HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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The urgent situation arising out of the present food supply has brought home to us that the matter is of paramount importance. I hope Government will avail itself of the opportunity to secure the views and advice of this expert.
Again, is it a fact that the New Territories are producing less than 10% of our food supply? I should like to see this question thoroughly explored; also, how much of the present unproductiveness of the New Territories is primarily due to the poorness of the soil, and how much is due to want of scientific methods?
Unquestionably, the production of a sufficient supply of self- supporting products will be slow to attain, yet the sooner a commence- ment is made the nearer we shall be to the goal, and once a start has been made, we shall be progressively less dependent on outside sources of supply, and this is particularly true of vegetable products.
Moreover, my conception of the average farmer in the New Territories is that, economically, he is a poor man, and his lot is not always a happy one. I believe, that without the guiding and lifting hand of the Government, he can never hope to be out of the mire into which he had been sunk for generations past, although he is living under the blessing and beneficence of the British flag.
Turning to Heading 27 dealing with Defence, it is reassuring to note that Government is not overlooking the advisability of safeguarding the populace against air raids, a contingency which I fervently hope will never arise. The sum asked for is so modest, that I trust it will be adequate for this important purpose.
Recent hostilities have repeatedly convinced us of the value of preparedness. Indeed, the old adage that to be forewarned is to be forearmed fittingly applies here.
With this object in view, I hope Government will institute an early and extensive campaign for the instruction of the civilian population on Air Raids Precautions, by the provision of an adequate number of Air Raids experts to conduct lectures and demonstrations.
I am glad to note that certain facilities for instruction are being given to a small section of the public. but these are confined chiefly to the teaching of Europeans and of English-speaking Chinese, who are members of leading firms. However, as the population in this Colony is so predominantly Chinese, it is obvious that if the plan is to be of real value, teaching must also be given in Chinese to members of the Chinese community. I am confident that many Chinese would keenly avail themselves of the facilities.
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