!
:
A
511
3
84
sum.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
far the re-ter portion of the British residents in this Colony in saying this.
capital. That is not taking any notice at all of the interest we have to pay up a loan the £1,100,000 borrowed, primarily to the Viceroy of Wuchang, to be invested in the railway. We make barely one por cent, on our railway and in addition to that have to pay interest on this enormous Now, so far as we know, from the very first, when the railway was started. the Government has been endeavouring to have the railway linked up with the Kwangtung main lines. We know that the Government here are working to that end to the best of their ability, and we think that further time should not be lost. Most strenuous representaions should be made in the proper quarters by this Government that these railways must ha linked up. The linking up of th Kowloon-Canton line with the main lines of China would be far more advantageous to the Chinese than to ourselves. They
We under-of ought to understand that. stand that the opposition to that railway is largely due to the opposition of a few narrow-minded or mistaken officials Canton, who are too short-sighted to see what the result of their obstructive policy
amounts to.
to
the
In making your remarks, your Excel- ency referied to the valuable services rendered by the Special Police Reserve and, I think, also, one Government official, Mr. Jaffé, for public services rendered. We entirely endorse what you have said, and go further. We think that there aro other people whose names should be recorded in this debate as people to whom this Colony owes thanks for voluntary services rendered during the hard times that have fallen upon us during the last 15 months. Referring more particularly Mr. Censorship Department, Dealy, and afterwards Mr. Irving, of the Government service, and finally Mr. Alabaster-particularly Mr. Alabaster, who has given up his private time and practice to public work in regard to the very important work of Densorship telegrams should be mentioned. There are others who have done good work, particularly in connection with the censorship of letters, whom it would perhaps be invidious to mention. Especially would I mention Mr. Charles Lafrentz, who has given a great deal of time to this work though in control of a big business single handed, and has devot ed himself whole-heartedly to his parti cular section of work,
With regard to charitable services in the Colony, unofficial members have dis cussed this question at some length, They are strongly of opinion that under exist- ing conditions the Hongkong Government
With regard to the balance sheet, I should take over entirely these three referred to that very fully in the debate Germen charities, for which, I think, a
of 1911, bus nothing resulted from that sum of $15,000 has been asked, and that debate, except a stereotyped reply from they should become Hongkong charities.
my friend on my left (the Colonial The names of these charities should be Treasurer). It hae again been considered changed as soon as possible, the staff by unofficial members, and we wish to should also be changed, and they should put it on record that the ratepayers of
to have become
proper and for all Hongkong Hongkong ought once
The pre- Government charities It would be crual balance-sheet put before them.
113 shows and wicked to close these institutions sent document put before entirely, and to throw those helpless little an entirely fictitious credit balance.
this to
document there children upon the world. These charities According
credit balance of $2,900,000, having been started in the Colony we have is
on which we propose to draw this year. got to see that they are continued to the end.
I think your Excellency laid down As a matter of fact there is no credit No notice is taken in this total rule by which you proposed to continue at all them. at all events for the present, but of liabilities of the permanent loan of not to admit any more children, and so
the Colony, which represents a large forth. With that we entirely agree. The
sum of money-about a million and a half sterling. Unofficial members have unofficial members agree also that once
asked me to refer to this again, and to hostilities are terminated we should not
express their dissatisfaction with the any longer have German charity existing
answer which was given to us some years in this Colony, even if it is forthcoming,
amo. Surprise was expressed than that, after so many years, the question should have been raised, and that, in any case, the balance sheet as put before us is
any Lore than wo should allow Germans themselves to come into this Colony. We believe we are voicing the feeling of by
EL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.