the amount they can raise from other than Govermental

sources.

There are only two changes contemplated in the

sources of revenue next year. One is a small incrcase in

school fees at certa in schools, which will bring Government

fecs more into line with private school fees. This is

expected to bring in about $60,000 and cannot be considered

a serious burden. Notice of this increase was given in June last. The other is an increase of survey fees for

steamships and steam launches. As is well known to Honour-

able Manbers the Government is as anxious as any one to

maintain the attractiveness of our splendid harbour and it

will be found that we have provided for a very considerable

increase of expenditure on the Harbour Department with that aim in view. As a means of recouping ourselves for some of that expenditure we have felt justified in raising some

of our survey fees to bring in an additional sum estim tod

at $32,000. The matter is of such interest and importance that a sessional paper has been prepared and laid before Honourable Members to-day, fully explaining the proposals

and I trust justifying both the expenditure and the increase

of the fees.

Before leaving revenue I should like to make a fow romarks concerning the loan which it is proposed shortly to float in Hong Kong, and the works which it is proposed

to finance from it. The total amount of the loan is to bo

$5,000,000 at 6%. Of this total $3,500,000 is provisionally

allocated for water works of which the Shing Mun Scheme is likely to absorb just over $3,100,000 according to the latest figures I have available. $1,000,000 is provisionally allocated for the Harbour Dredging and the Colony's share

of

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