1
13)
INING
POST.
224
FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 7. 1932.
that it effectively prevented any KOWLOON AFFAIRS. dollar balance is a little surpris- disorders: while it showed to po- tential evil-doors that the Govern-
ment was fully prepared, it did not
create the least feeling of uneasi-
ness in the minds of the people,
ing, to say the least.
Post Office Need. Government's selection of the
Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga most prominent public works re- Deals With All Aspects. quired for Kowloon is one that has
thus enabling them to pursue the even tenor of their daily life. In this good work the Police were ably supported by the Hon. Secre- COMMUNITY'S tary for Chinese Affairs with his District Watch Force.
Taxation Suggestion.
Hon. Mr.
commended itself to the public, if the views expressed in the Eng- lish newspapers in Hongkong cor- NEEDS.rectly reflect public opinion
at
Braga, dealing some length with Kowloon affairs, said:
Your Excellency,-With the existence of a residents' associa tion at Kowloon, it is more than doubtful if the title could be con- ceded to me of 'guardian of Kow- loon's interests." This much, however, I may claim for myself a zeal and an enthusiasm for all that appertains to Kowloon that compel unmitigated interest in and unabated attention to the wel- fare of Kowloon's inhabitants, its unarrested development and great er prosperity. It was for this rea- son that, for the past three years on each occasion of the budget debate, my comments have been confined to Kowloon affairs and the programme
of public works therewith. My remarks on the present occasion are addressed within the same limitations.
as
they usually do. One important omission from that list, however, has been dealt with in his usual thorough manner by my honour- It is pleasing to note that the
able friend, the Senior Unofficial Government recognises "the ex-
Member. The omission, relating treme advisability of avoiding any
to the absence of the provision of additional taxation", to use the
a sufficient sum for the com- Hon. Colonial Secretary's own
mencement of $1 Post Office words. Last year
the Hon. Sir
building in Kowloon, cannot Shouson Chow, as representing
be passed over without some the joint views of the unofficial
supplemental comment from me. members of this Council, said that
There was a time, not so long ago, the Colony's taxable capacity had
when it was mooted that Govern- reached a point where any addi-
ment had contemplated a central tional imposts would assuredly
administration building for the have an adverse effect on trade and
Peninsula. In fact, even the site on the economic life in general of
for such a building had been in- the community. Trade conditions
dicated. It is fervently hoped in the Colony to-day are worse
that when plans are drawn for the than they were at this time last
new Post Office building it will year; and they are ascribed by
cover an area sufficiently large many at least partially to the
in order to provide for a central wholesale introduction of new
building for the administration of taxes last year, just at a time when
Kowloon and its environs, ade- trade needed to be nurtured with
quate for the needs not only of the every care. Compared with other
present but of future generations. places, Hongkong may appear to be
I feel the obligation is imposed The present system for the mak- more lightly taxed; but when we
on me in the first place to ex- ing up of mails in Kowloon needs. take into consideration the pre press my thanks to the Govern- revising. Residents cannot see valling high cost of living, and
ment for the unfailing courtesy why Kowloon mails must be made the periodical disturbances to accorded to the several represen-up twelve or fifteen hours earlier. trade, as well as the adverse tations I have had the honour to than in Hongkong when
mail' factor of the exchange question, make to Your Excellency on the steamers are berthed at the Kow- the present burden is all that the
numerous occasions that I felt it loon wharves. If an improve- Colony can bear; and it was there-
my duty to address the Government can be effected in the exist- fore a wise policy on the part ofment in the interests of my fel-ing system it will be appreciated. the Government to intimate, as it low-citizens. The results of those I must not leave the subject of the did. that it was not its intention representations have invariably Post Office without a word of to increase the burden. I trust led to public improvements of praise for the architectural office that it will not be found necessary existing, and the provision of of the Public Works Department at any time during the next few years to impose further taxation, new, amenities that contribute to responsible for the artistic little the well-being of the community pavilion on Kowloon City Road 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
on the Peninsula.
Economy Policy.
can
There is the Government admis-
doing duty for a district Post Of- fice. A similar type of building. and as prettily designed and erect- Just a fortnight ago the Govern-ed in a similar setting in the dis- ment enunciated its new econo-trict of Kowloon Tong should be to me that there is one item in the mic policy, namely, that of main-a boon to its residents. imposts which can still be in-taining a minimum surplus bal-
Branches in Kowloon. creased: it is the item "Bets and
ance of $10,000,000. None 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 unoffi cial 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
A Tax On Winnings.
to
the
cavil at a policy dictated by a mea- sion that the development of Kow- sure of prudence, the more so loon is not without responsibility when regard is had to the occa- for the extra pressure by way of sional disturbing influences that office accommodation. This of- have given the Colony material ficial public admission that for anxious thought. At the same time has come when Kowloon time, reference may not inappro- should be provided with at least priately he made to what may be branch offices where residents can their Government business called an axiomatic principle, of do suitable application to Hongkong, without coming across the har- In this relating to municipal economies, bour is of happy augury. in the Model Bettlement
private of respert.
concerns. for Shanghai. The North China Daily years past, have shown how things News of that City moralised can be done for Government's editorially that "economy with emulation. Take, for example, out efficiency ig dangerous. the Kowloon branch of the Hong- Economy which means stagnation kong and Shanghai Banking Cor- is no less harmful."
