in the interests of the commer- cial progress of the Colony, upon which both the Government and the people as well as the Military and Naval Authori- ties live-indeed that is why we are here it is a problem which should be faced with a little more outward show of hurry than has been apparent in the past. It is with a feeling that this is realised by the Government that I refrain from speaking at greater length upon the sub. ject, because the need is so crying that it speaks for itself. No one who is familiar with the history of the Colony, or who has watched its development even in the war years, can fail to be impressed with the urgent and crying need of greater office, warehouse and housing accommoda- tion for the Colony, especially in the central district.
seems
The rate of pro-
more
I
The
gress will depend upon the rapidity with which the Colony makes up its mind to meet our needs. We will talk business if you are prepared to find the money. It seems to me, therefore, that this re- solution could carry
weight-a little more meat in it-if it contained a clause requesting the Government to make such financial provision as may be necessary to carry out the transfer. HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR: must say that I think it will be unneces- sary to add the words proposed by my honourable and gallant colleagues be- cause everybody knows the Government has for years been pressing the Military to clear out of the land occupied by them- selves and their mules, and have always been ready to put up whatever money is required. The matter will not re- quire a very great deal of money because it can only be done by degrees, and as the Military move one step we can sell the land and probably recoup ourselves for the expenditure incurred. A fairly considerable amount of money will have to be put up in the first instance, but there will be no difficulty about that. financial question will require a certain amount of thinking out, as well as the circumstances under which some of those- lands came to be vested in the Military. I am not sure I altogether entirely agree with the views of the General Officer Commanding. I should hesitate at the moment to commit myself to the state- ment that the Colony is prepared to do everything required by the Military Authorities-even Military Authoriti are not always entirely reasonable-but I am sure I can say we will do every- thing that is reasonable and necessary. I think it 18 unnecessary to say more than that I am entirely in sympathy with the resolution and I see no reason why you should not pass it. The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK:
With your Excellency's permission, I should just like to say a few words, and that is it seems to me that there is one phrase which His Excellency, the General Officer Commanding, used which hopeful in the direction of progress, and that is that he spoke of carrying out the arrangement to transfer in sections. Well, Sir, might I venture to suggest to the honourable and gallant member that the first section that we shall deal with is the section which is dealt with by this motion, that is to say the Military estab- As re- lishments along Queen's Road. gards any question of reasonable_pay- ment, I think I can assure your Excel- lency on behalf of the Unofficial members that whatever is reasonable the Un- official members will be prepared to vote for this much-needed improvement in the Colony.
was
The GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING: Your Excellency, I am very glad to have this opportunity of expressing the military position, the Military position and attitude, on this question, and I would hasten to assure you the mover and seconder of this resolution that we are trying to move with the times and that we have no desire to hinder the progress of this Colony so long as the military
We are efficiency in no way suffers.
this quite prepared to meet you in matter, and we have already formulated a broad outline of a scheme to do so. It
desirable that the Council should have a clear idea of the principles upon which we are prepared to act. In the first place, as is evident from this resolution, the arrangement is at the expense of and for the benefit of the Colony. Accordingly, no cost whatever It may should fall upon Army funds. obviously be desirable and possible to carry out arrangements for the transfer in sections, as convenient to both parties. At the same time the scheme will have, first of all, to be considered as a whole. Our military establishments in Victoria The Hon. Mr. HOLYOAK: Sir, I have and Kowloon are healthy; they provide the honour of seconding the resolution the soldier with the amenities of life proposed by the honourable member repre- and facilities for recreation. senting the Justices of the Peace. Had it which will be required will have to be been necessary, sir, to convince the equally healthy, of the most modern Government of the public feeling on this type, provided with all the amenities con-
The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK in accordance matter, it would have been amply demon-sidered
necessary for the soldier of with notice previously given proposed:- strated by calling a public meeting, when to-day as well as all requisite facilities the feeling would have been shown in a
for military training and recreation. very marked manner; but we are fully They will have to be connected with convinced that the Government is fully in mechanical transport routes, with points agreement with the object of this resolu-
we shall specify. No establishment will tion and therefore needs no convincing in be vacated until the new establishment the matter. One naturally feels diffident in criticising land occupied by the Mili- is complete, ready and fit for occupation tary Authorities so recently after the last by the unit concerned, until that new war. but I am sure that my honourable establishment has been passed as fit by I have said and gallant friend will not misinterpret the War Department. the admiration which we all have for the enough to show you that the transfer re- forces in the Colony and the value which ferred to in this resolution would be they are to us. It really is a purely costly and will take time. You cannot economic problem-from that point of build barracks, with all their accessories, view alone we approach it and I am sure in a day. So far as we are concerned he will, without sentiment upon either we are quite prepared to go ahead with
Those
The motion was then put to the meet- ing and declared by His Excellency the Governor to we carried unanimously.
TO ENCOURAGE NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.
com-
"That, with a view to encourage the construction of new houses in this Colony, it is desirable for the Govern- ment to pass an Ordinance exempting, for 3 years after completion, "from liability to pay rates, any new build- ings, the plans for which may be sent in for the first time after the mencement of such Ordinance.” The Hon. member said: It has been put forward against the Government from time to time as a matter of criticism, that the Government is very anxious to get as much money as it can, and that, on the other hand, it is not prepared to give