C. S. 0.
(1.8.9.)
87
favourable than its present value, we would ask Your Excellency to bring this matter before Unofficial Members for further consideration during the coming year.
The site formation of the new overnment Civil Hospital, and the new Gaol at Stanley, appear near completion, and the site for the new Central British School at Kowloon has been started in earnest, with
the result that the coming year should witness real progress in respect of these essential public works.
The Upper Levels Police Station, and the Magistracy at Yaumati, are very necessary requirements.
City Development Scheme. The Government House and City Development Scheme, must be regarded as a separate entity, as it has been segregated from the General Government Accounts. It is, we understand, anticipated that Scheme, when completed, will pay for
itself.
the
particularly the area between. Deep pirates, and that she was within gun- Water Bay and Aberdeen, not forget-shot of the ship; nevertheless, the ting, in connection therewith, neces-pirates got on shore in Mirs Bay sary and economic forms of transport.about midnight with property of the
Bathing Facilities.
officers and passengers. It would seem that some explanation is called of the new No. 1 Police launch, such for, and we hope, with the completior. a occur again. (Report Appendix K. state of circumstances will not
pages 6 & 7.)
A matter which will ere long have bathing facilities at North Point. to come up for sonsideration is the Daily in the summer months, many thousands avail themselves of this very healthy form of recreation.
Gaols.
Pavilions are, and always have been, The permits for the erection of the
The Prison Report for 1933 cannot few years, alternative accommodation|tion where convicted criminals have temporary only, and within the next be overlooked. When we get a situa- will have to be found, as the com- mercial development of that part of the Colony cannot be impeded.
The construction of a motor road, down to the area formerly occupied from the Gap above Deep Water Bay, by the Brick Works, but now belong- ing to Government, thereby opening up the whole of Deep Water Bay for bathing purposes, and the area in question for recreation grounds, might possibly make some provision to meet
the situation.
to be released before their terms have expired, the position has become more than serious, and it is therefore most important that our new gaol should be completed with all possible speed.
at Laichikok is over-crowded, and that the workshops accommodation is quite inadequate.
We also notice that the Female Gaol
Mr. Franks would appear to have a difficult position to fill.
(Report Appendix L. pages 2 & 3.)
Coinage.
The Scheme was based on the sale of the City Hall, and now that it has been disposed of, the way is made clear for the construction of the new Government buildings, and the new Government House. An Assembly Hall and Theatre is badly needed, and Saiwan Bay, we do not know, but the is, the falsification of our coinage is
as the sale of the old City Hall has made possible this ambitious scheme, something on the lines of the old City Hall is called for, as a measure of compensation to the public for what it has lost. The new City Hall should not only accommodate theatrical per- formances, but should be of sufficient accommodation to be a venue for Government and Public Receptions.
We are glad that Government have seen fit to grant some relief to the builder in extending automatically the burden of building covenants for one year. This concession
will assist, in an indirect method, our economic problem, and bring relief to a valuable section of our community, but will not interfere with genuine building.
Viewing the position as a whole, we think the Honourable Director of Public Works must be well pleased with the programme he has before him, even though the Works Extra- ordinary Vote has been reduced from $3,591,950 in 1934 to $2,999,450 in 1935. Many of his predecessors would be jealous of his enviable posi-
tion.
Before leaving the subject of public works, we desire to state that we ap- prove of the principle of giving out such works as the Central British School to private firms of architects, and we think that the practice might be further developed in suitable cases. Playing Grounds.
We have watched with interest the
opening of the public playground at Wanchai this year, and we hope that Government, when developing new areas for building purposes, will, as far as possible, make similar provision wherever possible. The need for more lungs in the Colony cannot be too strongly stressed.
More athletic grounds are very nec- cessary, and we think that Govern- ment should investigate the possibili- ties of the south side of the Island,
Whether it is possible to continue the road and tram rails, through Shaukiwan, along the water level to
matter might receive consideration.
Vehicular Ferry.
the Colony a substantial sum, and may The vehicular ferry may have cost be criticised on this account, but there is no gainsaying the fact that it has linked up the Island with the main- land in a manner no other practical means could have effected. Its popu- larity is, like the traffic carried, grow- ing day by day, and is even now a
valuable asset.
In a Colony situated as Hongkong
a matter of very great concern. It is surprising the amount of false local
issuing banks' notes is a matter that tion, and the forgery of some of our subsidiary coinage there is in circula-
cannot be passed over lightly. It is to be hoped that Police and Magistrates will use their utmost dili- gence in dealing with this all im- portant matter. (Report Appendix K. page 2.)
Mui-Tsai.
our
The creation of a new post, the hearted support. Inspector of Mui-tsai, has our whole-
100 Feet Road. feet road at North Point. Consider- Another hardy annual is the 100 able work has been carried out this generally, we are satisfied that the As regards the Mui-tsai problem hope that substantial efforts will being loyally and firmly carried out. The year, and we can only express the made to complete the work without number of Mui-tsais in the Colony is: policy of the Home Government is be-
delay.
Police Force.
yearly decreasing, and in the mean- time the work of our Inspectors is formed. (Report Appendix C. page being honestly and impartially per-
1.)
We notice a change of emoluments on page 47 of the Estimates. The carries with it apparently, a salary post of Inspector-General of Police
We Unofficial Members desire to from £1,500 to £1,600 annually, whilst protest in reference to the manner the Cadet Officer Class I, a salary in which the bona fides of the settled from £1,500 to £1,800. Is it suggest- ed that a life-trained police officer is policy of this Colony in dealing with Class I for the purpose of filling the
Mui-tsais is from time to time being' less valuable than a Cadet Officer called in question by ill-informed position of Inspector-General Police?
people in England. (Applause).
Factories.
of
the subjects which the Honourable Mr.
This matter will form one of! Bell will deal with.
New No. 1 Police Launch. We see in the Estimates an item of $250,000 for a new No. 1 Police ful for anti-piracy purposes. We are launch, which obviously will be use- of the opinion that our police should,4 as suggested, have two such launches in operation.
Piracy.
It is interesting to note that our legislation in respect of Factories and Workshops is resulting in considerable improvement in our general factory of children under 16 has practically conditions, and that the employment
Appendix C. pages 8 & 9.) ceased in large factories, (Report
Juvenile Offenders.
Last year we saw the coming into force of the Juvenile Offenders Or- dinance: it marks another mile-stone in our judicial progress. The Remand
piracy during the year 1983. In two Home appears to be working well,
We note with regret three cases of cases the ships had already been and it is to be hoped that the Remand searched in Hongkong. In the case Home for Girls, at No. 2 Embankment ! of the steamer Prominent we find that Road, Kowloon, which Government is the No. 4 Police launch was aware that the ship was in the hands of financing, and is to be worked through the good offices of the Salvation Army,
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