1937-10-13 — Page 44

RENT CONTROL MEASURE URGED IN BUDGET DEBATE Unofficial Members Of Council Survey Problems

PRISON POPULATION: GAOL

REGARDED AS LUXURY

MUNICIPAL WATER UNDERTAKING

Most topical of many recommendations to Government made by Un- official Members of Legislative Council on the second reading of the Col- ony's Budget Bill this afternoon, was the introduction of emergency legis- lation for the control of rents.

The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo, who dealt with the subject at length, pro- vided Government with the rough draft of an Ordinance which he thought would meet the local situation, calling for the creation of Rent Officers whose principal duty would be to decide whether a demand for an increase in rent was fair and reasonable or plain profiteering.

monly known as the Gollan Report), shows that the Commissioners, ing their recommendations for the siderable increases in-sterling salaries mentioned in that Report took the dol- lar at the rate of exchange of the basis for those recommendations.

In support of the above statement we quote the following extract from the said paragraph 7:-

"The dollar is now at a little under and there is some probability that it will remain in the region of 27-*

EXCHANGE BONUS

Kong-dollar, since its divorce from sil- threepence, Le $16 to the pound ster

As this Council is aware, our Hong

ver, stands roughly at one shilling and

ling, as against the rate of twe shallings to the dollar envisaged by the Gollan titude for figures to realize how much

Report, and it requires no special ap- sterling-paid Civil Servants are benefit

and how much this Colony (whose

revennes are collected in dollars)

losing

In short, sterling-paid Civil Servants are receiving not only a considerable increase in their sterling pay, which the tend, but also an exchange bonus by converting that increased sterling pay into dollars at one and threepence which Sir Henry Pollock and other speakers referred to the demand ful traffic has invaded the New Terri the authors of that Report certainly did NOT intend; thus seriously crippling

Alternatively, he urged that by decree three months' notice to quit authors of the Gollan Report: did in-

should be made the minimum at the present time.

for an adequate infectious diseases hospital, to the increasing bur tories, with main centres at Un Long the Colony's programme of Public den on the Colony under the heading of personal emoluments, pen- Sheung Shui and Taipo.

COLONY'S LUXURY GAOL

Strong criticism was levelled by the Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo and the Hon. Mr. Leo D'Almada, Jun. at the preponderance of hawkers cases in the police courts and the "case book system" which pro- vokes the situation, while Sir Henry Pollock suggested that the Colony's $4,000,000 gaol at Stanley was too luxurious and as such as attraction rather than a deterrent.

Comfortable lodging, a liberal scale of food, regular exercise and free medical attendance, was Sir Henry's" analysis of gaol conditions, in urging that conditions should be made harder.

The cholera epidemic evoked further critical comment, chiefly on the score of Hong Kong's unpreparedness and the high mortality

rate.

are shot.

Works Etraordinary.

the

sions, and so on, and recommended the establishment of a Com- the Government has in hand new legis

We are therefore, glad to learn that mittee to enquire into the use of Government quarters with the lation to cope with heroin divans and

SLUMP IN EXCHANGE object of seeing that the Colony gets an adequate return for its pill factories, which will, in due course, beginning of November, 1935, which

The big slump in exchange. money. The deduction of six per cent. from salaries for use of sideration.

be submitted to this Council for con- has since become slightly-accentuated, Government quarters he described as inadequate.

has made the recommendations of the We would urge, in this connection, Gollan-Report as to increases of ster- that the keeping of a heroin divan ing salaries too favourable to sterling. ought to be added to the list of offences paid Civil Services, and we hope that, China we believe that surveyors of no of the Financial Secretary, a new stale which are punishable by flogging. In with the able assistance and experience xious drugs and persistent drug addicts of sterling salaries or some modifics LUXURY OF GAOL ton of the rate of exchange at which they are payable may shortly be evol struction of a third Court at the Cening-paid Civil Servants but which also We view the proposals for the con- ved which is not only fair to the ster tral Magistracy with mixed feelings, bears some relation to the financial because we consider that the number of ability of this Colony to afford the pay- cases. tried by the Magistrates or, to ment of such salaries---a point which put the matter in another way, the is apt to be overlooked considerable increase in various forms The Unofficial Members of Council do of crime is due to a great extent to the not propose to waste the time of this for prisoners which, is provided in the the figures in clause 2 of this Appro- somewhat too luxurious accommodation Council by moving any amendments to new four million dollar gaol at Stanley, priation Bill, although, for the reasons where the inmates" enjoy comfortable above given in criticising the Gollan The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo pressed for the reorganisation of the gular exercise, and free medical attend with them

lodging, too liberal a scale of food, re. Report, they must not be taken to agree P.WD. Water Department as a separate municipal undertaking, ance... charged with the task of keeping proper accounts and check on the arian treatment of prisoners in Bri- seems to us what some revision should

