of rent which will seriously affect the poorer members of
the public service, unless we have recourse to a largely increased system of house-allowances which would be probably more costly and certainly less satisfactory than the provision of accommodation in Government buildings.
9.
I note your desire to be furnished with a programme of works for the next few years showing the total estimated cost, rate of completion and comparative urgency, and will do my best to supply what is required. I would, however, deprecate any attempt to decide definitely on the order of urgency of whatever works are proposed. Huch must depend on circumstances, e.g. If Chine settled down and there was a prospect of the Canton Hankov railway being completed and connected with the Kowloon line in the near
future, I should place the provision of deep-water wharves at Hung Hom in the fore front of any programme but until
there is a reasonable prospect of the preliminary condition being fulfilled, they can be left over indefinitely.
I think that the most satisfactory
classification will be as follows:-
(a) Works which are essential to the proper
administration of the Colony or to Public Health
e.g. The Gaol and certain markets.
(b) Works which though not essential are desirable
and directly profitable e.g. certain Reclamations
and Roads.
(c) Works which are desirable but will not be directly
profitable e.g. Widening of certain roads in the
City.
I would propose also to indicate my views as to which works
should be carried out from revenue and accrued balances
and which should be provided for by the issue (a) of debentures or Treasury Bills or (b) of a long term loan.
10.