1938-11-10 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 10, 1938.

NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE Unofficials Satisfied Project Is Essential

SIR HENRY POLLOCK

AND HOUSING REPORT

(Continued from Page 11 We thank Your Excellency for the able and comprehensive, survey of the future needs of this Colony which you gave in your Budget speech.

We entirely approve of the new pro- cedure in connection with the Budge. which has enabled the Unofficial Mem- bers, through the appointment of the Select Committee, to discuss thorough ly the Budget with the Heads of the various departments before the Estim- ates finally come before this Council. It enables us to pass our views on to Your Excellency before the adoption of the Budget is proposed: it permits of a full discussion of the Government programme and policies, and in every way it is more practical and therefore in the best interests of the Colony.

BUDGET SOUND

My colleagues, during lengthy meet ings of the Select Committee, have thoroughly studied the estimates for all departments and while we recom- mend caution before embarking long term projecta, we unanimously re- gard the Budget as a sound and by no means extravagant one.

on

And Fourthly-Because it will save the Colony the expense of maintaining Mountain Lodge.

THEFT OF TEA LEAVES

CZECH REFUGEE CENSUS

Chung Lam, aged 41, coolie fore- man, was charged with stealing. 54. pounds of tea leaves, before

Prague, To-day. H. R. Butters at the Central Ma-authorities of refugees who sought Mr. A census carried out by the Czech gistracy this morning.

refuge from the ceded areas in the Inspector W. Mair, who prosecut-rump Republic shows that ed, said that a Chinese saw defendant about 2 a.m. yester-ceded areas crossed into Czechoslo- alto- constable gether 92,000 persons from the day morning, carrying a big parcel. vakia, of whom 73,000 are Czechs, Defendant was questioned and he 11,000 Germans and 6,765 Jews. said that the tea leaves were given Only 154 declared themselves to be keeper of No. 322 Des Voeux Road to him by Tsang Hong Man, shop Poles,

The majority of the-fugitives are He was brought back to staying with friends or relatives And, lastly, we urge the British complainant, who discovered that and only 5,500 persons are quar-

DESIRABLE PUBLIC WORKS We wish to place on record our opinion that a new Infectious Diseases Hospital, a new Science Laboratory for the University, a new Queen's College and a new Volunteer Headquarters are public works which will have to be un- dertaken in the near future, and we would once again call attention, as we did last year, to complaints concerning the Kowloon Mortuary. RESUMPTION OF TRADE

AND West.

TRAFFIC WITH SOUTH CHINA

Government to press vigorously for the the tea was stolen. Defendant was promptest resumption of trade facili-employed by complainant, as a head ties and traffic communications by land coolie. and water between this Colony South China. We are confident, Sir, and

Sentence of three months' hard that the Hong Kong Government is in

labour was passed. complete sympathy with us and will ac- tively support our stand in this matter.

MR. T.N.

CHAU

Certain curtailments of expenditure, detailed. in the Revised Estimates, and referred to in the Report of the Select The Hon Mr. T. N. Chau said:--Sir; Committee, have seemed advisable in In his lucid speech on the Budget for the different circumstances existing 1939, the Hon. Senior Unofficial Mem-|

JAPANESE RAID JUNK

tered in 32 fugitive camps that have been established by the authorities. In Prague only about 15,000 from the ceded areas are stying.--Trans- Ocean:

THEFT FROM ACTRESS

Chan Yau-lee, master of fishing was charged before Mr. H. R. But- Lui Shing, aged 29, unemployed,

since the Budget was originally fram- ber has presented the united views of junk No. 776HW Macao, reported ters at the Central Magistracy this ed, but on the whole, if we are to keep all the unofficial members the Colony up to date, efficient and Council. There are, however, certain Tuesday afternoon, he was stopped from a Chinese actress, named Au of this that sailing near Kong Lin, on morning, with snatching a handbag competitive amongst the ports of the matters principally affecting the Chi- by a Japanese motor boat. Three world, there is very little in the pro- nese community on which I venture to rifles and two hundred rounds of Yeung Chun, at Ewo Hill Street posed expenditure that it would not be express my own personal views. false economy to cut out,

In fact, an appears from the Report public works, the Hon. Mr. M. K. Le taken away,

With regard to the list of desirable ammunition valued at $113 were

yesterday. of, the Select Committee, on the Re-will speak on the urgent need for a vised Estimates, we have agreed to new Queen's College, and I wish to New Territories. certain additions being made to the say, Sir, that I heartily endorse his original Estimates in order to carry remarks. out work which we regard as essential. HOUSING COMMISSION.

the

after a search

PRACTICAL REMEDY In the course of your comprehensive

The first practical, remedy is to Whilst congratulating the members cil at the opening of the Budget De- should, open up new areas for residen- and illuminating address to this Coun- encourage building, especially dwelling of the Housing Commission and their bate, Your Excellency proposed

houses. I advocate that Government Secretary, Mr. W. H. Owen, upon the appointment of a committee to devise site formation, thereby, offering ready interesting suggestions

tial purposes and embark on extensive which they means of broadening the basis of taxa-made lots to intending builders, with have made for the improvement overcrowding in this Colony, we feel policies of developing the essential so- and with safeguards against exploita etion in order to carry out Government's careful control of the type of houses that in 1939 little can be done in the cial services. way of implementing their 'report.

tion by profiteers,

In any case, the removal of our slums must take many years to com- plete, and in the meantime our streets ,remain in an unsavoury disease-dis- seminating condition, almost as dan- gerous to the health of the Colony as are the slums.

