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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
I speak even more for myself as an individual than as a member of the Government-does not like the gaol any more than Sir Henry and the unofficial members, and if we had the money to build a new one, I would be ready to propose starting to build it to-morrow. On the other hand, it is just as well for the Government and this Council to face the facts of the position. We on the Government side think that the first big work in the matter of buildings to be undertaken is a new Government Civil Hospital, and as members are aware we propose to start it as soon as we can. If we are not able to take up both of these works together, the Council has to consider first that we are not yet quite in a position to begin the hospital; secondly, we shall be very lucky if we see the hospital finished in three to four years; thirdly, we have also to make preparations for the gaol, and when that has been started you have to allow three to four years for the building of the gaol.
I stand by my figure that we shall be lucky if we see the gaol ready for occupation ten years from to-day. delay more than myself. That being so, the Government thinks it Nobody dislikes the is a sensible plan to give the present Superintendent of Prisons a suitable place in which to carry out the printing work of the Govern- ment. I have it from the Superintendent that in 1927 he reckoned the Government saved $25,000 a year by doing printing work in the gaol, and if we extend the accommodation for him, I think we shall be able to save a great deal more than that, with the probability of saving more than the cost of this building long before the time comes to give up the building and go into new premises. Moreover, part of the expenditure is for machinery which would not be wasted even if we had to move.
So much for the principle of the thing. Coming to the details, even supposing the unofficial members are not prepared to accept the Government's view of the matter, I have it from the Acting Superintendent of Prisons that these two machines, a linotype com- posing machine, $14,200 and a Rota Print machine $6,550, are required for the current work of printing in the gaol regardless of whether we get a new building or not, and that he will find room for them even if he does not get the new building.
I would ask honourable members not to hamper the printing work of the gaol by refusing these two items. With regard to the sum of $17,820 for staff, I would like to remind hon. members that part of the staff consists of transfers from the Warders staff and only three of the men represent actual additions to the staff for the printing branch.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.--Then the marginal note is wrong. It says they are new posts.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.-They are new posts because they have new names, but they are not additional posts.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.-How many of these are new?
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