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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
you have bestowed upon this onerous task; and I wish to assure you that the unofficial members fully endorse the conservative policy you have pursued. Although we think we are right in believing that the Colony has weathered the severest storm that has ever afflicted it, we cannot yet afford to relax our vigilance, and our watchword must still be economy consistent, of course, with efficiency, and the essential needs of the Colony's steady expansion.
We must express our gratification that the Government has been able to avoid imposing any fresh taxation. 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 progress, 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 un- qualified 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 to point out when addressing this Council on a similar occasion in 1923, and again in November of 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 waterworks development. There is no doubt in our minds that the loan, 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 community as a sound and attractive investment.
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." We have examined with care the sessional paper dealing with increased expenditure in the Harbour Department, and additional revenue to be derived from rais- ing the survey fees. That the Harbour Department 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 that arrangements are being made whereby a special Hong Kong passenger certificate issued in Hong Kong will have equivalent value all over the world with the passenger certificate issued by the Authorities in the United Kingdom. Naturally all this involves more expenditure on the Harbour Department, but we do not grudge this, as we realize that our prosperity and future development depend upon the attrac- tiveness of the port, and the facilities we are able to offer ships which make use of it. It has always been our desire to see charges as low as possible, to encourage shipping to come here; and we should be very much opposed to any increase in charges which might militate against this. But the increase in the survey fees are small, and appear reason- able, and we do not feel that any protest can be justifiably raised against them.
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