5.
33
mon
it, I think, unnecessary for me to enter upon a detailed
explanation of the items in the Budget.
Your Lordship will, I feel sure, approve of
the steps which have been taken to strengthen the Medical
Department, especially on the preventive side, to encourage
aviation, a matter on which I shall address you further in due
course and to re-establish the Statistical Branch of the
Imports and Exports Department.
The very careful consideration given to the Budget and the comments thereon expressed by the unofficial
members lead me to the conclusion that with the exception of
the question of the Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, there is in fact no serious difference of opinion between
this Government and the unofficial members upon general
questions of policy and that such differences as arose are chiefly differences of opinion upon questions of priority of
certain works. The ready acceptance by the unofficials of my undertaking that expenditure on the disputed items under
the heads of the Harbour Department and the Prisons should
not actually be undertaken without further reference to and
consideration by the Finance Committee, indicates a loyal
and conscientious attitude, which I highly appreciate.
11.
Your Lordship will observe that I have
ventured to assume Your Lordship's approval for the raising of a loan at an early date for Waterworks and Aerodrane
expenditure, this having been settled policy ever since the Aberdeen Water Scheme was approved. I, therefore, felt justified in budgetting for an expenditure, which, though greater than the actual revenue anticipated, is yet well within the total resources of the Colony's finances. to be remembered that, since the troubles of 1925, the
It has
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Government