thus
C. S. O.
( MCBS297)
aces herself in a position to derive the incalculable benefits to her progress which will follow upon development of aviation.
In the meantime, I desire to acknowledge the value of the work done by the Postmaster General in effecting air mail connexions with existing services to Europe.
Empire Preference.
I would like to say a word on the subject of Empire Preference. Since Hongkong has been brought within the scope of this scheme there have been distinct signs of improvement in the export trade of the Colony, but unfortunately the fillip which the reduced duties have given to certain lines of business has been to a great extent nullified by the difficulty experien- ced in passing goods through the Customs on their arrival at des- tination. Merchants have been put to much unnecessary trouble and expense in satisfying the United Kingdom Customs that their goods comply with the conditions under which they benefit from the reduced tariff, that is to say that the finish- ed article is 50% British, either in the form of raw material or labour applied to it in Hongkong.
a
If shippers could obtain Government Certificate that their merchandise is definitely of British origin, the cause of their present grievance would be at once removed. It may be argued that with the existing machinery at their dis- posal the Government is unable to certify the Goods. If that is the case then the Customs at home must be prepared to accept sup- pliers' declaration of origin, if necessary, supported by a certifi- cate from a recognised Chartered Accountant.
Speaking as the representative on this Council of the Chamber of Commerce, I can unfortunately con- firm the Colonial Secretary's ob- servations about the depressed state of the Colony's trade and shipping.
In the general opinion, things are worse than they were during the political agitations of 1925/ 1926.
The Government has heavy com- mitments in respect of practically re-developing the centre of Hong- kong, as well as large works in prospect on the Kowloon side. With a decreasing revenue and lessened ability on the part of the taxpayer to bear increased taxa- tion, it seems likely that there are difficult times ahead for the Colony as a whole, and many anxieties for its administrators.
(5)
HON. DR. S. W. TSO.
Poor Pay For Chinese Police Inspectors.
ADVOCATE FOR POOR.
The Hon. Dr. S. W. Ts'o said: -Your Excellency:-Mr. hon. colleagues the Senior Unofficial Member and the Senior Chinese Member having respectively, fully and ably represented the collective opinion of the Unofficial Members and the joint views of the Chinese Members on the Budget, there remains little for me to say except that I wish to associate myself with the remarks and observations which they have made in their ¡ speeches.
However, I should like to make a few remarks on the following matters in which, I may say, I take a personal interest.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary in his speech, drew the attention of hon. members to the new grade of 3 Sub-Inspectors in the Cantonese Contingent, under Head 20-Police Department.
It was hoped to recruit for these posts young men of education who will, after a few years' training, be competent to take their place in Commissioned ranks. I fully agree to the creation of these new posts. It is a policy in the right direction.
It opens a way for the better class of Chinese to take an interest in the Police Work. As the Hon. Colonial Secretary says in his speech, our Police Force must grow with the times. If some commissioned officers of the Can- tonese contingent be Chinese it will be a saving in the personal emoluments of the Police Depart- ment.
Poor Pay.
But turning to Head 20 in the Estimates I was surprised to find that the emolument provided for these new posts is nothing better than that of a Junior Chinese Clerk of the VI class.
I consider the pay is too meagre to induce men of education to take up such a responsible post. I may say that the Chinese Company of the Police Reserve is a good re- cruiting ground for the type of men wanted. But unless better inducement and brighter prospects are offered, it will be difficult to secure the proper type of men for these posts.
Under Head 22 of the Estimates provision is made to take over the Tsan Yuk Maternity Hospital next year by the Medical Department.
38
I should like to point out here that this hospital is situated in the poorest district in the Colony. It is a boon to the people living there because of its nearness to their home, and it saves them the ex- penses of conveyance in case of sickness if the hospital were to situate at a distance. The various clinics carried on by the hospital such as the baby clinic, antenatal clinic and the treatment of woman diseases and the V-D clinic were initiated by the late Dr. Mrs. Hickling, whose energy and hard working were unsurpassed. It was entirely due to her that the hospital was SO successfully carried on and her memory will never be forgotten by those who associated with her in her work.
I am now expressing a hope that these clinics may continue to be carried on either in the Tsan Yuk or somewhere else close to the locality as may be conveniently arranged; so that the poor of the Western District may continue to receive the benefits which they have enjoyed during the last ten years.
DR. R. H. KOTEWALL
Separate Assessment For Each Floor,
SPEED UP SHING MIN!
The Hon. Dr. Kotewall said:- Sir, In these days of unprecedent- ed financial stringency, a balanced Budget, even with the wealthiest of countries, is a matter for con- gratulation to both the Govern- ment and the tax-rayers. The Budget now engaging our atten- tion is "balanced" in more than the accounting sense of the word, and I therefore Venture to con- gratulate Your Excellency on your success in its production which must have volved Sisyphsan la- bour.
The Hon. Colonial Secretary, too,! has earned our admiration for the able manner in which he has pre- sented this, his first Budget. When he described it as "colour- less" he was, I think, unduly modest, for a careful examination of the draft Estimates and of the admirably lucid memorandum by the Hon. Colonial Treasurer on the financial
position of the Colony, as well as the helpful
notes
prepared by the Hon. Director of Public Works on Public Works Extraordinary, has con vinced me that the Budget is far from being colourless, even though it cannot be said to be colourful.
By confining his speech to the broad principles for the Govern- ment's financial policy and the more important changes in the draft Estimates, leaving details to