1939-11-09 — Page 12

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 9, 1080

HONG KONG REVENUE AND CHINA WAR

(Continued from Page 11) pulation due to the same cause."

$1,097,120.00.

$3,758.264.00.

NET GAIN

Head

amounts

say,

REVISED ESTIMATE

and

at stake.

5, their

towards

WAR BUDGET

race and

to

THE OLD DAYS

able.

a

ques-

in

very

em-

tress in China, Hong Kong and South 321⁄2 inillion. I venture to think that eral and widespread. 'On the China Branch, amount to $491,874.70, no one who has studied the Budget tion of prevalence of poverty I need and that the amount of expenditure figures of past years can fail to ex- hardly dwell, for it is a painful fact, comes to $406,- perience a sense of concern and dis- well known to all social workers. Only On the other hand, the original ex-already sanctioned penditure, put at $33,379,549, exceeded 176.11. This Fund, of which Your Ex- may at the colossal rise in the cost of at the beginning of this year the Hon- the estimate by $3,796,349.00.. But of cellency is Patron, is non-political, and Government, culminating in this year's ourable the Director of Medical Ser- The flow of 40 million dollar Budget, or to ask vices, in his inaugural address before newly reconstituted Nutrition this excess the Financial Secretary purely philanthropic.

in subscriptions to the Fund seems to be himself anxiously whether the Colony's the

Committee, pointed out that "ón ac- points out that $2,203,210.00 was respect of unallocated stores, loans and rapidly drying up, whilst calls on its expenditure is not reaching, if it has

are continuous. May I not already over-reached, the Colony's count of malnutrition, which is a con- Military Contribution, due to changes resources

venture to express the taxable capacity. Those who care to comitant of poverty, more than one in the accounting system, leaving an therefore, excess of $1,593,133.00 in respect of strong hope that Your Excellency will read the 1908 Budget Debate will find child out of every three died last year all other Heads. But the only items see at to making a substantial grant to It interesting reading. They will find, before attaining the age of one year, that can fairly be attributable to the this Fund as a friendly gesture of the too, that the slogan "Hong Kong is as compared with one in twenty in the indescribable lightly taxed" was already current in England. We have no hospitals for Colony conflict are Head 22, Sino-Japanese

those early days!

children. Indeed, our hospital ac Medical Department (epidemics and sufferings of the Chinese?

commodation is utterly inadequate, and the overcrowding in the Chinese larger population $229,513.00), Head

The estimated revenue for 1907 was hospitals is, though inevitable, a stand 29, Charitable Services (relief of re-

I now turn to the War Budget. fugees $245,555.00), Head 34, Public The Prime Minister, in the House $5,202,135.00, which apparently repre- Works Extraordinary (construction of of Commons on October 12th, stated:sented a somewhat serious decline on ing disgrace. The problems of com- The fol-pulsory education (and even of Gov- refugee camps and acquisition of pro- "It is not with any vindictive pur- the previous year's revenue.

ernment-provided primary education); from Sir Matthew perty $622,052.00), amounting to pose we embarked on war but simply lowing quotation

in defence of freedom. It is not alone Nathan's address gives an interesting and of juvenile deliquency, are still a

long way from being solved. The nett gain to the Colony is there- the freedom of a small nation that is historical background of the Colony's

COLONY'S NEEDS There is in jeopardy the revenue position, and constitutes not fore $5,383,815.00.

With thousands of deaths from tu- of Britain, the an unworthy guide to us as to how Coming, now, to 1939. The original

peaceful existence

been financial difficulties berculosis we have as yet not estimated revenue was put at $36,097,- Dominions, India and the rest of the the Colony's

of adverse able to find the means to build a pro 325.00 (including $839,704.00 trans British Empire, France, and indeed all should be met in times

trade or economic uncertainty:--- perly equipped sanitorium. For lack ferred from Government House

freedom loving countries."

"Before going into the long array of of funds we have not begun to tackle We City Development Fund). Now this This quotation bears eloquent testi- estimate was obviously framed on the mony to the force and meaning of figures which I have on my notes I the problem of Slum-clearing.

Poor basis of the continued operation of the Your Excellency's observation in this think it will meet your wishes if I ex- have no Old Age Pension, no same factors which brought about such Council on the same day, that "this plain generally how it is proposed to Law. We have no Air Protection for There are three the masses. Since Your Excellency's striking increases to the Colony re- is every whit as much our war as it is meet that decline. venue in. 1938. If this argument is Britain's". And the complete realiza- methods open to us. Either to raise arrival in the Colony you have spared further loans, or to increase taxation, no effort in providing and increasing sound, as I think it is, then it can be tion of the implication of this war on fairly stated that the nett gain to the the part of the public is reflected in full- of and

or to reduce expenditure. I am strongly social amenities for the Colony

at every direction possible, and the Co- Colony in 1939 must be approximately its ready acceptance

lony owes Your Excellency I am also averse the same as in 1938, on the basis of hearted co-operation in all the varied averse to raising additional loans

has the present time.. which Government the original estimate, less any increas-measures

increasing taxation. It has been heavy debt of gratitude. But the list ed expenditure which had not been found it necessary or desirable to in- taken into account in the Estimate of troduce in this Colony, although many pointed out to me that this colony is of omissions is necessarily still formid- As the "South China Morning Post" very lightly taxed, and I by no means 1939 Expenditure. Of the latter, as if not all, of them must have a res-

promise that I shall not on some fu- shown in Table 3 of the Financial trictive effect on business. That re-

