1941-02-20 — Page 40

Page

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THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 20, 1941.

SEARCHING INQUIRY URGE

(Continued from Page 3) First, a very late start was made to provide air raid shelters.

Next, a most lamentable lack of fact was displayed in the hand- Government ling of evacuation. has already been severely cen- -sured for this by the public, and 1 mention it here only because it should be included in any debate which involves the review of the past year's policy and activities.

The

not mere groundless and wicked

answer is, I understand, Tumours would result in some- difficulty or delay in getting steel thing being done, the correspon- and special equipment which had dence columns of our dailles to come from Home,

would be full of the most inter- csting disclosures and revelations.

Such a state of affairs one has accustomed to associate grown

As things are, one cannot ex- pect this, but to-day there are few people in Hong Kong who either do not know or have not heard reports of matters which have already reached even Gov- crnment's remote cars, and which cry for investigation. Some months ago, it was dɛem-

Stories are circulating regard- ed advisable to establish a de- partment for the control ef Im- ing the maladministration in de- whose importance is inigration. Here again, it appears partments to have been thought necessary to vital at the present time; it is the Jay emphasis on race distinction, common belief that bribery and for. If I remember rightly, in ad-graft are rite; and the head of a has been credited vertising for Immigration officers department Government made it clear that with the practice of nepotism in these posts were open only to Bri- its ugliest form. tish subjects of pure European de- scent, Now, Sir, this might pos- sibly have been excusable if these were positions of comparative im- portance or of a specialised na- ture, but this is not so. Immigra- tion officers have bben recruited rem every walk of life, and the fact that they are paid only $400.00 a month is another indication that the job is not one calling for any alleged superiority of blood or in- telligence.

have More than once

1 ad. vocated that Government should draw no invidious and totally unnecessary distinctions in en- gaging Its employees. But t suppose the policy is so ingrain- ed that only where it is im practicable to pursue it will Government reluctantly adopt another.

"Part And Parcel"

with some Latin or Balkan States, with what justification I care not. That it should be permitted to

exict in the Government of a British Colony is surely matter calling for the most searching inquiry. I suggest, Sir, that Gov.

ernment emulate the dictators in une regard, and take measures to purge Its ranks.

MR. A. L. SHIELDS: RAYS OF HOPE

The

Hon. Mr. A. L.

Shirlds

said: In the Budget now before

us we have the estimated revenue of $56,786,000.- the highest on re- cord, but, nevertheless, the esti- mated deficit is $3,856,715.~. a matter of grave concern for this, Council and the Public.

There are, however, some rays of hwpe in this gloomy picture, If this constant discrimination

first that the recent and very were productive of something of

necessary War Expenditure may value, if for example, it made for

be reduced and finally disappear, a high standard of efficiency, there

second that actual Revenue tor might be something to be said for

the past three years has greatly This however, is far from true,

exceeded the forecast and also the as Government knows from com-

expense for emer- plaints in regard to administration very heavy

food reserves has been brought to its attention by Un-gency

written off and should not prove officials and through other

to be a total loss. sources, My honourable friend, Mr. M. K. Lo, has already dealt with the "memciency and in- civility to be met with in the Im- migration Department,

I wish to thank His Excellency for agreeing to omit or redues several items of expenditure in the draft Estimates as suggested by the Unofficial Members of this Complaints with regard to it Council sitting in Select Commit- are heard on all sides, Govern- tee ment's excuse so far as inefficiency is concerned will doubtless be the olea that this is a newly created department with a heavy volume of work to cope with.

Whether this is a valid excuse can only be ascertained on in- Zonquiry: and it is no answer to the charge of incivility. Complaints of a more serious nature have been made against this and other de- partments and I do not think I am exaggerating when I say that if more is not heard, it is because the people of Hong Kong are so enured to the many failings of Government that they have come to regard them almost as part and parcel of the system, to be borne with resignation,

There is perhaps one other rea- son why one does not hear more.

Police H.Q. To Wait

I refer particularly to the pro- posed new Block at Police Hend-

which quarters at $800,000

Can probably be built for considerably less when the cost of building ma-

i

terials comes down to normal. This question of cost of building also applies to the proposed Infectious Diseases Hospital at $1,900,000, of which it was proposed to provide $500,000 in 1941/2 leaving liability of $1,400,000 on an un- completed building for the fol- lowing year with a contract placed at present high prices.

Government estimates of cost are apt to be largely exceeded owing to "unforeseen circum. stances" and to changes found necessary as work proceeda. The postponement of the Hos- pital contract may perhaps enable unanimity to be reached on what is really required, a subject about which, rumour has it, there is some difference of opinion.

