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will place a stricter supervision over the work of the native excisemen and police, and mitigate the hardship and undue Annoyance to which the Chinese passing through this Colony are undoubtedly sub- jected. Turning to the question of the teaching of Chinese boys in English, we also agree that the methods in vogue may well be looked into and improved. Given the same length of time for schooling, and the same standard of education, the Chinese boys learning English nowadays do not as a rulo speak and write the language so well as the students of a decade or two ago. The reason is, we should say, that too many subjects are orammed into the heads of the present day students before they have had a pro- per grounding in the fundamental "ole ments of the language.
The GOVERNOR-Hear, hear. Hon. Mr. LAU CHU PAX-At any rate English not being their mother tongue the Chinese students cannot be expected to learn it with the same facility as the English students taught under the same system. We commend this important question to the careful attention of the authorities interested. We say important, Bir, because on the present day students the Courts here more or less depend for the supply in future of competent in- terpreters and translators, and the University for qualiɓed undergraduates. Hon. Mr. Wei Yur-I beg to support the statements which have just been made by my colleague.
uary Improveuni and of public antety wil hạ thone wharters required, and it is on this side in regard to roads largely intended also that the quarters might be used by motor-care. The importance of provided for those officers who ate in linking up the link-line between the receipt of comparatively small salaries. Kowloon-Canton railway and the Han- HIS EXCELLENOY-There are two sets how section is so obvious that it is un- of quarters, one free of reat and the necessary for me to dwell upon it, ex- other are rented. The whole scheme i dept to endorse the remarks which have
fallen from my colleague. With regarded quarters are not completed.
no practically completed, but the rent-
to the remarks of the hon. member with regard to searching passengers, as chair-
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-My man of one of the local steamship com-
friend Bleo enquired what certain panies running between here and Canton, sections of the road, which is generally I have myself repeatedly stood upon that known as the road round the Island, wharf and watched the examination of would soet. I am not quite in a position passengers. And I can only say, Bir, to answer his question in the form in from my own personal observation in which it was put, but I may say that, the early stages the searchers were entire "peaking roughly, to complete the road ly out of uniform and indistinguishable and improve the various portions of the from any coolie who might happen to existing road which are in need of im- demand the right to search passengers on provement, will cost, roughly, $200,000, the wharf. And later, even after they in addition to the sum provided in this were put into uniform, the searching was year's estimates. With regard to quarters of a somewhat brutal nature. I do not for subordinate officers in the second know what precisely the circumstances block, I am not in a position at the pre- were, but I have repeatedly seen letters ent moment to give the estimated total rudely torn open and read through.ost of that work. As to the market at Upon demanding what was the reason for this the searchers said they were searching for revolutionary matter. I do not see why it is in the province of this Colony to protect the Chinese Empire by searching for revolutionary matter going on steamers, but there have been occasiona, from my own personal observation, when passengers have been searched in a man-
Tsih-taa-tsui, I do not expect that the sum of $18,000 will be largely exceeded, but there will certainly be a very con- siderable addition to the item, quarters My friend also asked for particulars of for subordinate officers, second block. item 34 (b), roads and general work in $9,300, 83,250, 81,200, 81,200, $750, $500, Kowloon. The various totals are:--
Unforeseen on works total
ner which was anything but courteous, $380, $350, $300 and $70, making a total Hon. Mr. HOLYDAK-Sir, in rising to and might be described as positively bar of 17,210. support the remarks which have fallen barous. Such happeninge will, I think, 0,000. As to the Praya East reclamation from my colleaguca, I desire to state that
tend to drive people away from this and when it is likely to be done, I re- the hon. member who represents the Colony, unless proper conditions of gret, Sir, that though matters have pro- Justices of the Peace has given to this searching can be provided for them. gressed in connection with the work it Council a symposium of thought repre-
is not yet possible to mention any prob Benting the criticisms which the unofficial
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Sir.able date at which the scheme is likely to members have to pass upon the Budget.
