HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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As regards road-widening we regret that the Queen's Garden link between May Road and Conduit Road has not been included in the Estimates.
As regards Kowloon, no doubt individual members will deal with the subject at greater length. The Unofficial members are, however, of opinion that the weight of their unanimous representations should be brought to the notice of the Government in respect of three matters which they think require immediate attention. I will refer to them in their order of importance. First, the subject of the Kowloon Hospital Extension. In this connexion we would like to thank Your Excellency for the recent opportunity afforded to us to discuss the matter with the assistance of the Medical Authorities and of the Officials of the Public Works Department jointly. We cannot refrain from
from expressing our disappointment at the diverting of the Maternity Block from the original use for which it was designed, even though that diversion may be only a temporary measure defended on the ground of expediency. The result is that, at present no maternity case, however urgent, can be treated in the Kowloon hospital for lack of accommodation, and we, therefore, welcome the inclusion in the Estimates for 1933 of a block of Nurses' Quarters, which will provide the Hospital Nursing Staff with the better and quieter accommodation, which they deserve, and which should, we consider, release the Maternity Block wholly for maternity cases.
Whilst approving also of the projected additional Medical Officers' Quarters and of a new General Ward Block for 3rd class patients, the Unofficial members desire specially to urge upon Your Excellency's notice the necessity for erecting a new Block capable of treating out-patients, who flock daily in large numbers to the Kowloon Hospital for medical attention, and we hope that, if possible a Supplementary Vote will be taken later for the erection of this Block, which is on the Government's hospital planning map as a desirable project and which is urgently needed.
The second urgent matter, relating to Kowloon, is the new Post Office, in regard to which the Hon. Colonial Secretary stated that in the near future a large building will be required which will include an ample Post Office. May we inquire if plans for such a comprehensive building have been drawn up and if not how soon will they be ready? The Unofficial members will appreciate an opportunity of considering these plans.
There is a third subject, affecting Kowloon, which the Unofficial members consider of importance, namely, the decision to retain the central valley of the Kowloon Peninsula for public cemeteries. At the time when the decision was taken to convert that valley into a burial ground no forecast could have contemplated that the growth of Kowloon would have
have attained that rapidity and
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