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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Item 190.-28, Miscellaneous Services: Expenses of Mui Tsai Commission, $7,266.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.-Is it known how much of this sum is due to printing?
THE CHAIRMAN.I have not got particulars, I am afraid. I can easily provide Honourable Members with them.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.-I would like to make a general remark here with regard to printing. We get so many of these papers in the Legislative Council that it seems an extravagance to send copies to members beforehand and when we come to the Council Chamber to give us further copies. In Item 193 the considerable increase in the cost of paper is mentioned. A little more economy might be exercised, I think by not giving Members two copies.
HON. MR. PATERSON.-When a paper is of any importance there are not enough copies to go round.
THE CHAIRMAN.-What papers?
HON. MR. PATERSON.-I really forget now.
HON. MR. LO.-I have always understood that printing was the main cost and paper was not much more.
THE CHAIRMAN.-I will go into the whole question. In a small Council like this it would not be a substantial saving to provide Members with only one copy. Besides, we would have to rely on Members not forgetting to bring their copies to the Council.
HON. MR. LO.-Is the $15,000 the total cost of the Commission or the part the Hong Kong Government has to pay? I understand Singapore is to pay half.
THE CHAIRMAN.--This is the total expense for Hong Kong, surely. It should have said the total proportion for Hong Kong. I do not think it could mean anything else, but I will verify that also.
Item 198.-26, Kowloon-Canton Railway: Special Expenditure.--- Repairs to damaged Locomotive and Wagons, $97.
HON. MR. DODWELL.-Do we have to pay for damage caused by bombing?
THE CHAIRMAN.-This originally came up at the end of last year. We sent in a claim to the Secretary of State and also to Tokyo, and we have heard nothing about it. The first despatch was sent to the Secretary of State and to Tokyo on November 9th, 1937, and according to advices we had here we were advised that the working
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