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(c.) Persons holding a degree, diploma or licence in medicine and surgery of any medical school in Europe, the United States of America
or the
Empire of Japan, the degrees, diplomas and licences of which are recognised as entitling to registration by the General Council of Medical Education and Registration of the United Kingdom.
THE ESTIMATES.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved
sum not
the second reading of the Bill entitled,
An Ordinance to apply a exceeding Nine million five hundred and fifteen thousand six hundred and ninety- two dollars to the Public Service for the year 1915."
ed.
to such a speech is, from an educational point of view, of far more value to me, if I have to reply to that speech, than it would be if I had to read a printed paper. Turning to the Budget itself, the financial situation, so far as next year is concerned. may be considered very satisfactory, but I think, on further consideration and analysis of that statement, it cannot altogether be regarded as satisfactory. Now, we find that the estimated revenue for 1914 was $9,500,000, while the revised revenue for the same year was $11,087,000. The estimate for 1915 is third, that is to say, $4,000,000, is repre- $11,200.000, of which more than one- rented by the revenue from opium. Now, this source of revenue, the opium revenue, on which we are so largely dependent for the prosperity of our Colony, and for the carrying out at enormous expense of
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second public works which, owing to our posi-
HON. MR. HEWETT-Your Excellency, I have been asked by the unofficial mem- bers to speak first in reply to the Budget statement put before us a fortnight ago. I had, perhaps, better begin by expressing my regret that the representation of the unofficial members at this very important meeting is so sparse. But, as your Excel- lency is aware, one of our members has been away a good many months ill, and another has been called away on business and left the Colony a few days ago. That hon. member, however, attended the meet- ing at which the unofficial members dis- cussed the budget now before us, and I think I am correct in saying that he would entirely endorse, and would, if he were here, voice the views I am about to express. Perhaps your Excellency would allow me to add a word or two to what I said about a fortnight ago when your Excellency's address, which was printed, was laid upon the table. Personally, as I have had the honour on more than one occasion of being asked by unofficial mem- bers to reply to the Budget speech, I may say that it is far more illuminating to me to hear a clear and concise verbal state- ment made by the Governor than to have a printed paper laid before us, or even to have a printed paper read to us. I trust that the usual procedure will-as your Excellency gave a sort of half pro- mise would be the case--be adopted in the future: that is to say, that the Governor will deliver his speech, because listening
is
tion, geographically situated and topo- graphically constructed as it is, is a very important and increasingly important source of expenditure. To trust to opium for a third of our revenue clearly a source of weakness. We know that very large stocks were accumulated during the recent disturbances in China, and it will take about two or two and a half years to work off these accumulated stocks. At the expiration of that term I think it is quite reasonable to suppose that the further importation of Indian opium will be very greatly curtailed, if not entirely checked. That being so, it is quite reasonable to suppose, following on the instructions we have received from the Secretary of State, dictated to him by the existing House of Commons, as to the opium policy of Great Britain and the Colonies, that we cannot for any very great time rely upon such a valuable source of revenue which, as I have already said, amounts to more than one-third of only right that even now we should begin our revenue. Therefore, I think it is
to consider, and I think it would be very advisable if your Excellency could out- line, some means by which the loss of that revenue is going to be made up. Our principal source of revenue here, as your Excellency knows, is the house tax. all know that there has been for many years past a depression of trade conse- quent upon disturbances in China, and various other reasons, and great com- plaints have been made about the exces sive rents charged to householders by landed proprietors, many of whom are absentee landlords. Before I go on I
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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
would say that, of course, the revenue on house property is based on an annual or triennial valuation of property, and 1 think I may reasonably say, as things are going now, that a revaluation of property will show a depreciation in values and consequently a decrease in the revenue derived from this source. Again, other sources of revenue are licences, which in- clude the liquor tax. Now, the liquor tax is quite a new source of revenue, and the Government when it
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As your
for taking over the moorings. Excellency is aware, the Chamber of Com- merce, the shipping companies and the unofficial members of this Council have from the very first opposed this scheme; we still continue to oppose it. For twelve years this scheme, which, I understand, was brought forward by the present Har- bour Master, has been before this Council. We do not like it any more now than we did twelve years ago. On page 31 you was resorted will find an estimate of $10,000 for re- repudiated all responsibility laying, repairing and the upkeep of for it, and were promptly followed moorings. Now, I happen to have as by the unofficial members, who good a set of moorings in the harbour as repudiated responsibility for this ex- any man. I know the number of moor- tremely unpopular tax. Licences, as we ings, and I think the sum is very largely all know, have very largely increased on under-estimated. Then, on page 35, there several different occasions during the last is an entry of a quarter of a million with few years.
Therefore, I maintain that which the Government propose to buy the the extension of taxation here is limited. moorings. I am not prepared to say and I see no new sources of revenue ex
whether that is sufficient or insufficient for cept by increasing existing taxation. the property they intend to acquire, but That will have to be done in a very tender I do say this: in view of the extremely manner, otherwise it will have a serious uncertain financial condition of this effect on the prosperity of the Colony. Colony in the immediate future it would Page 19 of the accounts shows that the be extremely unwise for the Government expenditure for 1913 was estimated at to embark upon such an expensive experi $8,658,012. In 1915 the estimated expendiment, and one that has been condemned ture is placed at $12,486,771; that is to by all those nearly affected by the pro- say, in two years we have, roughly, an posal. I think the Government ought to increase of about 50 per cent. in the ex- drop the scheme, and I propose to move penditure of this Colony, and over and an amendment to the Bill now before us above that, even to balance the account that these two items be eliminated. We for 1915, we have to draw upon our very are-when I say <
31 we I mean the un- sparse reserve to the extent of nearly official members of the Council and also $1,100,000. With regard to the estimated the shipping companies and the Chamber revenue for next year, I think I am right of Commerce, which are interlaced-still in saying that it is the largest revenue absolutely in the dark as to how the that has ever been put before the Colony. Government proposes to work this scheme. I remember the time, about 25 years ago, The only information we have received is when the revenue of the Colony was the copy of the letter which your Excel- barely $2,000,000. That gives an idea of lency addressed to the Secretary of State, the way in which the Colony has pro-, dated 12th August, 1914, in which, after gressed during the last quarter of a going into the question of changing the century. At the same time it shows, from moorings and so forth, you go on to say the figures I have quoted, the very great that the moorings will be assigned danger we shall have in a few years of through the local pilots or by signal to having to face a very serious reverse. incoming vessels by the Harbour Depart- Turning to expenditure, I will deal with ment. Now, I have been in the shipping only a few of the more important items, business for nearly forty years; I have as I do not wish to detain this honourable been in China for 35 years, and in Hong- Council too long. At the same time, as it is kong for about twenty years, and I know the only one time in the year that un- perfectly well that if any ship came wan- official members have an opportunity of dering into the harbour trusting to a criticising the financial policy of the signal from the Harbour Master or to a Government, I must not scamp pilot as to which buoy she should go to, the work, but meet the requirements of a great deal of confusion, and possibly the case.
I will come next to the Har-collisions and danger to life and property bour Department. There is an entry will arise. How could a captain possibly, there on page 12, which is referred to in on five minutes' notice, even supposing the your Excellency's speech (page 3), with weather was clear enough for the Harbour regard to the scheme of the Government Master to signal him, go to No. 1, 2, 3 or
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