13th October, 1939, pointed out:- Secretary's Memorandum, the

only sidents in the Colony-irrespective of ture occasion propose additional im-in its leading article published on the "The upper ranks of the Govern- item I can find relates to

nationality-should posts, but a time like the present one Charitable Services (relief of refu- have to bear some financial sacrifice. when trade is bad does not seem a

Kong citizen: he has no vote nor does burdens of traders... There remains he enjoy the full privileges of a Bri- gees), in respect of which the excess in order that a contribution might be suitable one at which to add to the ment Service are not open to the Hong

Imperial over original estimate

to the to forthcoming

n reduction of expenditure, and that tish subject his nationality is only $1,241,736.00.

Chest, fitting from the point of view The nett gain to the Colony for of the Colony as a vital part of the is the method which it is proposed to stressed for taxation purposes. The We must cut our coat accord- Colony is predominantly Chinese. It 1939, on the basis of the original es- British Empire and worthy of a Colony adopt.

It must necessarily has therefore a dual allegiance and a timate, is therefore,

roughly which yields to none in loyalty and ing to our cloth. $5,000,000.00 less $1,241,736.00, i.e.devotion to the Crown, is inevitable. be a simple garment but I hope when dual commitment. These have

I come presently to try it on you, you phasised themselves in the Far East Indeed, they should welcome the op- nortunity of making such a contribu- will agree with me that it is a fairly war that has been raging for two But the revised estimate of revenuetion, for it is unthinkable that they serviceable one in which the Colony years a war which has profited some of $40,475,248.00 shows an excess of would be content to render mere in need not feel ashamed to appear next in the Colony, but bled the majority It is somewhat of a tight alt, through many economic wounds. No $4,377,923.00 over the original estim-service to a cause, the result of which season. ate, and if the sum transferred from must have such a significance to Civil-but if we adhere to the estimates we other part of the Empire has suffered

have framed we shall remain in the this strain." Government House and City Develop-isation.

same sound financial position at the ment Fund ($839,704.00) is deducted from this increase, the

end of 1907 as I am happy to say we LAST WAR

In connection with the above I feel shown by the Revised Estimate I am certain that there is a com- shall be in at the end of 1906 "

it my duty to give expression to the NO COMPARISON USEFUL amounts to $3,538,219.00.

plete unanimity amongst all sections

As regards comparisons between sense of injustice felt by many of the The total nett increase to the Co- of the community on this point. A Jony attributable to the Sino-Japanese recollection of the part which the Co- Great Britain and Hong Kong I sub-companies incorporated in Hong Kong conflict for 1939 is therefore $7,296,-lony took in the 1914-1918 war-in-mit, Sir, that however flattering it which carry on business in Shanghai, cluding the splendid response of its may be to compare the Colony with Hankow and other parts of China. By

country citizens to appeals for war charities the Mother Country, the greatest and the Defence (Finance) Regulation 3B. in Government has the right to acquire and war loons, and the voluntary pre-wealthiest democratic sentation to England of two Service Europe, no useful comparison between certain foreign currencies from every aeroplanes by certain Chinese resid-the two places from the point of view British subject (as defined) resident ents renders it impossible for anyone of fiscal incidence can be fairly made, in the Colony, and certain duties are to entertain any doubt of the Colony's having regard to the radient differ- | imposed upon such a British subject.

in

Institutions. By this Regulation "British Subject" government. attitude in this matter.

in the British Empire. During the Coming, then, to the prospective re- But I feel it my duty to make tennomic resources and social condl- includes every company incorporated venue and expenditure of 1940-1941. quite plain that, in my view, the rea- tions,

In England the amount spent since Stro-Japanese conflict companies of The estimated revenue, which "has son why the people of the Colony de been estimated generally on the as-sire so keenly to "do their bit" is be the commencement of this century on the class I have mentioned have sought sumption that the economic activity cause they are animated by sentiments Health, Education, Housing and Social protection from the British Authori- Unemployment Benefits,ties, but such protection has always of the Colony will be maintained at which I have just endeavoured to ex-Services

the etc.--amounts companies, though registered in not far short of its present level", is press, and not because they agree with Poor Law Rellet, Old Age Pension, been refused on the ground that such From the Colony, are not entitled to protection. put at $50,861,470.00. It is therefore the statement, which has been made Industrial Insurances;

is to astronomical figures, fair to assume that the nett gain to the in this Council, that the Colony

achool to The university. In one case to my knowledge a com- Colony arising from the Sino-Japanese lightly taxed, nor because they can primary conflict will not be less than in 1939, regard as otherwise than superficial thence to the highest post in the State, pany Incorporated in Hong Kong, namely, $7,296,483.00, plus a quarter the comparisons, which have also been the path is open to the poorest Ind I which is a "British Subject" as defined the with brains. Here is a pen-pleture of by the Regulation, has properties in of this amount for the 3 months in made in this Council, between 1941 $1,824,120.00 making a total of crushing burden laid on the British post-war England by Professor II. A. Canton, Swatow and Toishan, which I have discussed these points-the $9,120,603.00, less any increase in ex-tax-payer and the light burden impos-L. Fisher, in his "History of Europe" were either burned or looted, or both. penditure attributable

