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for next year has been estimated at $22,712,920 nearly the same figure as our revised estimate for the current year, and with our estimated liquid balance of $6,224,977. will give a total sum of $28,937,897. to meet the needs of the Colony during
the year 1930. It will be seon that we take a reasonably optimistic view of the future revenue and financial position of the Colony, and I think the Colony is to be congratulated on having surmounted what was probably the most serious water famine in its history without a heavier strain on its finances. I should like to take this opportunity of placing on record in this Council the Government's very high appreciation of the services rendered alike by Unofficial Members of the Community and by its own Government officers whereby the Colony was enabled to surmount a very serious crisis.
The surplus balances may seem high but
we must not flatter ourselves too much on this apparently pleasing feature of our finances for it has to be remembered that the balances have had
restored to them just under two million dollars
which had been advanced on loan works while heavy special expenditure on Water Works, Harbour Dredging and the Kai Tak Aerodrome, works which, in former days would have been met from revenue
or
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