174
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
of its effective life. There can be no doubt that the Society, by affording medical treatment to sick and starving children and by providing them with proper food, has saved and is saving many lives. I therefore beg Your Excellency to increase the annual grant to $10,000 next year, so as to enable the Society to carry on, unhampered, work which is essential for the social well-being of the Colony.
On page 98 of the Estimates, Public Works Recurrent shows a total of $1,692,500 as against $1,521,800 for the current year, The Estimates for next year, though $171,000 in excess of the previous approved estimate, is, I fear, still inadequate, for a reference to the Abstract of Expenditure on page 12 reveals the fact that for 1932 the revised estimate is $1,800,000. If expenditure next year maintains the same level as the revised estimate for the present year-and I can conceive of no reason why it should be less then the estimate seems to be short of about $100,000, unless the Government intends to economise generally. But it has to be borne in mind that votes for Public Works Recurrent are in the nature of maintenance expenditure, and it seems to me. to be false economy to stint the maintenance of public works; for roads, embankments and other constructions of such nature, if not properly maintained in good condition, must inevitably result in greater expenditure by reason of the large amount of money necessary for major repairs which timely maintenance would have obviated. If, however, the Government has intention of economising in this direction, then it is bad estimating to provide in the Budget a less amount than is really needed, merely for the purpose of presenting a balanced Budget, and with the intention of applying for supplementary votes, as has been done during the last two or three years. It is to be hoped that in future Estimates an amount based on the actual expenditure of the previous year, and on careful estimating of future requirements, will be inserted.
no
I now come to a subject which, for the moment, is the most important to the community-the problem of the Colony's water supply. It is indeed a welcome assurance from the Hon. Colonial Secretary that should further funds for the new water-works be required, the Government will not hesitate to come to this Council and ask for them. My Chinese colleagues and I express the sincere hope that every dollar of the money provided for 1933 towards these works will be spent; and that, if possible, the programme of work for the coming year may be exceeded, so that the completion of these vitally necessary expansions of the water supply may be expedited. I have no hesitation in claiming to speak on behalf of all my unofficial colleagues when I say that if additional funds be asked for, approval will readily be accorded by us.
The honourable senior unofficial member has, on behalf of all the unofficials, asked that a telegram be sent to the Secretary of
178