(page 1910);— to the same ed on the Hong Kong tax-payer. causes not budgetted for in 1939.

"At this time the British people hore | lightness of Hong Kong taxation and the latter, as shown in paragraph 11 Before coming to the Colony's con- without repining a burden of taxation the relative burdens between the Bri- of the Financial Secretary's Memoran-tribution I wish to deal shortly with heavier than that of my European tish and Hong Kong tax payer-not The anual service of the for the purpose of finding, excuses' for dum, the only item I can see which is both of these points. Sir, there are country. directly attributable to the Sino-Jap- no data which lead me to think that debt charge alone amounted to more us to try to get out cheaply" but of anese conflict is under Head 5, Charit- the Colony is lightly taxed in relation than 300 million sterling. Fifteen showing that, in my submission, we the should approach the question of the able Services, which shows an increase either to the social services available, years after the end of the war of $224,749.00. being "increased grants or to the taxable capacity of the Co-State levied 48, dd. in the pound on Colony's contribution to Englandas.a to the Tung Wah Hospital and for re-lony.

the income of the tax payer irrespec- | matter of patriotic duty, 'freed from lief of refugees". Moreover, I note

I propose to touch on the question tive of the supertax on incomes ex-any self-reproof that we have been Yet it is too lightly taxed, and untroubled by from Part 2 of the Financial Secret-of local social services later on in my ceading £2,000 a year.

I ary's Memorandum, Head 5, Sub-Head remarks. In the meantime must characteristic of the democratic spirit any comparisons made between Hong 23, that the amount of $250,000.00 pro- concede that this question is compli- which prevailed in the country that, Kong and elsewhere. I therefore ap-

AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION vided for relief of refugees at the cated by the peculiar position of the despite, bad, trade and crushing taxa-proach the question in this spirit.

First, as to the amount of the/con- present; rate of outlay, will not suffice Colony, with its large fluctuating and tion, the level of the social services, higher than that which prevailed in for more than six months. If, there-migratory population. fore, we increase, this amount to, say, As regards the taxable capacity of any other country and more expen-tribution, $625,000.00 to cover the whole period the Colony, it seems to me that an im- sive, was not seriously lowered. That of fifteen months, plus the whole in-portant point which requires expert the health, the education, and crease: of $224,749.00, totalling $848,- investigation is as to how much of the housing of the people, should be well 749.00, and subtract this total from Colony's wealth is in the hands of the cared for was common ground with the nett increase of $9,120,603.00, the permanent resident, and how much of all parties in the States." resulting increase to the Colony ra- it is fugitive and can be driven away the venue for 1940-1941 is. $8,270,854.00. by burdensome taxation. From

„STUPENDOUS FIGURE

earliest. Hansard which, thanks to my tionourable fend, Sir Henry Pollock happens to be in my posses that short space of a century, And yet that the Colony cat ive can be of any imated what is fis-spdaltion to-day? - Sub- | material-Anavicial Resistance 181 Eng-

ainon producing country | land." This bein

atill depends mainly on its reluctant to s

the "propobed entrep

Colony's

483.00.

increase

as

The gain to the Colony in respects of 1937-1939 is ascertainable and, on my calculation, amounts to a total of $17,080,298.00. The gain for 1940- 1941 can only be an estimate, based on the estimated Budget figures.

MORE FIGURES

Of

If my calculation is right, the finan- cial gain, to the Colony arising from the Sino-Japanese conflict, in respect of the period 1937 to the and of March, 1941. Comes to the stupendous figure of: $25,351.152.00.

NO DATA

for 1906 F notice that the revenue for 1907- was un

[“By 1915 ther doubled. I 1990'

"28 million m

Honourable members may be in- terested to know that, the total, sub- to 1986 it nuetufát scriptions received up to October, 1838

by the pritiaherund, Haller of Dis- for the

ences

خصية

WONDERFUL PROGRESS

SENSE OF INJUSTICE

It must be appreciated that a gift to the Great Britain of seven or eight million

dollars, as suggested by the Hon trid ture of the Colony's natriotism and of ancial Secretary, can be only a per- her willingness to "do her bit” aska part of the British Empire. That stan represents only a few hours of the kid- perial War Expenditure, and nothing

We are naturally proud of the won- derful progress which the Colony has made under British Rule within the

sta

the