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present day, to show how that same fair treatment of the Chinese has resulted in the immensely greater proofs of prospe- rity which are now before us to-day and which are the result of the cordial co- operation which has for so long existed and still exists between the British and Chinese in this Colony.-(Applause.)
THE DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS— Sic. In reply to the speech of the Hon. the Senior Unofficial Member, it is much to Senior Unofficial Member, it is much to be regretted that the work of strengthen ing main roads has had to be postponed and in some cases the maintenance votes have had to be reduced. It will be readily understood that such postpone ment and reductions in regard to the upkeep of Main Roads cannot be per- nitted for any length of time without serious deterioration and the ultimate heavy expenditure that will be required to bring them back to the present stan- dard.
Provision has been made for the con- tinuance of work on all items of the Shing Mun Valley Scheme (part 1) estimated to cost $3,500,000 and everything will be done to expedite this scheme, until the completion of which it will not be pos- sible to do without the restriction of the water supply both at Hongkong and Kow- loon during periods in which there is an unequally distributed rain-fall.
FILTER BEDS
The Contract for the Bowen Road Fast Gravity Filtration Plant has been let to Messrs. Patterson Engineering Co. The contract price including shipment and erection is £8,700. Reinforced concrete work and foundations will be extra. Drawings have not yet been received so that the cost for this work is not known. The contract is to be completed in 9 months. The capacity of the plant is three million gallons per day as compared with the output of the existing Bowen Road filter beds of million.
The Eastern filter beds are nearing com- pletion. The total number of these beds is 11, all of which have been constructed. Five are at present in use as filter beds giving approximately output of million gallons; 2 are being used as bal- ance tanks and the remaining 4 are not
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All the beds cannot be yet in use. utilised as filter beds until the 5 million gallon Service Reservoir now in progress is completed.
PRAYA ROAD BAST
an
up-
Mention has been made of the disturbed conditions of the Praya Road at Wanchai. Unfortunately the raising of all drains and sewers necessitated by the Praya East Reclamation has caused heaval of the roads in this District which has been complicated by the necessary removal of water mains, gas pipes, cables, etc. which had to be dealt with at the same time. As far as possible this un- avoidable inconvenience to the public will be reduced to the minimum. The large open sewer running parallel with the old Praya wall is responsible for many of the complaints received but this matter has now been referred to the Port Develop- ment Department and it is hoped the contractor responsible will be able to keep this drain in a more sanitary condition in future.
MOTOR LORRIES AND CARS
The increase referred to on page 79 showing an excess of estimated expendi- ture of $44,311 for 1926 under the head of Other Charges over that of 1925 is chiefly accounted for by the four items:
Incidental expenses quarries...... $7,600 Upkeep of motor lorries and
14,000
cars
pkeep of quarry plants Electric lights and fans
11,500
5,000
The two increased items for Incidental Expenses for Quarries and upkeep of Quarry Plant amounting to $19,000 were inserted to meet expenditure at the New Quarry at Tai Kok Tsui which was re- quired for supplying materials for the strengthening of the Kowloon Roads, but since the strengthening of these roads has been postponed the Quarry will not now be required and there will be a saving of this amount.
With regard to the item for Upkeep of Motor Lorries and Cars, the increase is provided to meet the upkeep of addi- tional Lorries, etc., which are now more than double the number on hand at the commencement of this year. The re maining increase of $5,000 is to meet the
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
upkeep of the increased number of fans and lights principally in New Buildings such as the Fire Station, Saiyingpun School, Sisters' Quarters, etc., which are nearing completion.
TAIPO ROAD
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With regard to the dangerous bridges on the Taipo Road referred to, an item was tentatively proposed to be included Provision has been made under Item in the estimates for 1926 for this work, P.W.E. 14 for converting an open iron- but, owing to retrenchment, it had to be shed at Wanchai Depot into a tem-postponed. The necessity of improving porary workshop for carrying out repairs these bridges is considered most essen- to lorries and ears, and a mechanical tial together with the widening and im-
ngineer has arrived, and will be put in proving of the approaches to them. charge of this workshop. It is hoped widening of all of the bridges between that in the near future, this Department Castle Peak and Taipo Market has been will have a large general workshop with taken in hand and should be completed a fully qualified mechanical engineer in by the early part of next year.
harge, but at present only small repairs can be undertaken at the Wanchai Work- :shop.
REVISED EXPENDITURE FOR 1925
The
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY - Before I proceed to reply in any way to the comments on the estimates made by the Unofficial Members of Council, I would like to thank them, and especially the The estimated revised expenditure for | Senior Chinese member, for the personal 1925 was not inserted in the Draft Esti-references to myself in connection with mates for 1926 because of the difficulty Budget debates and estimates. I think of arriving at the amount with any this is the twelfth debate on the Budget degree of accuracy in consequence of :- of this Colony with which I have been (a) Labour troubles; (b) The necessity associated, and I had the honour of in- for economy: (c) Ascertaining what treducing the estimates for the years claims would have to be faced from con- 1914, 1919 and 1923. The progress and tractors if contracts were to be interfer- development of the revenue of the Colony, ed with. An approximate estimate has and the Colony's general prosperity now been made of the amounts that will during the nearly fourteen years since be expended during 1925 on such works I came here has, of course, been extra- as appear in the 1926 estimates and ordinarily gratifying to me and to the these figures will be included in the final whole community. I have watched the print of the estimates for 1926.
progress of this Colony with the very These figures could not be made avail-greatest possible interest and although able in time for Hon. Members' refer- there is what I am sure we all feel to ence when considering the Draft Esti- be a purely temporary slackening of that mates for 1926.
development, I am satisfied that if I am able to return to this Colony, even within a comparatively short time, I shall find all the big works under contemplation, in full swing again and an ample revenue to make provision for them. (Applause.)
STREET NAMES
In reply to the Hon. Mr. Bird's re- marks I would state: With regard to Street Name Plates, this work had to be postponed. The design of these name plates was decided upon in consulta- tion with the Hon. Mr. H. W. Bird and approved by Government in April last, and 89 Street Name plates (50 in Kow- loon and 39 in Hongkong) would have been completed during this year. The preliminary work was in hand when the Strike prevented further progress. Since then, owing to retrenchment, all works not considered essential, and such works as could be cancelled without involving claims, have been stopped.
JUNIOR CLERICAL SERVICE
I will now turn to the remarks of the Senior Unofficial member which have, so far. not been replied to. With regard to the transfer of the amounts for the Junior Clerical Service from the different depart- ments to the end of the Estimates, this was done, as pointed out by Your Excel- lency when addressing the Council, as it meant a great convenience when clerks are moved from one department to another. It also gives the total cost of
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