HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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There should be uniformity in the method of presenting these Estimates which are presented to the public as one indivisible whole.
It is now my ungrateful task to offer a few remarks on the ever increasing expenses of the Colony's administration. Last year, as the spokesman for the unofficial members of this Council, I had the honour to draw attention to expenditure increasing at what we called an alarming rate. The same comment seems to be more than ever called for. We feel that we would be failing in our duty as representatives of the Chinese who form the bulk of the population, if we were to let this matter pass without calling attention to it.
The unofficials pointed out in 1928 that Personal Emoluments alone showed the enormous increase of $843,134 in the draft Estimates for 1929.
In the Estimates now under consideration the net increase in Personal Emoluments, including Rent Allowances and High Cost of Living Allowances under Miscellaneous Services, is $680,543. Of this amount the item "New Posts" accounts for $396,520, after savings in the abolition of posts have been allowed for.
Sir, this expenditure seems far too large, following as it does the enormous increases sanctioned for 1929. Even taking into account the increases necessitated by the addition to the staff of the Medical and Police Departments, we have the feeling that expenditure has been increasing at a rate not altogether commensurate with the increase in the work of administration.
If expenditure continued at the present rate, the Government would very soon have to resort to additional taxation which, to re- peat the words of the unofficial members uttered through me last year, is a contingency "which the Colony is not in a position to stand without the most serious effects on its trade-effects which would have immediate reaction on the public finances as well as on the general prosperity of the Colony."
In making these remarks I desire to offer an explanation of my own position. It may be asked why, while on the one hand, as a member of the Salaries Commission, I have made recommenda- tions for an increase of salaries, etc., which would amount to about $1,300,000 a year, I am, on the other hand, unfavourably com- menting on the Government expenditure. My position would be clear, if a little thought were given to it. I maintain that it is one thing to pay an employee well, whether he is serving the Govern- ment or a private concern, and quite another to increase the personnel when it may not be justified by the volume of work performed.
Having discharged our duty as representatives of the largest section of the tax-payers, I have pleasure in tendering to the Govern-
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