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HON. MR. H. W. BIRD.
Hon. Mr. H. W. BIRD: Sir,-1 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 to Kowloon, Yaumati, and Sham 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 completion. It seems 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 your speech that you consider the per- Connel 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 by some other charges. If this is not the case I would urgently request that 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. Under Miscellaneous Services are to be found various sums allocated for a number of highly useful purposes and I would suggested that the Government
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