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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HON. MR. T. N. CHAU.-Sir,-I am in general agreement with the remarks of the Hon. Senior Unofficial Member, and I wish at the same time to associate myself with his expression of thanks to the Hon. Colonial Secretary, the Hon. Financial Secretary, and the Hon. Director of Public Works.
It is a matter of extreme gratification to the Chinese community that the Government has decided not to impose additional taxation. This decision, if I may be permitted to say so, is a wise one, in view of the steady rise in the cost of living and the uncertainty of the future.
The Hon. Senior Unofficial Member has, on behalf of all Unofficial Members, tendered congratulations to the Hon. Inspector General of Police and to the Force under him on the good order which they have maintained. It is a matter of great pride to my Chinese colleagues. and myself that in times like these the Chinese residents of Hong Kong should have conducted themselves with such admirable self-restraint, calmness and dignity, thus vindicating once more their reputation as a peace-loving and law-abiding people.
While on this subject I should like to express, on behalf of the Chinese community, appreciation of the policy of the Government in regard to refugees. True to its tradition, Hong Kong has thrown open its doors to all and sundry who have chosen this place as a haven of refuge, and at the same time is affording protection to all without distinction of race or nationality.
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My Chinese colleagues and I express the strong hope that the Government will do everything in their power to suppress the evil of heroin traffic, about which the Senior Unofficial Member has spoken at length. The problem is admittedly a difficult one. In spite of increased vigilance on the part of the authorities, and in spite of the long terms of imprisonment imposed by our Courts, the traffic remains unabated. agree with the Senior Unofficial Member that the time has come when flogging should be tried. We know how reluctant successive Secretaries of State for the Colonies have been in sanctioning this form of penalty, but where other measures have been tried and have failed, and when the health of the community and of future generations is at stake, we have no hesitation in advocating the adoption of this extraordinary measure to meet the extraordinary situation. We would therefore urge the Government once more to represent this strong recommendation of the Unofficials to the Secretary of State.
The proposed appointment of a Lady Assistant and three additional female inspectors to be attached to the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs for mui-tsai work is, I think, a step in the right direction, and, in my humble opinion, it should not be difficult to find suitable Chinese candidates for these appointments.
My Chinese colleagues and I have noted with pleasure the decision of the Government to increase the grant to the General Chinese Charities
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