2
The Colonial Secretary formally moved the second reading of the Ordinance to apply a sum not ex- ceeding $17.450,103 to the Public Service of the year 1928.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW.
Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow said: Sir, The duty devolves on me, as the senior unofficial member of this Council for the time being, to pre- sent the collective views of the unofficial members on the Budget this year, leaving to my honourable colleagues to bring forward in- dividually any special points they may wish to make.
Historical Retrospect.
At the outset we wish to con- gratulate your Excellency on the able manner in which, at the last meeting of this Council, you re- viewed the financial history of the Colony during the past thirty years. Your masterly survey has been read by the public with the greatest interest and pleasure, for it is a record that awakens
our latent
pride in the Colony's achievements, and kindles fresh confidence in its
last year-that posterity should bear its share of the cost. The decision to float the loan is welcome for the further reason that it restores to our surplus balances the large sum of $1,916,406 which has already been expended therefrom on water- doubt in our minds that the loan, works development. There is no
when placed on the market, will be taken up without the least difficulty, since it cannot fail to commend itself to all sections of the com- munity as a sound and attractive investment.
(6
Survey Of Steamships.
1
Proceeding to deal with individual items in the Estimates, I should like to refer, first, to the item Survey of Steamships which appears on page 9 under the head "Fees of Court or Office.' have examined with care the ses- We
sional paper dealing with increased expenditure in the Harbour De- partinent, and additional revenue to be derived from raising the survey fees. That the Harbour De- partment has been under-staffed was clearly shown at the inquest on those who lost their lives in the s.s. Leung Kwong disaster recently, and we are glad to learn that steps. have been taken to remedy this. It is further very gratifying to hear We desire also to congratulate that arrangements are being made you, Sir, and the Hon. Colonial
whereby a special Hong Kong Secretary on the manner in which passenger certificate issued in Hong the Budget has been framed, and Kong will have equivalent value all presented to this Council. Your over the world with the passenger Excellency and the Hon. Colonial certificate issued by the Authorities Secretary have placed the Colony in the United Kingdom. Naturally in your debt by the care and fore- all this involves more expenditure sight you have bestowed upon this on the Harbour Department, but onerous task; and I wish to assure
We do not grudge this, as we you that the unofficial members realize that our prosperity and fully endorse the conservative future development depend upon policy you have pursued. Although we think we are right in believing that the Colony has weathered the
future.
The Budget.
severest storm that has ever afflicted it, we cannot yet afford
our
the attractiveness of the port, and the facilities we are able to offer ships which make use of it. It has always been
desire to see charges as low as possible, to to relax our vigilance, and Our encourage shipping to come watchword must still be economy here; and we should be very consistent, of course, with efficiency, much opposed to any increase in and the essential needs of the
charges which might militate Colony's steady expansion.
against this. But the increase in the survey fees are small, and ap- do not pear reasonable, and we feel that any protest can be justifi- ably raised against them.
Water Excess Supply And Meter Rents.
The Proposed $5,000,000 Loan. We must express our gratification that the Government has been able to avoid imposing any fresh taxa tion. The Public appreciates the regard the Government has shown in this respect, as any extra burdens in these trying times would have been most unwelcome. The Colony's satisfaction is increased by the knowledge that, despite this, there will be no check to pro- gress, thanks to the Government's decision to float a loan of $5,000,000 for the purpose of financing certain urgent essential public works. This policy has our full approval and unqualified support. The works in question will benefit succeeding generations even more, perhaps, than the present generation; and it is only fair-as I had the honour
The sub-head Afforestation " to point out when addressing this under District Office, North (page Council on a similar occasion in 19), is increased from $1,000 to 1923, and again in November of $2,000. This, in our opinion, re-
On the same page, under the same head, we notice a decrease of as much as $70,000 against the item Water Excess Supply and Meter Rents.' There is no doubt that the population of the Colony has materially increased during the past twelve months, and we are, therefore, at a loss to understand why such a large shrinkage in the receipts is anticipated. We shall be glad if your Excellency will give us further information on this point.
The Colony's Supply Of Essential Commodities.
46