HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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The item under Education Department of $60,000 for building grants is to meet the following demands:
La Salle College, Kowloon
St. Francis' School, Victoria
$50,000
10,000
As regards the Central British School at Kowloon the sum provided is for site formation only. The Government is not in a position at present to provide funds to commence the buildings. The last of the honourable member's list of items is an appeal for a grant-in-aid on behalf of the Mung San College. The Director of Education has reported that this school has not yet reached the standard required for a Government grant, but it is hoped that if the management accepts the Director's advice it may in course of time reach grant standard. The honourable the senior Chinese unofficial member refers to the reduction in three educational subsidies. I can assure him that no abatement of the Government's interest in or encouragement of education is implied in these reductions. The amounts provided last year were greater than the amounts required by more than the reductions effected and it is believed that all legitimate demands are covered by the amounts now inserted in the Estimates.
The Government agrees with the honourable the senior unofficial member as to the importance of markets, and provision has been made for the continuance of the work on the Sai Ying Pun and Kowloon City markets. As regards the Kowloon Tong market which was referred to by the Hon. Mr. Braga as well as by the Senior unofficial member, provision was made in the Estimates for 1929 for a temporary market there, at a cost of $1,500 and the proposal was accepted at the time without comment. The plans were ready in February and the work might have been completed by now but for the fact that demands have since been put forward out of all proportion to the sum provided. The revised plans and estimates were only received last month, too late for inclusion in the draft Estimates for 1930, and the justice or otherwise of these demands is at present under consideration, but as at present advised I am inclined to think that Kowloon Tong's demands in this matter are excessive. I do not understand the Hon. Mr. Braga's suggestion that the omission of the market from the Estimates for 1930 is a slight on the Sanitary Board. The suggestion appears to be entirely unjustified.
A good deal has been said by the honourable the senior unofficial member and his colleagues on the subject of Recreation Grounds, open spaces and children's playgrounds. The Government readily acknowledges the needs of the Colony in these respects, and as honour- able members know a Committee has been appointed to go into the whole question. This Committee, of which I have the honour to be Chairman, had only just, commenced work when I was obliged to take a short period of leave for reasons of health, and on my return every-
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