GOVT. QUARTERS We concede that the modern humani- Another point in regard to which it avowed Government policy of not making à profit out of water. tain is a success, but, having regard to be exercised is in regard to the privil-

new Volunteer Headquarters are

the everyday conditions unfortunately ege.accorded to Government Servants ur- prevailing amongst the poorer classes of occupying quarters (which are paid gently required. The last named build- in Hong Kong, entirely different con- for and maintained and repaired out ing is a disgrace to a first-class Colony, siderations apply here. and we suggest that (whilst preserving

of revenne) upon the basis of their In fact in this Colony we ought to paying 6% only of their salary as rent. the present Volunteer parade-ground) make prison conditions harder, and we. This seems to is a very low percent a new Headquarters and a second trust that the Government will give its age of salary payable 28 rent as com parade-ground, ought to be provided by earnest consideration to this aspect of pared with the percentage of their the Government. We suggest that the the problem. The Hon. Sir Henry Pollock said:-

cost of these two buildings can proper-

lary which most civilians who are Sir, As the Senior Unouncial Member I ly be met out of Loan Account, just as We approve of the increaser in Police lony for renta

POLICE PERSONNEL

Civil Servants have to pay in this desire to make the following remarks appropriately as the cost of the new personnel, and we desire to take this. We consider moreover that such upon the Budget for 1938, on behalf of Central Market. my Unofficial colleagues as well as my by the Kowloon Residents Association under him on the admirable order which be calculated in such a way as to pro- We hope that the recent complaints spector General of Police and the Force and not on a flat rate and that it should opportunity of congratulating the In- percentage should be on a sliding scale self:

For convenience I will, so far as pos receive attention, and we should like to unfortunate disputes between the Chi- upon the capital cost and: upon the cost in regard to the Kowloon Mortuary will has been preserved during the recent duce some sort of fair economic return sible, deal with various items in the Estimates in the same order as they be informed how far the scheme for a nese and Japanese-Governmendis were dealt with by the Honourable Co. new leper settlement and a clinic in

of repairing the buildings occupied. lonial Secretary in his Budget speech.

connection therewith has progressed.

Much credit is also dne to the Chinese We thank him for his lucid explanations

COMMITTEE SUGGESTED MENTAL HOSPITAL

in this Colony for preserving that calm- of Government policy, and for

ness, dignity and self-control which is be appointed to inquire into and report We suggest that a local Committee his Whilst agreeing in the necessity for enjoined by their ages. memorandum on the Estimates. We a new Mental Hospital, we hope that We heartily indore the

upon the subject from the above angie also thank the Financial Secretary, of the expensive plans which have been tious by the Government

a fair return whose appointment we heartily ap- prepared in the past will be abandoned, lent work done by Mr. L prove, for his memorandum on the Co-We are glad to note that early next commection with lony's financial position for the years year air-mail will probably be carried wireless, telegraphy 1936, 1937 and 1938, and we thank the at srdinary rates, though at a consider. His retirement will be z gr Director of Public Works for his notes ahle expense to the Colony in subsidies, the Colony

SENIOR MEMBER

Sir Henry Pollock's

Speech

on Public Works Extraordinary for Passing on the Imports and Exports COST OF SERVICE 1938

Department, we are struck by various disquieting fea which are

We regret that there is no Auditor's report.

It is reassuring to learn that estim ates of revenue for 1938 have... taken upon a conservative basis.

We appland the Government's sion not to impose additional taxat at a time like the

resent, when

of living are rising DISGRACE TO COLONY

We deplore the fact that our Budget, for Public Works Extraordinar 1933-has-been reduced to so low a because we consider --that ar hospital for infections.

in the Report of Imports and Ex stance, parag overwhelming,

found

the

We now pass on to a ma evealed vitally affects the sper dent of this Colony, on Public Wo For in dinary, namely, the of the reasonably heavy expe enace of this Colony has to bear in tates with the payment of pe and allowances to Servants, in consequ were low rate of exel

526 cases, 3,6087

DIVANS

as can be long

now that the

of ben

and a

Colony as ood af 2,000, 49 shows that this disg

of the Report of

fist Saláries Conta

sional Paper

1929 and

of the Colony obta

its money.

2nd September ser “big bill whic

ent typhoon of

to emphasize xpayer · has sometimes to meet for repairs to Gov- ernment buildings.

HON. MR. T. N. CHAU

Urges Govt. Grant to Junk People

Hon Mr. T. N. Chan said:

with

Un

the same with his ex-

the Hon

Hon. Direc