Can we not help the cause more quickly and more efficient. ly by building standard ships which are also urgently quired?

We may be celebrating a vic torious peace before these special vessels are in commission where- as freighters will be in demand long after the war is over.

Meantime the liability for $4,700,000 remains in mitments and is a large enough sum to influence any inquiry into the necessity for increased taxa-

tion.

our

cam-

Bogey Of Income Tax

The Hon. Financial Secretary's remarks, when introducing the Budget, raising the bogey of In- a shock after the agreements reached lust year.

come Tax came as

War Taxation Revenue excced- ed the estimated figures and the Finance Committee voted all sup- plementary expenditure for De- ience. The Budget since its intro- duction has come within sight of being balanced.

If further War expenditure is required this Colony will not grudge it. but let it be raised within the framework of the existing Tax Scheme by revising the rates of tax.

The War Taxation Committee has been reconstituted under the pretext of an unbalanced Budget and we can only await the result of its deliberations but I believe any proposal to introduce Incume Tax for ordinary revenue pur- pures will meet with even more opposition than did the suggested Income Tax to find money to as- ► sist in the prosecution of the War.

Hard Facts

etc.

The items of expenditure which the Estimates have been cut in been pushed through now before us might well have If we had Income Tax, by the simple ex- pedient of increasing the rate. In spite of the wish of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that de- velopment, social services,

curtailed in war should not be time we have to face hard acts.

We must keep a light rein on expenditure by Government De- partments on their pet schemes which may endanger the solvency of the Colony at a time when we need some dollars in the till and some untapped sources of taxa- tion to meet further calls for de-

fence and I hope uffence.

The lack of support for the last Government Loan should be a warning. The Public is deeply concerned over the high cost of Government, . Pensions, etc. and about the carefree way in which Government spends its money.

MR. W. N. T. TAM:

IDLE MONEY

The Hon. Mr. W. N. Thomas Tam said: The Kon. Finan- The Law Of Libel

cial Secretary, in his speech introducing the Draft Es- The Press is the usual vent for

timates for the ensuing fiscal year, public feeling, but newspapers

stressed the advisability of steer- being subject to our very strict

ing a middle course between ultra- laws of libel, to the misfortune of If the Hospital is an urgent conservatism and radical change. the public in such a case as this, necessity can it not be built quick- With this "golden mean of prac- are not unnaturally careful, some-ly in isolated blocks on the lines ticality", it is difficult, to disagree: times over-careful, as to what of the huts in. St. John's Place? but while the Hon. Financial they publish. Sir, were these laws These appear to a layman to be Secretary has adopted this praise- relaxed and were there any as much more suitable, as children worthy polley in deciding what surance that the airing of com- with say mumps or measles matters his Budget should. cover, plaints and charges which were would not be under the same roof he would follow no such middle with cholera or small-pox patients. course when it comes to estimat- There are. I feel sure several ing Revenue and Expenditure; Items under Public Works Extra- In his estimates of our income, ordinary on whilch further econo- ultra-conservatisin” is noticeable; mics can be effected and I hope while as regards expenditure, the the Hon. D. P. W. will do his best. quintessence of pessimism

manifest. Caution in the extreme bids him to be content, not only. with including under expenditure I understand that at least one for one year, items which are. of my colleagues will speak on meant to provide for a longer the subject of nightscil removal period, but to go further and to. being undertaken by a Govern- put away a few hidden reserves. ment. Department al a cost of I do not propose here to go into $384,000 for coolies.only, an item great detail; as the points. In Juati-· which once incurred will be re-fication of my statement have been current

raised and dealt with by my col-". This is a costly experiment at leagues and myself who were on a time when War Expenditure is the Select Committee; to which the a heavy drain on our resources Draft Estimates were referred. I' and one which I understand will venture toʻgive_only two exam- meantime carry on the present ples.

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Costly Experiment

New Duties ́

system owing to the inability to provide improved receptacles. I sincerely hope the measure will be The Hon. Financial. Secretary, postponed until we can afford it. in his Revised Estimates. for the the. Ist Lam not happy about the pro- period extending from vision of 84,700,000 for vessels January, 1840, to the 31st March, to be presented to the Ad- 1941, a period of fifteen months, #miralty,

gives the gure.

a for Ordinary Re This was authorised last year venue, that is,apart from War but no expenditure is anticipated Taxation, as $57,800,000. Using for the financial, period ending this figure as a basis for calcula- 31st March this year although the tion and presuming the continu- Imperial Government is. In ur ance of the existing state of pros- gent need of destroyers or escort pority, a factor on which the Hon, Vessels""fpr "convoys”

(Continued" on 'Page ́9)