HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
215
advisability of the construction of this road is debatable. Amongst the opponents of the project were ranged my unofficial colleagues of this Council. I draw attention to this subject not so much because I entertain any hope of success in these hard times, but that a scheme which, to my mind, will in the end prove remunerative will not be lost sight of entirely. I cannot appreciate the diffidence in embarking upon this project when it is known to the Government that there are a few prospective applicants for building sites as soon as a working plan of the new road should be available to them and likely residential plots shown on such plan.
Kowloon Aquarium.
Sir, leaving aside all contentious matter I turn to a suggestion which, if possessing no other merit, at any rate can claim that of originality. I hope I shall not be found guilty of temerity for bringing forward a proposal that involves some expenditure. The total outlay is not going to be very large, it will recoup itself in a few years and besides add to the amenities of Kowloon, which is fast growing into a large and beautiful city.
It was just a month ago that the Biology Buildings attached to the University were publicly opened by Your Excellency. It is only in the fitness of things that the thought suggests itself that a public Marine Aquarium be established in the not distant future. I hope I may be justified in the submission that this is an opportune moment for bringing forward the suggestion. Apart from the economic and scientific aspects of such an institution, the popular interest which the project will arouse is certain to be great. A suitable site for the Aquarium should be in the area reserved for a Public Park recommended by the Playing Fields Committee near the Police Training School. There are public aquaria in Manila, Batavia, Japan, and Honolulu. Your Excellency is probably better acquainted than anyone of us with the Public Aquarium in Singapore. I am given to understand that there need be no doubt as to the ultimate financial success of a well-established aquarium in a large centre of population, such as I have suggested in Kowloon. The Aquarium in Manila, though small maintains most interesting exhibits. There were in June of this year 891 exhibits, which attracted a great Ideal of attention. It cost Ps.60,000 to build and less than Ps.8,000 for its maintenance in 1929. There were 30,000 visitors last year, and a small entrance fee is charged, elementary pupils being admitted free. It should not be difficult to plan an Aquarium for Kowloon on the Manila or any other improved model. In this con- nexion a short extract from the general report of Mr. David G. Stead, Fisheries Enquiry Commissioner, upon the fisheries of British Malaya is well worth consideration.
"I would even go so far as to suggest," Mr. Stead wrote, "that in a country of such mixed nationalities, where human interests are so diverse, a large well-established public aquarium would be really
70