C. S. 0.
M. P. 237.)
figures for the first six months of this year are 19 at the Government Civil Hospital and 145 at the Tung Wah Eastern Hospital.
The reorganisation of the super- visory staff of the Post Office con- sequent on the death of the late Mr. Holdman has thrown consider- able extra work and responsibility on the Superintendent of Mails, and while the Government does not think it necessary to raise the per- manent emoluments of the post it feels justified in asking that the added responsibilities of the pre- sent holder during the few remain- ing years of his service should be recognized by a personal allowance of £50 per annum.
The swimming bath referred to by the honourable member is the Y.M.C.A. bath. In return for a payment of $200 a year the use of this bath is granted to the scholars of the Central British School twice weekly during two summer months. The children are taught swimming by the physical training instructors.
Land Sales.
will receive full consideration.
niversary of His Majesty's accesion | made known to the Government it should be fittingly celebrated in the Colony. The Government is at present awaiting certain informa- | tion from England and will in due course communicate its proposals to the Council.
Sunday Working.
re-
As regards the Sunday Cargo Working Permit fees to which my honourable friend Mr. Mackie has referred the Government has cently received a communication on this subject from the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce and the matter is under consideration. Shipping is not heavily taxed in this Colony and the sliding scale of payment introduced in 1933 affords relief in the payment of light dues from hardship which might otherwise result from the rise of the dollar. The payment of Sunday working fees has more- over been used as a justification for the Government contribution to Mercantile Marine Assistance Fund. The loss to revenue by the abolition of these fees would be, on the average, over $100,000 a year and the sacrifice of this amount in a year of falling revenue cannot be contemplated without very serious misgivings.
Cadet
Kowloon Post Office. Turning now to the views of the Honourable Mr. Braga, whose absence owing to indisposition we all greatly deplore, I would observe that the utilization of a officer in the stamp office does not in Staff. The mean an increase regular holder of the post in ques- tion will be on leave and qualified officer other than a Cadet Officer is available to do the work during his absence.
no
Kowloon
where
100
The honourable member refers to the new sterling paid officer in is the Post Office. This officer required for the new Kowloon Post Office. The new premises are four times as spacious as the present office and will provide with greatly increased postal facili- ties. The deliveries on the main- land will be centralized and worked from the new Post Office twenty postmen will be housed. It is proposed to ask outside ad- ! ministrations to close direct mails to Kowloon. Direct mails will similarly be despatched from Kow- loon. As this will practically raise the status of the Post Office to an con- independent command it is Isidered that the responsibilities of the post call for a sterling paid officer.
On the subject of Aviation have no doubt that the managers of the Flying School will take due note of my honourable friend's re-
The honourable member is not quite correct in his supposition that the proceeds of land sales are The treated as current revenue. honourable member will find in his are printed Estimates that they carefully separated from general revenue and though not allocated to specific works they are regarded marks. as money available for Public Works Extraordinary and are excellency will deal with the question cluded when the
is of the linking of Hongkong with balancing current expenditure the air routes of the world. against current revenue.
Government
I understand that
Tourist Traffic.
Your Ex-
The advertising of Hongkong as a winter holiday resort, referred to by the Hon. Dr. Kotewall and by the Hon. Mr. Mackie has hitherto been regarded as a matter for the private interests chiefly concerned viz shipping companies, hotels and It would places of amusement.
Regarding the honourable mem- ber's remarks on the Auditor's re- port, it has been decided that funds issued by the Treasury to a Head of Department must be disbursed immediately and the receipted vouchers returned to the Treasury within 12 days. A General Order | to this effect has already been of course be possible to establish a issued. The Store Regulations Government Advertising or Tourist were recently revised and elaborat- Bureau; but I must remind honour- ed and it may be that if, on accountable members that the Government a redundant of this elaboration, their complete does not maintain adoption by all departments, staff, however much certain especially the smaller departments, tions of the community would like is proving cumbersome a simpler us to believe it does, and an ad- vertising bureau would mean in- system will have to be devised.
crease of staff and increase of staff means more money for those per- sonal emoluments which always being urged Bearing these factors in mind the Government is prepared to consider any advertising scheme which the other Chambers of Commerce or responsible bodies might care place before it.
Bailiffs, As regards the Land experience has shown that two are required in the Northern District and only one in the Southern. The new officer is required to provide relief during absences on leave. There is no increase in the staff of Land Bailiffs in the Northern District.
The question of the gambling establishment at Shum Chun has already engaged the attention of the Government, but no satisfac- tory solution has yet been found.
The Government notes with pleasure the desire of Unofficial members that the twenty fifth an-
|
sec-
we are to reduce.
to
As regards opening places of after midnight the amusement Government is not aware of any general demand for later hours except on special occasions when extensions are freely granted. Should any general demand be
Malaria Works.
It is impossible to say how much resumptions. of the vote for anti-malarial works will be required for The D. P. W. estimates the require- ment for that purpose to be about five percent of the total vote of for anti- $60,000. The vote is malarial work in the Colony generally and not in Hongkong Island only. Certain works, as my is no doubt honourable friend aware, are in progress and these will be continued. The Finance
be Committee will asked this afternoon to approve of a supple-
$57,000 for mentary vote of sumptions in the Shou Son area. Work is contemplated Kowloon as well as in Hongkong, but it is unlikely that funds will permit of work at Castle Peak and Taipo during 1935.
re- Hill in
In such a large and complex sub- in- ject as malariology, which cludes mosquitology, the factors are so many and are so influenced by meteorological, geological and social conditions that the study is
a continuous one and it has not
a
been possible to draw up any single final report which would cover the whole Colony. Each area is study in itself. Each year the re- sults of the Malariologist's in- vestigations have been published as an appendix to the Medical and Sanitary report a copy of which is placed in the hands of every mem- ber as soon as possible after its receipt from the printers.
The