*

Whatever new forms of taxation

the Government may have in view, it is to be hoped that income tax will not be one of them.

Although not an expert on pub- lic finance, I have no hesitation in advising against it.

Experience elsewhere shows that it

As a result of representations made is only possible to collect income tax by Unofficial Members in 1936 a cer- from permanent residents, and from tain amount of street

We

I

It was

said that while complainant came back from her performance at about midnight, de- fendant snatched her handbag con- taining $65 in money from her, of No. 57 Ewo Hill Street. while she was knocking at the door

months' hard labour,

Defendant was sentenced to six

THEFT OF CASH REGISTER

possibilities of the New Territories, The other remedy is to explore the The Sino-Japanese conflict has taught us a lesson, and I do hope that in the no distant future, there will be great development of industrial and agricu:- Financial Secretary's Memorandum oned, who was convicted on October tural 'activities in the New Territories.

the Financial Position for 1937, 1938

I note in paragraph 26 of the Hon. Wong Chung, aged 22, unemploy

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to

been done, but, except in some of the come is discoverable. In other words, from Government plantations has re-police needed his evidence

washing has professional men and others whose in- and 1939, that the supply of firewood 3 but remanded since then as the central localities, the filthy condition the success of this tax will depend on of the roads and sidewalks is still a the number of permanent residents; occasions recently when there was disgrace, thus contributing greatly to- and in Hong Kong the ratio of tem-shortage of supply, the price of fire ceiving charges, was sentenced to sulted in great savings. On several testify against some person on rẻ... wards our unenviable tuberculosis re-porary to permanent residents is, cord, filling our hospitals and greatly believe, at least 6 to 4 increasing the work and budget of the

wood went up very considerably. eight months' hard labour this Medical Department.

TIME NOT YET

respectfully suggest to the satisfied that more could not be done ments against the adoption of income the public, whenever there is a short-

Govern morning by Mr. Q. A. A. Mac- are not I can adduce other and strong argument the possibility of extending the fadyen at Kowloon for two counts. in this direction, even with the res tax here, but the time is not yet..

sale of this essential' commodity to tricted supply of water at our dis-

of burglary in...” which he was ac- posal, provided that the flushing is hope that if more money were needed, course, to the conservation and preser-registers, valued at $700, from two For the present, may I express the age of supply, having due regard, of cused of having stolen two cash carried out under proper supervision some other form or forms of impost vation of our plantations. 30 as to prevent waste.

NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE

may be devised, and that, in any case,

RELIEF FUND

Cafes in Kowloon recently. the Government, and whatever commit- Subject to the plans for the

On behalf of my Chinese colleagues Government House near Magazine Gap the public every opportunity to express grateful thanks to Your Excellency and new tee that may be appointed, will afford and myself, I wish to express our being hereafter submitted to the Fin- their views on this matter before com-pathy you have both shown and the ance Committee for its approval, we ing to any decision.

Lady Northcote, for the great sym- agree to the expenditure in 1939 of the sum of one hundred thousand dol-tricting immigration, I submit, with the formation of

Kong and As regards the suggestion of res. practical interest you. Have taken in lars upon the levelling of the site. great deference, that such a scheme South China Branch be the who are inclined to regard this project except at great cost, and that the Gov Colony will generously support this There are, I believe, many citizens could not produce the desired result Fund for Relief of Distress in China. British

as unnecessary and etxravagant.

I feel confident that everyone in this have therefore considered it carefully from the time-honoured and successful worthy cause. While on this subject I Peak, reported that between 3.30.

We ernment should not make a departure

Miss Dodwell, of No. 810, the cannot let the opportunity pass with

a very warm tribute to and 4 p.m. yesterday, she lost a the

4

MISS DODWELL'S LOSS

from all angles and we are satisfied policy of admitting freely Chinese into out Dr. Selwyn-Clarke and his diamond brooch, valued at 8750,

for four very good reasons that it is Hong Konga policy which has con- essential.

tributed so largely to the growth and

CHILD STOLEN

Firstly Because the present Gov-prosperity of the Colony. I maintainable staff for the valuable services somewhere between her house and ernment House and Mountain Lodge that this policy is particularly suited they have rendered in connection with a shop at Wyndham Street. cost ratepayers annually so much in to Hong Kong having regard to its the Refugee Camp at Kam Tin. I upkeep that it may be truly said of proximity to, and economic and poli- have visited the Camp myself and know them that they have passed their eco-tical relations with, China. Further what an enormous amount of work it nomic life. tion at the present Government House flows; but what is not so well known to my Chinese colleagues and myself

Second'y-Because the accommoda-population of this Colony ebbs and camp of such a magnitude.

more, it is common knowledge that the must have involved in organising a is inadequate for the needs of the Co- is that that movement constitutes an

It is a matter of great satisfaction lony.

Thirdly-Because the old Govern- the trade of this Colony consists of faced these difficult times with such Tang Ming-pul, aged 7, on Monday, invisible export business, for much of that the entire Chinese community has Charged with stealing a child, ment House in required, as part of the small purchases. City Development scheme, to be utilis. In my view, the remedy does not Your Excellency of our loyalty and was this morning remanded for 48 good sense and dignity, and we assure a street coolie, Chan Fong, aged 41, ed for the housing of the C.8.0, and lle in the restriction of immigration, co-operation in all matters pertaining P.W.D. staffs, during the building of but rather in scientifle town-planning to the welfare of the Colony. now Government offices, *.

houra by Mr. Q. Al-A: Macfadyen: at Kowloon.

* 2 and In the economie exploitation of the

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