C. S. O.
(MF-237)
considered
two.
Our
ring the next year or We have undertaken to make
1
ter supply self-supporting and, as you know, we are spend- ing very large sums on this vital service. My own feeling is that there should be no free allowance and that all water consumed should be paid for, though would give a minimum allowance to each house at a very low rate and charge higher rates on a slid- ing scale for water consumption in excess of such allowance. I think that such a system is necessary to bring home to consumers the ne- cessity for avoiding waste. I would prefer, however, to make no change until our new water works are further advanced.
In regard to Expenditure, I have tried to keep the personnel down as low as possible having regard to efficiency. We are endeavouring to carry out as far as appears pos- sible the policy of increasing the number of locally recruited officers and reducing the number of those recruited from Europe. It is, however, neither possible nor ex- pedient to proceed too fast with such a policy.
As the Colonial Secretary has deal comprehensively with the increases in the various depart- ments, I need only make a brief reference to one or two points.
He has informed the Council of the arrangements made with the Far East Aviation Company in regard to a Flying School, and 1 trust that the two years experi- ment will prove a success. The item to which he referred in his speech is termed "Annual Sub- sidy to Flying Club." It would, perhaps, be more correctly termed "Annual Subsidy to Flying School," as the payments will be made to a large extent in con- sideration of flying facilities granted by the School to members of the Club.
Health Problems.
I share the regret expressed at the necessity of postponing many desirable services connected with the Medical Department, especial- ly in the matter of Health. At the same time I would point out that and the provision for Medical Sanitary Services has grown enormously in the past twelve years. The actual expenditure
under Medical Department in the year 1922 was $371,782, while the amount provided in next year's estimate for this Department is no less than $1,745,589. The amount expended by the Sanitary Department in 1922 was $548,824, and the amount provided for 1934 is $1,179,394. These figures of course do not include Special Ser- vices performed for these depart- ments by the Public Works De- in quoting partment. I do not,
these figures, wish it to be thought that I grudge this increase or that I am satisfied that all is being done that is desirable. I realize that a great deal more is required, but in a colony of this size there must, for financial reasons, be some limit
(13)
a new
to the rate of progress.
It is my earnest hope that I shall be able to provide in 1935 for an up-to-date Health Centre in which I trust it will be possible to arrange some co-operation with the University where I hope, by that time, to see a Chair of Health established.
Meanwhile further facilities are being provided for the treatment of Venereal Disease, additional clinic having been opened in Kowloon some months
I ago. hope that a
permanent Infant Welfare Centre at Wan- chai, to be built by private sub- scription and handed
to Government, will be completed within a few months. It is pro- posed to open a Centre in rented premises in Kowloon next year, and I hope to see a permanent Centre built there before long. There is no question whatever that these Centres meet an urgent and real need and do an immense amount of good.
The Hospitals.
over
Satisfactory progress is being made with the preparation of the site of the new Government Civil Hospital. The position of this building will render it much morc easy to provide wards for tuber- cular cases, and provision will be made for this. Considerable ex- tensions have been carried out to the Kowloon Hospital and provi- sion made for an adequate Out- Patients building. With the growing population in Kowloon the necessity for this is obvious and the work cannot be longer delay- ed.
I take this opportunity for ex- pressing the gratitude of the Colony to the Tung Wah, Tung Wah East and Kwong Wah Hospitals, the Chinese Public Dis- pensaries and the St. John Ambu- lance Brigade for the very valu- able assistance that they give in medical and health matters.
The Colony is deeply indebted to them. (Applause).
Technical School. Under Education you will notice that further provision has been made in connection with the Junior Technical School. We have been very fortunate in the master selected to take charge of the school and it is doing most excel- lent work. It should, however, be further developed along vocation- al and other lines. In fact, personally, speaking
I sider that this is one of the most important of our educational establishments. I attach the greatest importance to technical training, and, if funds for further development cannot otherwise be found, I would prefer to see fur- ther economies in other branches of education in order that such development may be accomplished.
Military Contribution.
can-
The Colonial Secretary has re- ferred to concessions which have been obtained in regard to the Military Contribution. There will be opportunities for full dis- cussion when the Bill which has
46
been referred to the Secretary of State comes before this Council, but I may say in advance that. while the present basis of contri- bution, like every other basis that has been suggested, may be open to some criticism, I am not pre- : pared to admit that it is entirely absurd to increase the Colony's contribution to its defence pari passu with the increase in its re- venue, which must, I submit, be in a large measure an index both its of its capacity to pay for defence and of the value of the property and interests to be de- the fended. I trust that when Bill is submitted this Council will feel able to endorse unanimously the thanks which I feel are due from the Colony to the Secretary of State for his strong support and assistance in securing valu- able concessions.
I am glad that the idea of a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve has received your approval. This
was
an old proposal and was postponed on financial grounds. It is now being revived and I feel sure, especially with the energy and keenness of our present Com- modore, it will prove a success.
University Needs.
re-
Under Miscellaneous Services you will note that the grant to the University of Hongkong
mains at $350,000. In the present state of the finances of the to University it is impossible reduce this grant. I am glad to say that with its help it has been possible to carry out certain im- provements to this institution. A new department of Surgery is being built at a cost of $26,000 and a Prime Movers Laboratory is also under construction. Exten- sions are being provided to the Lecture Rooms and Laboratory space in the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology and Biology at a cost of some- thing like $10,000, to enable the University to cope with the in- creased number of students. Other minor improvements have been carried out. The University has also spent an appreciable sum on the purchase of two valuable collections of books from Hankow and Macao.
It has, however, been a great disappointment to me that my ap- peal for voluntary contributions to the University on the occasion of its coming of age has met with
no success.
I am inclined to think that the residents of the Colony fail to realize what a valuable asset it has in its University. and how essential it is that it should re- ceive all possible support. It has hitherto held a high reputation, but this will diminish and even- tually be lost unless greater sup- port is forthcoming than has been the case during the past year or
two.
There is a considerable amount of money at present in the Colony in spite of bad times, and I should