HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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(1) Fuel has per consumption tests,
(2) Stores per scale.
(d) All ratings being on a general list gives equal chances to all for promotion the only exception to this being the water Police, who are under special conditions of service.
(e) The launches being directly under this department a uniform system of discipline is maintained.
(f) All defects are reported direct and are dealt wtih at once.
(g) All contracts for repairs. etc., being dealt with by central authority, it is much easier to estimate the cost.
I would point out that even if the launches are returned to their sub-departments this department will have to do all the supervision of repairs, stores, etc., with a greatly lessened control.
Thirdly the senior unofficial member questioned the economy. of maintaining a Government slipway. It is only necessary, I think, to refer to the number of craft, 58 in all, excluding the Kausing, we have to deal with, entailing constant, small adjustments and repairs to realise that an establishment of this nature is necessary for this purpose alone. The comparative cost of work in the slipway and outside has been carefully examined by the Government, and the results show a considerable margin in favour of the yard.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. Sir, I propose to reply to the observations of hon. members which refer particularly to works under the control of the Public Works Department.
Where the Causeway Bay North Point Road has been reduced in width to 75 feet sufficient land is being reserved to allow of widening to 100 feet if and when the wider road is considered necessary. It is hoped that the reduction in width will save $160,000 in the total cost.
The widening of May Road from Aigburth Hall to Conduit Road was considered in connection with the draft Estimates, but as it is at present impossible to fix the road line past Queen's Gardens this item had to be postponed.
The survey of the harbour is proceeding rapidly and about 40% has now been completed. It is anticipated that all sounding work will be completed by the end of 1934. Thereafter further work will be necessary on current observation and co-ordination of data then available.
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