}
35
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
175
State for the Colonies pressing for information as to when the plans of the new Shing Mun Dam may be expected to arrive in the Colony. I strongly support this request. A telegram despatched at this juncture should serve to stress the extreme urgency of the matter, and the need for an early commencement of construction work.
My Chinese colleagues and I desire to associate ourselves most heartily with the sentiments of the honourable senior unofficial member regarding the good work of the Police and Police Reserve. The disposition of these Forces made by the Hon. Inspector General of Police during the past few weeks of anxiety, deserves unstinted praise. The work was so efficiently and yet so quietly done that it effectively prevented any disorders: while it showed to potential evil-doers that the Government was fully prepared, it did not create the least feeling of uneasiness in the minds of the people, thus enabling them to pursue the even tenor of their daily life. In this good work the Police were ably supported by the Hon. Secretary for Chinese Affairs with his District Watch Force.
It is pleasing to note that the Government recognises "the extreme advisability of avoiding any additional taxation," to use the Hon. Colonial Sceretary's own words. Last year the Hon. Sir Shouson Chow, as representing the joint views of the unofficial members of this Council, said that the Colony's taxable capacity had reached a point where any additional imposts would assuredly have an adverse effect on trade and on the economic life in general of the community. Trade conditions in the Colony to-day are worse than they were at this time last year; and they are, ascribed by many-at least partially-to the wholesale introduction of new taxes last year, just at a time when trade needed to be nurtured with every care. Compared with other places, Hong Kong may appear to be more lightly taxed; but when we take into consideration the prevailing high cost of living, and the periodical disturbances to trade. as well as the adverse factor of the exchange question, the present burden is all that the Colony can bear; and it was therefore a wise policy on the part of the Government to intimate, as it did, that it was not its intention to increase the burden. I trust that it will not be found necessary at any time during the next few years to impose further taxation, so that the Colony may enjoy a period of recuperation.
If, however, further sources of revenue are to be looked for at some future date, then it seems to me that there is one item in the imposts which can still be increased: it is the item "Bets and Sweeps Tax" on page 8 of the Estimates. I advocated this tax in 1930, and am glad to see that it is estimated to yield $340,000 in 1933, whereas some of my unofficial colleagues expressed the fear that the estimate of $250,000 for the present year was too high. Not only do I consider this form of taxation justifiable, but I also consider that it is one which we should make the most