I will endeavour as far as in my power be initiated. The matter dependa wholly It is the desire of all of us to avoid, lies to reply to the remarks of the hon upon the scoeptance of the proposed under the present circumstances, all con-
member on my right with regard to Pub-terms by the lot holders who are interest- troversial matter as far as may possiblylic Works. In reply to his first remarks, ed in the work, and until the complete be done, but it is not within the reason-
whether the amount provided in this
schema has been before them and accepted able bounds of probability or expectation year's estimates for the harbour of re-
by them it is impossible to say when it that the expenditure of so large a sum of fuge was to include the final payment in
will be begun. My friend suggested that money sa this Budget involves could hope nection therewith, the amount pro
if couiderable delay was likely to occur to escape entirely criticisim of the points vided in this year's estimate does includ it would be advisable to undertake the which, from a commercial point of view. - the final payment to the contractor fe
extension of sewer outfalls. But I would representing as I do, and have the honour the work, and as I pointed out at the submit, Bir, that the mere extension to do, the commercial community of the time when your Excellency declared the of 50 Wer outfalls would do little Colony--we would force upon the atten-
harbour of refuge completed, the work to remedy the existing objection- tion of the Government. In the first had been completed within the contra table state of affairs. The mud, which place, we ask for the removal of the Pass amount. My hon. friend suggested the compose a large extent of the foreshore Office to a more central position in the the amount provided in item 7 of the fis in such a condition Aven now that Colony, such as the Post Office, and if Public Works recurrent was not auffi whatever you may do in the matter of possible the removal to a more central
cat. The matters to which be allud d extension, if you do not take steps to position of the Permit Office. The Pass have not been lost sight of, but of cour e cover up the mud the smell will remain Office is notoriously quite inconvenient, it is a matter of opinion in what par i-as it in. I think, Bir, I have touched It is difficult to find, and extremely difficular direction the money availa le upon all the points the hon. member dealt oult for strangers to find. It should be, should be expended. The Government
with. we submit, in a central spot, close to the has decided that it would be best expend arrival of the large vessels which come
ed in the direction of extending roads and go in these waters, and the natural rather than in effecting very ueful im place would be somewhere on the prava provements, no doubt, in existing roads. front, or as adjacent to it as it possibly But the point has not been lost sight of, can be. The Permit Office is at present and it will be taken in hand as soon as at the Harbour Office, which is wome
funds are available. My hon, friend next distance from the businese locality, and asked what was the estimated ecat of the a great deal of time in wasted in going Imports and Exports Office. I regret that to obtain permits, and although we all ¦ I am not in a position to give him that recognise that most valiant efforts are information. An estimate for a building made to avoid delays and to meet the to contain the Imports and Exports de- wishes of merchants, we submit that this is a point which might be very carefully considered. My colleague touched on the question of the devotion of large sums of money to public works in the Kowloon territory and the further hinterland rather than upon this side, and while wa recognise most clearly the desirability of improving roads of communication with a view to developing the territory And the desirability of building sites on that side, we do consider that very much
money is being spent on that side to the neglect of obvious and perfectly neore
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The hon mem- ber who represents the Justices of the Peace referred at the beginning of hia remarks to what he said was a special assessment for paying off the cost of the typhoon refuge. There is a sum of $95,000 which appears in the estimates for 1917. If the hon. member will look at the foot- ote he will see that the balance after the payments made in 1918 is more than $300,000, and it will probably take an other two and a half years, at the same partment was prepared about two years rate to pay half the cost of the whole go, bas such extensive development has work as arranged from the special levy. occurred since that the proposals on that With regard to the question of inter- date are now out of date and it will preters and translators in the Supreme be necessary to plan some entirely new Court. the hon, member was no doubt building. My hon. friend enquire I also aware that a really good translator and about the quarters at Mount Paris, the interpreter commands a very high rate amount provided for which is, I think, of pay, and when other people came along $13,000. The cost of the building will and offered them more money it was be in the neighbourhood of $20,000 or nothing less than human that they should $22,000. He further enquired whether wish to take up more lucrative employ some quarters would be required for sub- ment The Government has done its best extension of staff, which continues, there promise, and it is hoped that after ex- ordinate offlera. Naturally, with the in getting younger men who have great
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