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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
In the Post Office one 3rd grade Clerk has been promoted to be Deputy Superin- tendent, Money Order Office, while the 2nd grade Postal Clerks have been in creased by one. Under Other Charges large savings are shown under the head Carriage of Mails," due to the higher exchange and the closing of the Siberian Route.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
"
In the Kowloon-Canton Railway, under "Personal Emoluments " it will be noticed that the number of watchmen has been increased, especially in the Locomo- tive Yard at Hunghom. This latter in crease was made at the end of last year, when a number of thefts had occurred, and it is satisfactory to be able to re- port that since the extra watchmen were engaged and regular beats instituted there have been no further thefts. Under
Maintenance of Way-Works
and Stations Other Charges " the cost of the biennial painting of bridges and tunnels is estimated at $3,000, while larger sums than last year have been provided for the repairs to staff quarters and station buildings. The time has arrived when the sleepers originally laid require exten- sive renewals, for which a sum of $15,000 has been entered.
In the office of the Locomotive Superin- tendent a 3rd grade Draughtsman is re- quired. The Locomotive Superintendent has to work long hours to cope single handed with the very responsible work of keeping the engines and rolling-stock generally in good running order, and it has become practically impossible for him to continue making the necessary drawings. An extra fitter on daily wages has also been provided for. I'nder Other Charges
it is particularly satisfactory to note that, notwithstanding the increase in the cost of most materials, it is hoper to make a smalt saving on this year's estimates.
Under K Traffic Expenses-Personal Emoluments" it is proposed to promote five station-masters from the 5th to the 4th grade, as the salaries drawn by them are not considered sufficient remuneration for the long hours they have to work and the responsible nature of their duties.
The Fanling branch line still fails to pay its way, but it is useful as a feeder to the main line. A small saving is shown in the estimated cost of working the line next year.
of
Under Special Expenditure a revote of $45,000 is required for the platform awn- ings. As it is impossible to get materials from England, the work will now be car- ried into effect locally. The sum #10,220 is required to complete the wharf opposite the new goods-shed at Kowloon. The siding at Shatin, for which a sum of $6.640 has been provided, is required in order to obviate delays which sometimes occur in dealing with the traffic.
in preparing the estimates of expenditure The greatest economy has been exercised
ble with safety and efficiency, and I can in connection with the railway compati- only express a hope that events for which we have long waited may before long lead large capital expended. to a more satisfactory return on the very
A reduction of $223,381 is shown in the amount estimated for this year under the heading Charge on account of public debt
due to the higher exchange.
There are doubtless old residents in this Colony who will note with regret that by his death the portion of his pension paid by this Colony to the late Mr. Charles Vandeleur Creagh has ceased. with distinction, after leaving Hongkong, as Secretary to the Government of Perak, and as Governor of British North Borneo.
He served
The balance of revenue over expenditure is estimated to amount to $2,206,319, which, added to the estimated balance at the end of this year, makes a total of $6,801,531.
It is proposed to take the second read- ing of this bill on the 17th October.
The Colony's War Contributions
Before I conclude I wish to refer, as briefly as possible, to the help rendered by the Colony to His Majesty's Govern- ment during the past year in carrying on the war. I will bring the figures given by the Governor in his address last Octo- ber up to date.
The amounts invested in War Loang through the British Banks by companies and individuals in the Colony up to the 27th September are as follows:- British Government, Straits Settlement, Federated Malay States, and Indian Government loans United States War Loans...
£5,875,000 177,000
£6,052,000
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
to His 1917 In addition to the sum of $5,000,000
in 1916 and presented Majesty's Government for war purposes, the Colony has presented this year a sum of £550,000, while the special war assess- ment produced last year a sum of $504,984 and for the first nine months of this year $756,000, all of which has been paid over to the Imperial Authorities.
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Up to the present date 579 men have proceeded from the Colony on active ser- vice with His Majesty's Forces. The year has been marked by the passing of the Military Service Ordinance, imposing one of the first of the compulsory service outside the Colony. Crown Colonies to take this step, and the Hongkong was fact that, after a very careful review by the General Military Service Tribunal of every individual case coming under the was estab-Ordinance, comparatively few men have age of the available man-power of the been enrolled, shows that a high percent- Colony had already seized the opportunity of joining-up.
The Hongkong and South China War Savings Association, which lished in January, 1917, had received up to the end of September the sum of $2,696,274 Straits Currency-an increase of $1,674,834 over the sum received on the same late last year-while during the year the membership of the Association rose from 787 to 1,110. I desire again to record what a great boon this Association has been to the small investor, and to express to the Union Insurance Society of Canton the appreciation felt in the this Colony for the valuable services so will ingly rendered to the public in matter.
At the end of September, 1917, the total sum remitted to various funds in aid of war work and to charities in connection with the war was over £77,000, and the sum expended locally for the working parties The was $84,030. and in other ways former figure has been raised during the year to £142,122-which includes the fine results of "Our Day," St. George's Day, and a new date, namely, "Kowloon Day" on January 1st- and the latter figure to $144,568.
I feel sure that you will wish me to give expression to the feelings of intens↔ common with the rest of the Empire, has admiration with which this Colony, in
The watched during the past three months the magnificent victories won by our armies transport overseas and the high fighting and those of our gallant Allies. qualities of the American Army, so re- cently organised and trained; have filled the world with wonder at an achievement unsurpassed in history; Marshal Foch, uniting to the best advantage the efforts of the Commanders on all the fronts, will go down to the ages as one of the grandest figures in military history; while out of many fine exploits the British people will never forget how those brave and devoted volunteer crews added lustre to the records of our Navy by their dauntless courage in sealing up the ports of Ostend and Zeebrugge in the face of a most powerful and merciless fire by the enemy. In some
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Forty-three These figures do not include the sum of £31.447 subscribed to the Prince off these great doings the men from this Wales' Fund up to the 31st December, Colony have had a share. 1915. The St. Andrew's Society of Hong-have fallen, but our sorrow at their deaths kong, also, raised a sum of £7,047 last is surely turned into a feeling of pride fighting to obtain freedom for the nations Palestine is practically November, and, I understand, intends this that they should have lost their lives in
of the world. year to surpass all its previous efforts.
The various parties of ladies working delivered from Turkish rule; a great part for the Queen Mary's Needle Work Guild of Mesopotamia, with its ancient capital, is returning to a life of industry and and private working parties have con- tinued to send throughout the year large prosperity unknown for centuries; Serbia quantities of garments and bandages for is regaining her independence; and the the use of the troops on all fronts, and soil of Northern France and Belgium, the letters of appreciation received bear torn and battered though it be, is rapidly testimony to the great value of their work. being restored to its long-suffering peo whether the peace so long looked for is in Correspondence from all the regular ples. We are inclined to ask ourselves troops in the garrison has continued to be forwarded free of charge through the sight; whether the splendid work of our letters, our men are going to bring about the post, and from the 1st January fast to Commanders and the untiring valour of the end of September, 195, 135 3,656 postcards, and 7,479 other articles, collapse of our enemies; and whether we with many grave problems without being mostly newspapers. have been so trans shall find ourselves faced unexpectedly mitted.
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