389
95
94
on
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
We therefore hope your appeal to the Secretary of State that the heavy suns expended these launches, by the Colony, should be repaid to us by the Admiralty since they were incurred in connection with the suppression and pre- vention of piracy which is and always has been considered essentially the work of the Navy.
THE FUTURE
I am
one of those, Sir, who have ab- solute faith, that, notwithstanding tem- porary set hacks, this Colony has a far greater future ahead of it than anything it has known in the past. Your whole administration here proves that you too have held that view and you have im pressed us all by your wide views of the future and liberal preparation therefor. Someday we hope Lady Stubbs and you will be able to re-visit Hongkong and see the realised plans and visions of to-day.
Họ*. MẸ. CHOW SHOU SON–Sir,—My honourable senior colleague has fully and ably represented the collective views of the unofficial members on the Budget. and it now remains for me to touch upon a few points affecting the Chinese alone.
HAWKERS' LCIENCES
My Chinese colleague and I strongly urge that the number of hawkers' Fcences should not be further reduced. Last year I drew the attention of the Government to the matter, and I then said that in view of the urban area having recently been greatly extended, the number of licences might safely be somewhat increased. I also said that one effect of too drastic a restriction was to lead boys to break the law by hawking without a licence, as they must support themselves or assist their parents: and another effect a much worse one-was to drive such boys into the streets, to get into mischief soon or late. We hope that the reduction in the estimates by $10,000 is due to causes other than the intended reduction of these licences.
POLICE FORCE
I desire, on behalf of the Chinese community, to associate ourselves with Your Excellency's commendation of the
Our
of work splendid
Police Force. They must have passed through very difficult times, and they have discharged their arduous duties with tact
and efficiency. The work of our Volunteers and Police Reserves was also valuable, and has been much appreciated by the community.
VERNACULAR EDUCATION
a
I understand that while I was in Eng- land the Hon. Mr. R. II. Kotewall took up with the Government the question of improving our system of vernacular education; and it is a great satisfaction to me to see that provision has been made in these estimates for the estab- lishment of a Vernacular Middle School at Saivingpun. It is the opinion of many Chinese who have made some study of the subject, that there should be graduated system of schools reaching up from the vernacular school to the Chinese middle school, and on to an enlarged and improved department of Chinese study in the University. In such a system great stress should, we think, be laid on the ethics of Confucianism which are in China, the greatest force for good. Any money which the Government may spend in this direction would in our cpinion be money well spent, and also constitute social insurance of the best kind.
THE COLONY'S VITALITY
In presenting the Budget. Your Ex- cellency asked for the support of the unofficial members for your policy of economy.
I need hardly say that my Chinese colleague and I support Your Excellency most heartily.
Last year, when the estimates were before this Council, we urged that strict economy should be exercised in all directions, so that, as I said at the time, when the rainy day came, as it was bound to come soon or late, we might be able to face the financial situation with equanimity. But our advocacy of thrift does not mean that we have lost faith in the Colony. Like our English colleagues, the Hon. Mr. Kotewall and I are firm believers in the Colony's vitality and its future. We believe that the cloud which is temporarily darkening our sky will, and must, one day roll away, when the sun will again smile upon a happy day.
但
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIE
our
. In conclusion, I should like to con- gratulate Your Excellency upon the very able manner in which you have present- ed to us what must be one of the most difficult Budgets that a Governor of this Colony has been called upon to prepare. I sincerely hope that you will soon have the gratification and pleasure of seeing that your policy in regard to finances has been completely justified by results. As this will be the last oc- casion on which the Hon. Colonial Secretary will be associated with our Budget, I should also like to take this opportunity to express appreciation of the courtesy and ability with which he, both as Colonial Secretary and as Officer Administering the Government, always participated in the discussions in connec- tion with the subject.
HON. MR. H. W. BIRD-Sir, I wish to endorse fully the remarks that have fallen from the Acting Senior Un- official Member who has dealt with the larger matters at issue. As regards my further comments they represent my personal views which may or may not have the approval of my colleagues.
LICENCES
Under the heading of Licences, I sug- gest that the Government should bring
pressure
to
bear SO
that the ferry service tu Kowloon, Yaumati, and Shani Sui Po, is run considerably later at night. The Chinese are notorious for keeping late hours, and one of their reasons for not residing in the suburbs is the difficulty of transport. These re- marks apply equally to the low level tramway; if the trams and ferries were arranged to run up till 2 o'clock in the morning I feel sure the strain on the housing accommodation in the centre of the City would be found to be consider- ably relieved. One cannot expect people to live in the outlying districts unless transportation is made easy for them.
LAND SALES
Regarding the Building Covenants with respect to Land Sales which may be falling due for fulfilment. I would suggest that in view of the tightness of money at the moment, owners should be dealt with leniently and extended time given for
seems
completion. It
to me a wiser policy to have the Building Covenant carried out even at a somewhat later date than to re-enter on the land.
FIRE BRIGADE
In infer. Sir, from your remarks in
sonnel your speech that you consider the per- of the Fire Brigade to be sufficient. In view of the fact that the work of the Brigade is practically divid ed in two by the Harbour, and that fires afloat have also to be dealt with, I regret that my views do not coincide with your Excellency's. One Superin- tendent and two Station Officers' are estimated for, presumably one for Hong kong and one for Kowloon; besides these there are 10 Sub-Officers who, I understand, are not Europeans. Should the Station Officer be sick the control of a fire must be taken over by one of these Sub-officers.
POLICE
Under this Section there appears to be no item of expenditure in connection with the upkeep of the essential ser- vices "
register. May be it is covered the case I would urgently request that by some other charges. If this is not this register be kept continually up to date, and I feel sure that in view of the crisis through which we have passed employers of labour will gladly afford all the assistance possible by supplying the information required. Nothing can be truer than the adage
to be pre- pared for war is the best security for peace," and I know from personal ex- perience what an asset that register was of late, and if continually kept up to date it can be even more so should cir- cumstances require its use again in the future. Whilst on this subject may I specially endorse my honourable Col- league's remarks on the good work lately performed by all the volunteer workers -Military, Police and Civilian alike.
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
to
L'nder Miscellaneous Services are be found various sums allocated for a number of highly useful purposes and I would suggested that the Government