138
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
for the current year. As regards the Import and Export Department, the hon. member opposite stated that the increase was $35,000, but really, owing to the reduction in the cost of opium by $50,000, that it was something like $80,000. That is a fact, but he was really referring to the revised estimate for the present year, which reduced the estimate made at the end of last year by a sum of $67,000. The net increase over the revised estimate for the current year cannot be considered at all excessive. As regards the railway which is the only other point I wish to refer to, and which the hon. and learned member made rather a point of, the figures are on page 115. The estimate for coal is considered low considering the large increase in the price, and it is not at all uncertain that
the estimate is not fixed rather low; in fact, I think the manager of the rail way holds that opinion. Still, we hope in the coming year the price will not ad- vance, and it is practically certain that we ought to be able to get coal at quite a reasonable figure.
HON. MR. HEWETT-Can you tell us how much coal we have got?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY-6,600 tons, I think, is the approximate amount. As regards oil tallow and other stores, that estimate has been very carefully calculated. The actual cost this year for oil tallow and other stores is almost exactly the same as that estimated, $9,600, so there really is not an increase.
HON. MR. POLLOCK —I did not refer to that.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY-As re-
ing week-ends and holidays will be saved by having a proper amount of rolling stock. I might add before I close that I am sorry not to have seen any of the unofficial members during the fortnight which has elapsed. Your Excellency made the suggestion that they might like to come and consult with me, and although I have been
very busy I would have been glad to see them. In the Straits Settlements the procedure is that the unofficial members sit con- tinuously with the Colonial Secretary and the Treasurer and have all files and information given them as they want them, so that every point of spot. I hope that next year the unofficial doubt or difficulty is cleared up on the members will consent to that arrangement, and trouble, but it will also elucidate as I am sure it will not only save time points a great deal better than can be done in debate.
―
unofficial
His EXCELLENCY If members as a body would prefer my delivering orally my address next year I will try and do so, but I cannot promise that I will not read the address. There was a day when a few readings over of the address such as printed this year would have been sufficient to fix it in my memory to enable me to deliver it and to repeat it verbatim. But I am afraid at my time of life I cannot rely on my memory sufficiently to perform a feat like that. but if you prefer to have the speech read instead of reading it yourselves, I am quite willing to fall in with your ideas. Both hon. unofficial members who have spoken have referred to the opium revenue. I would have been glad if they had said nothing about the subject. I am strongly of opinion that it is a subject about one says the better. which the less
gards the locomotives, during the year they have been very hard worked, and it has not been possible to move them from the line and put them in the sheds when they I have not undertaken the task of trying to think out how long the revenue will last, should have been there, and the result is that they will want considerable repairs and as I see no immediate prospect of los- during the coming year. when we shalling it, I do not think I should be using my have three extra locomotives which will enable us to do that. Therefore, the repairs are put at a high figure. I think the note explains that. There is a con- siderable increase in the number of coaches and vehicles. We have had during this year and for one or two years past during heavy traffic to borrow carriages from the Chinese section, and that expenditure on the hire of carriages dur
time to much advantage if I were to undertake the task, nor do I think it would help us to get permission to make such a contract as the hon. member who represents the Justices of the Peace refers to.
The existence of such a contract would not weigh much with His Majesty s Government one way or the other if they decided that our dealings in opium were to cease. At the same time, I apprecvită the foresight of both hon. members in
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
wishing this important question should not be lost sight of. The hon. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce is firm in his convictions, as he always is, and he will have nothing of our scheme for removing and relaying the buoys in the harbour. Now, in order to show how necessary that scheme is, I think I may just read a few lines from my despatch to the Secretary of State :-" The result is that the old-established shipping firms, many of whom employ steamers of small tonnage engaged in the coasting trade of China or in local trade with the Philip pines, Japan and Siam, monopolise many of the best berths in the deepest water, to the prejudice of newly-establish- ed lines of steamers trading with Europe, Canada and America which employ vessels of heavy tonnage and deep draught. Many of these have to lie at a consider- able distance from the business centre of the City, and complaints have been made in recent years by the Agents of some of the largest vessels frequenting the Port that they are forced out into distant and inconvenient parts of the harbour. Sug gestions have been made that to meet the demand for berths for deep draught ves- sels, the dredging of some of the more remote portions of the anchorage should be resorted to.' Now, those are very strong arguments based on solid facts. Suggestions and recommendations had ac- tually been made to the Government to dredge the harbour in order to make more room in it, and if such dredging were resorted to, enormous sume would have to be expended, which, in view of the pre- carious nature of our revenue it would be very unwise for us to embark upon. I do not think the hon. member or any shipping man need be afraid of the scheme. It is proposed, as indicated in the despatch, to divide up the berths into classes. Therefore, it will not be a case of a man going to hunt all over the har- bour for his buoy. He will have his buoy in a certain circumscribed area in a par- ticular part of the harbour, and it will be a simple matter to indicate to him the number of the buoy either by wireless. which I hope we shall have then, or by signal if he does not carry a pilot. may mention that in Singapore the sys- tem is already in vogue of berthing vessels by signal or other communication at the Tanjong Pagar wharves, and the system works well. The fees we propose to charge are $8 a day first class, $6 a day in the second class and $4 a day in the third class, and we calculate that the re- venue therefrom will just about cover, no
617
139
more, the interest on capital and current expenditure. The hon. member who re- presents the Chamber of Commerce ex- pressed the opinion that $10,000 would not be enough to remove and relay the buoys. That is quite right; it would not be suf- ficient, but we only propose to relay them by tens a year. There are 40 buoys to be dealt with, and we will take them in hand ten annually. Therefore, the total sum for relaying will be about $40,000, and not $10,000. The hon. member also re- ferred to the large expenditure incurred on the redemption of subsidiary coin. It is a very large amount, but I would re- mind him that we made a profit originally of $2,400,000 on the issue of that coin, and we have not yet spent in redemption as much as we originally made in issue. I am heartily glad to see, however, that the hon. member endorses the policy that the Government had embarked upon. He next asked that the column as revised should be carried out throughout the estimates. Now, I do not really see that any great advantage would be gained. The revised estimates are merely the index to the figures upon which the estimates for the succeeding year are based. We cannot say, for instance, what the revenue for this year will be, until the
year is closed, but down put
that estimate in order to show approximately how we arrive at the figure for the succeeding
all The estimates for
Crown Colonies are drawn up in the way ours are, and it is very necessary to have a uniform system. The hon. member also referred to the Volunteers and their paucity, and I heartily agree with him that they are too few. Perhaps, when the present war is over some different system will be inaugurated by which we will have many more volunteers. But he was not quite right, and it is perhaps necessary I should correct him when he said the Reserves were filled with men over 35 years of age. We accept men under 30 years who have been in the Army and Navy and men of 30 years have had five years' volunteer service, of age who
three years' volunteer service. Therefore, and of 32 years of age who have had there are a number of men in the Reserves who by reason of their naval, military or volunteer service are eligible long before they reach 35, and that is one of the reasons which makes this body such a valuable body of men, having such a large number of trained men in the ranks. The
We
year.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.