I
Eshould make the most of. It is stated in paragraph 6 of the Hon. Colonial Treasurer's Informative memorandum that a duty of 3% is charged on the takings of totalisators or parimutuels, and a duty of 5% on cash sweeps. In
poration, the various branches of my opinion these percentages can
the Chinese banks with their head easily be doubled. I realise that
Speaking of Kowloon, there offices on the Island, not to men- the increase may, to some extent, should be really no well-founded tion the outstanding Peninsula affect the revenue of the organisa-fear on the part of the Govern- Hotel, La Salle College, Diocesan tions concerned, but if people can ment for its hesitancy in embark Boys' School, Ying Wah School, afford to have a fling with their ing on much-needed public works the new St. Mary's School, and a money, they should be able
when confidence in the future of number of girls' schools which contribute a little more to the that part of the Colony is so well provide greater educational faci- well-being of the Colony.
sustained by private enterprise.lities for children of families re- Instead of Government setting the siding on the Peninsula. The re- example for individuals and pub-cital of this list is an indictment In this connexion I have yet lic companies to follow, the lat-of the unjustifiable faint-hearted- another suggestion to make forter lead the way in the numerousness displayed by the Government the consideration of the Council. undertakings which are a strik-jin embarking on public undertak- I think that a substantial levy on ing example of the faith reposedings of any great magnitude. winnings can fairly be introduced. in Kowloon by capitalists within Pleasing as the fact is that the Such a tax would probably be the Colony and from abroad who projected additions to the Kow- paid quite as readily as the per-initiate and develop industries loon Hospital will mean the erec- centages of prizes that often go to that form the Colony's most valu- tion of three new Blocks, I desire the vendors of lucky tickets, or as able assets in more ways than one. to add emphatic support to the are the sums of money, sometimes
Industrial Kowloon.
urgent representation of my quite substantial, that are spent The growth of the erstwhile pig- Senior Unofficial colleague for a on celebrating the occasion! Sure-farming districts of Shamshuipo Ward for maternity cases. With ly, it should be a matter of great and Kowloon City into important more wards there must also be a er mental satisfaction to the lucky industrial centres; the founding larger staff of doctors, nurses and winner to feel that he has given of Homuntin as a salubrious set-attendants. have seen the some of his unearned gains to-
loment; the transformation ofigures of the numbers of in- wards it may be providing the the deadly malarious swamps of patients and out-patients, respec- masses of the Colony with some
Kowloon Tong into a well-ordered tively, treated in the Kowloon precious water in times of drought and picturesque Garden City, and Hospital for the first nine months than that the same money has
the recent advent of a new scheme of the current year. The figures been spent certainly unnecessari-
now intensively developing into are largely in excess of those for ly, in champagne for just a few! an elevated residential area plan- past years. If this ratio of in- I offer these suggestions, not ned on approved lines, need only crease should be maintained the necessarily for immediate imple- be mentioned for it to be realised space now available in the Kow- mentation, but for the Govern how many millions of dollars' loon Hospital will have ment to use as a first choice. if worth of capital are being invest-doubled in five years from now. and when the necessity arises;
Hospitals for Children. for I fear that in balancing the ed in the confident belief of their Budget for next year, the Govern absolute_security and prospective ment has cut its estimates to such profit. Forgetting, if it were pos-nual report of the Hongkong So- a fine point that there is left hard-sible, for the moment such exten-ciety for the Protection of Chil- sive establishments like the dock-dren gives force to the Unofficials' ly any margin in case of unfore-yards, the electricity power sta-representation on the inadequacy seen expenditure arising, such as a fall in exchange or other circumtion, cement works and the oil in-of the existing Hospital accom- stances over which we can have stallations, the recent erection modation. The paragraph in the
of large rubber-shoe, electric-report I refer to reads torch and clock and felt hat fac-lows: tories, the introduction of a pro- "Your Committee were much sperous silk industry on the concerned as to the inadequacy of the hospital accommodation available for the children of the Chinese poor on the Kowlon Peninsula. At the beginning of this year that accommoda- tion was limited to a maximum of five beds in the Kowloon Hospital, and sixteen beds in the Kwong Wah Hospital, with the possibility of further ac- commodation in the adult wards dependent on the demand for beds for adults."
no control.
Optimistic of Future.
By this advocacy of prepared-muddy foreshore of Ma-Tau-Wei, ness and of care in spending what and, lastly, projected fire-cracker we have, I hope I will not be con- factories that promise to change sidered unduly pessimistic. In the future outlook of Ngau-Shi- deed, I am not. I have unbound-Wan are striking evidences of the ed faith in the Colony-in its popular faith in the future of the ability to weather any storms, as Peninsula.
to be
An extract from the second an-
as fol-
well as in its future. Although Beyond the confines of Kowloon we are, at this moment, passing through a rather serious period on modern principles have found a proper brick and ceramic works of trade depression, I have the foothold at Castle Peak and Lowu. firm belief that we will emerge Minor industries are scattered unscathed from it, as we did from throughout the thriving districts many similar depressions in the
May I hope that the plea I now past. As long as the people have of the New Territories with their.
thousands of contented farmers enter for our less-favoured Chi- the blessings of peace and pro- tection; as long as the Colony is and simple country folks. Elec- nese brethren will not fall on governed with foresight and tricity will supply the motive pow- deaf ears?
er that is bound to assist in the I must confess my disappoint- vision, and with that policy of broadmindedness and justice development of existing and fos- ment in the matter of the sew- which characterises the present ter the establishment of new, in- erage at Homuntin. The position administration, I foretell for the dustries. With these outstanding to-day is the same as it was when future not only a full recovery of examples of the length to which I raised the matter in the Legis- our former prosperity, but a pros- private enterprise is prepared to lative Council on 5th September,
on the part of 1929. Replying to a series perity even greater than the go, the timidity
in its questions I then asked, the Gov- Colony has ever enjoyed. (Ap Government demonstrated
stated that plause).
declared policy of the mainten- ernment spokesman ance of a minimum ten-million the estimated cost of construct-
of