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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
those which the instructions require should be sent to the Secretary of State with the Estimates, and it is now in hand, but there is no good reason why it should not have been completed earlier and circulated with the draft Estimates. May I be allowed to express the hope that its absence did not unduly hamper Hon. members in the work of examination which they have so conscientiously carried out?
For index, it is possible that attention has not been drawn to the Fly Leaf of the Estimates, to Page 5 and to Page 12. These pages form a complete index to the whole volume, and if Hon. members will make use of it, I venture to think that they will find it sufficient for all purposes.
Revenue From Motor Vans.
A question was asked concerning the item of Revenue "Use of Motor Vans $17,500." A new method of conveying pork carcases from Slaughter House to Stall has been introduced recently and special Sanitary Department Vans will now do the work under departmental control. A charge of 6 cents a carcase is made, and the estimated revenue is the sum given. The figure of 6 cents has been fixed with a view to reimbursing the Government for running costs on this account, but it remains to be seen whether any altera- tion will be called for.
Harbour Office Increases.
The member for the Chamber of Commerce has drawn attention to a number of increases under the Other Charges of the Harbour Office: for which the main reason is to be found in the difference in exchange. He will remember that the estimate for 1931 is based on a 1/4 dollar as against 1/10 for the current year. The contract price of coal in the Colony further tends to show an increase and the extra cost will provide for no luxuries such as he suggests in the way of extra warmth.
Post Office Message Fees.
The message fees are divided as follows:
|
No
Wireless messages
Semaphore messages
Advices of incoming ships
328,790
10
1,200
$330,000