Sherein
CHINA.
COST OF LIVING IN HONG KONG.
n
Lord Passfield Sceptical.
H. C. L. ALLOWANCES: MORE TAXATION/?
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
Hong Kong, Apr. 26.
Lord Passfield bas sent a cable to Hong Kong expressing surprise at the assertion that the cost of living in the Colony is higher now than it was ten years ago. The Colonial Secretary has asked that a table of comparative prices be prepared, show- ing what we paid for bread and cheese in 1920 and in 1929. He hopes, when these figures are drawn up, to be able to recom- mend that the special" H.C.L." allowances now being paid to Government servants be withdrawn, or at any rate reduced.
Needless to say, surprise is expressed in this Colony that there should be speculation in Whitehall about a matter which is one of common and painful know- ledge and experience to those living here. Why Lord Passfield should imagine that the cost of living in Hong Kong should do anything else but go up is a mystery, and if he could only come out here for a trip and do a month's housekeeping, he would get the surprise of his life.
London is still one of the cheapest places in the world to live in-if you want to live cheaplyand Hong Kong one of the dearest, considering what you get for your
money.
The only people who can afford to motor much are the agents who take "prospects " out for demonstration drives. Petrol has just jumped from 61 to 75 cents a gallon, and there are rumours of a 10 cents per
lon tax before long.
GI
More Taxation.
One thing is quite certain. The Govern- ment has to raise an extra million and a half dollers somehow in order to meet in- creased salary charges, and the problem is where to find the money? So far there is no indication of a rush of public-spirited | citizens to surrender each a few lakhs for the common good. Failing such voluntary sacrifices, other measures will have to be taken, and we are all very anxious to know Just where the axe will fall! Non-motor- ists heartily approve a tax on petrol; those who patronise the cinema only once. in a blue moon are strongly in favour of an entertainment tax. Total abstainers would not object to a tax of ten dollars a bottle on whisky; while the “gin- alingers would not oppose a tax on ice- cream and soft drinks, and non-smokers would rejoice to see a tax on cigars and cigarettes. How to reconcile all these con- flicting views with one another is one of the many tasks awaiting the new Gover- It is hard luck on Sir William Peel that he may have the thankless duty of imposing new taxation very soon after he arrives, but it looks very much as though he will have to do it-unless, of course, the $1,500.000 can be wiped out by cutting salaries down!
Dor.
Weihaiwei What Next?
In expressing his appreciation of Great Britain's friendly action in handing back Weihaiwei to China, Dr. C. T. Wang (speaking on behalf of the Chinese Govern- ment) urged his countrymen to persevere until "all sovereign rights are restored " to China. This is a perfectly natural sen- timent, of course, but it is recalled that it was in the same year (1898) of the British flag being hoisted at Weihaiwei that China leased to Great Britain for 99 years the 300 square miles behind Kowloon Peninsula known as the New Territory.
Kowloon itself was definitely ceded th Great Britain in 1860, but the territory beyond this four square miles is held on. lease by Britain until 1997. Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain in 1841, and in the following year the Chinese Govern- ment formally recognised the cession of the island.
All this history every well-informed schoolboy knows, no doubt, but when Dr. Wang talks about the restoration of “all sovereign rights" to China, there is just a tiny chill runs up and down the spine of some people living under the British dag at the other end of the map of China. It has taken a long time to come to terms over the rendition of Weihaiwei, but the responsibility for that is China's. Years ago the agreement was ready to sign when the Peking Government was suddenly toppled over, and the matter had to be left rer until things quietened down suffi- ently to enable a resumption of respon- ble conversations.
"Wei-hai" is a quiet little place, but ia affectionately regarded by many British residents in the Far East as a
very
pleasant spot to spend a summer holiday.
A Good Investment.
ملسن مع المله سن " تميل
Right Stonecrable Lord Passfield
Si.
havande de Hongkong
1875. our first man
Bill for food only
way
your abadi Samantha Hot Stevens Sempapore 4/5/30 18 5022 her thand the other 3/10 54y - Avrage cost of living in a free house rente) $60
Today
about 8240
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