HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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Government has increased the grant, from $1,000 to $2,000, to the New Territories Agricultural Association. I trust the Government will keep a watchful eye on the progress of the New Territory farmers and afford them every facility that they may reasonably require.
The Empire Day Exhibition of British Empire goods this year has proved to be a great success and a great incentive to the New Territory farmers to exhibit their goods. I hope therefore that the Government will make this show an annual event lending to it as much as possible Official countenance.
Turning to the estimate under Head No. 25-Education Department-I find that the capitation grants have been increased from $180,000 to $217,500 for the coming year; but no increase has been made on subsidies to Urban Elementary Vernacular Schools in Hong Kong. Whatever may be said of these schools they do supply an elementary education to thousands of poor children. If the Government were to provide schools for these children it would cost the Colony an enormous sum of money. I consider it therefore an economy to encourage these schools.
The Normal School for women is being housed in rented premises which proved to be most unsuitable. The need of a building of its own is very urgent. The Hon. Colonial Secretary has, in his speech recognized its urgency but building operation is deferred to other more important works. As the cost for this building is not so large as compared with other large schemes, I would urge the Government to keep the matter in sight and sanction building operation at the earliest possible date. (Applause).
THE HON. MR. T. N. CHAU:-Sir,—I express complete concurrence in the views and sentiments of the honourable senior Chinese member and of the Hon. Dr. S. W. Ts'o. In expressing this general concurrence I desire to amplify one subject which the Hon. Dr. Kotewall has already dealt with rather fully, namely, the grant to the Society for the Protection of Children. I respectfully urge the request for an increased grant on Your Excellency's sympathetic notice. As Joint Honorary Secretary of the Society, I may add to the information given by the Hon. Dr. Kotewall that in 96 cases in the past ten months, the families concerned were without visible means; and in the whole of the 702 cases dealt with by the Society in that period, the average income worked out at a figure which allowed to each member of the family a monthly income of less than $3 out of which to provide food, clothing and accommodation. In over 50% of the cases the family had no means to pay for a single room but occupied only a 'bed-space.'
Not only were the persons concerned miserably poor, but in more than 50% of the cases reported, the children were suffering from disease, and very frequently this was the direct result of insufficient food,
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