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municipal legislation (see sertion 4 of the Public Health Ordinance 1903), ought, to be taken away; and
2nd. That, not only in the interests of those living in and passing along the Praya East, but also in the interests of the health of the boat-people themselves, those boat-people ought to be restrained by legislation from digging in. the fetid. mud on the foreshore of Praya East for shell-fish or other things.
3-Next, we would suggest that there is still room for improvement in the methods adopted in searching Chinese passengers entering or leaving the Colony, and more particularly in regard to at- tempts by searchers to squeeze money out of such passengers.
4.-Passing on to the subject of Educa- tion, We would again emphasize the necessity for the better teaching of Eng- lish to Chinese boys, and would urge that more attention be paid to English and' less to a multitude of other subjects, and that, if possible, two sides to a School.be established, one side a Commercial side.. and the other a University side, for we think that there is too great a tendency to educate Chinear boys as if their ultimate educational destiny must neces sarily be the University.
5. Before passing away from the sub jects dealt with in last year's Budget, we would once more urge the Hongkong Government to press upon the Chinese Authorities the necessity for fulfilling their agreement to link up the Kowloon- Canton Railway with the railway, under construction, from Canton to Hankow.
Turning now to the Budget for 1918, our main criticisms are not. unnaturally directed. to the important Department of Public Works, and we should like know: ...
to
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1. Why no provision has been made for the erection of a screen wall near the Southern entrance to the Harbour of Refuge at Yaumati. In this connection it will be remembered that, in the typhoon of August of this year, considerable dam- age was done to boats and piers inside that Harbour of Refuge, by reason of waves rolling in through that entrance.
2. Why no provision has been made for the erection of a serviceable and sightly roof to the Queen's Statue Wharfi 3. Why there is no clock on the station
tower at Kowloon !
4. What steps are being taken, and" when they are likely to be completed, for
linking up Nathan Road. Kowloon, with. Coronation Road?
5.Why the programme for training bullahs, a step which is so valuable for the diminution of malaris, is so much baller for 1918 than for 19173
6.-Whether it would not be practicable to provide better class-room accommoda- tion for the boys at Saivingpun School!
7-Whether it would not be possible
i to provide for more effective Polica Supervision at Yaumati and in the neighbourhood↑
8-Whether in view of the considerable sum of money to be expended on the new Imports and Exports Office it would not be practicable to have that office erected in a more central position than the pro posed site 1
As a large sum of money is to be ex- pended on this building. it appears to be most desirable that the site selected should be as convenient as possible and easily accessible for the principal mercantile and shipping firms.
Before concluding, we should like to add. that, in rainy weather, residents fre quently experience considerable incon- venience and annoyance from the fact that the public chair-coolies stop at home Instead of turning out and attending to the requirements of the public. This is a matter which we commend to the noties of the Police in the hops that some remedy may be found. We presume that the responsible parties are under hond to the Government, and we suggest that the terms of that bond ought to be made wido enough to impose some penalty for the inconvenience complained of.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-With regard to the various queries put by the honourable member, the reason why no provision has been made for the erection of a screen wall at the southern entrailoe to the Harbour of Refuge is that the experience gained has not been sufficient to show exactly what provision of such a nature should be made. So far only one typhoon has visited the Colony that has brought into marked operation the now Harbour of Refuge and the damage wronght during that storm was not great. It probably arose owing to the various craft dragging their anchors, and that is a matter which, I am afraid, cannot be guarded against. The refuge performed its part well, I believe, as a wave protec- tion. It can never be made an effective
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