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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
I have read with much satisfaction the excellent record of the work done by mem- hers of the Police Force during the war, Their numbers have been much depleted while their duties have increased. and they are to be congratulated on the man- ner in which they have grappled with the situation. In doing so they have been ably assisted by the Police Reserve, which has been recently demobilised and to which I now desire to express the grati- tude and appreciation of the community. Those members of the Police Force who went on active service have nearly all returned, though some have given up their lives. The war record of the Force will always redound to its credit, and will, I hope, he suitably commemorated in the new building of the Central Police
station.
In the Prison Department additional house allowances have heen granted to the Warders of the Indian staff to enable senior officers to marry. Under "Other Charges increases in several votes have been necessary on account of the general rise in price of commodities, amounting in all to $11,700.
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A Alim
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Under "Special Expenditure for the Police and Prison Departments of $10,000 has been inserted for the pur- chase of arms in order to bring up to date the equipment of the Police Force. $1,300 has also been inserted for motor-cycles with a view to the more eff cient patrolling of outlying districts, and 86.300 has been included for the purchase of a shallow draught motor-boat, which will be used on the shallow waters at the head of Deep Bay. A sum of $3,333 has has also been inserted for the purchase of new type and numbering machines for the printing department in the Gaol.
Medical and Sonitary Departments,
opening of the new ward and the increase in the cost of commodities generally base also raused several increases in "Other
barges" amounting in all to $8,200 Several decreases have, however, been effected in other votes, amounting J $1,550 The extension to the Lunati Asylum has also necessitated several in errases amounting in all to $340. Owing to the general resumption of trade and to the increased volume of shipping now arriving in this port. it is considered necessary to increase the vote for coal for the launch of the Health Officer of the Port by $500, Increases amounting to $1,945 appear also in "Other Charges for the Bacteriological Institute, due to the inclusion under that head of the sums formerly voted under Special Expendi ture for the preparation of moningococcin serum. The rise in price of laborator, apparatus and chemicals necessitate, also. for the Government Laboratory. an increase of $1,400 in Other Charges
In the Sanitary Department provision has been made for two additional Sani tary Inspectors. together with two addi tional 5th Grade Interpreters to Sani work in Kowloon City and Shamshuipo. tary Inspectors. These are required for
where formerly Police Inspectors ha acted as Sanitary Inspectors in addition to their other duties. It is felt that these rising townships now require full-time Inspectors. There are several other in- fully set out, with the reasons therefor. in creases to the Sanitary Staff which are Appendix II.
In Other Charges several votes have been increased result ing in a total increase of $3,960; it has votes to the extent of $1,450, been possible, however, to reduce other These in- Gruasen and decreases are fully shown in the Abstract laid on the table.
Under Special Expenditure "
provi In the Medical Department a new post street watering-van and for six two sion has been made for one 4-wheeled of Steward has been created for the pur-wheeled dust-carts to replace vehicles that pose of providing a better check on the have worn out in use, Further exhuma receipt and issue of daily supplies and for the general supervision of the native staff of the Government Civil Hospital The travelling allowances granted to Nursing Sisters and Probationers have been revised and. in view of present needs, increased.
On account of the opening of a ward in the Government Civil Hospital an increase in staff has been required, while the extension to the Sisters' Quar ters has also necessitated an addition to their domestic servants. These additions are fully shown in Appendix II. The
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exhumations at Mount Caroline Cemetery tions at Kai Lung Wan Cemetery and
necessitate votes amounting to $7.400 For the better conveyance of meat and poultry from the Slaughter house to the Central Market provision has been made of $13,000 for the purchase of motor meat and poultry vans," These, it is hoped, will remove the present every-day obstructions to the tramway, will provide a more sani tary method of conveying meat to the markets, and will contribute to the re venue of the Colony from the fees which it is proposed to charge.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Education.
In the Defence Corps Estimates the abolition of the post of Armourer-Ser- geant and the insertion of an Armourer- Attendant with a fee for periodical ins-. pections by an expert has caused a small reduction in personal emoluments.
The Estimates for the Education De partment have this year been put into, hat is believed to be, a more suitable form. under groups of cognate achools. These estimates show an increase of $78,090 over the sum voted for Education for the current year. This large increase is due mainly to increased subsidies to Vernacular Education in Hongkong and the New Territories, to increased Capita- | made in other votes resulting in a de
tion grants to schools recently included in the Grant scheme, and to a consider- able strengthening of the staff.
The increases in the staff of the various schools have been fully set out and ex plained in Appendix II. and I need only refer to the addition of 12 Assistant Mis- tresses which has already been sanctioned by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The depletion of the staff of the Educa tion Department, owing to the absence of many members on military service, and the consequent introduction of lady teachers to take over their duties tem- porarily has shown that the education of young Chinese boys can be advantageous- ly placed in their hands.
* several small Under **Other Charge: increases occur, the necessities of which are explained in the foot-notes attached
to the estimates.
The inclusion of new schools in the Grant Scheme has necessitated an in crease in Capitation Grants amounting to 819,771, while subsidies to schools in the New Territories have been increased by $3,300, and a sum of $10,000 has been inserted for subsidies to Elementary Vernacular Schools in Hongkong. With the permission of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a sum of $10,000 has also been inserted as a grant to the Con- fucian Society, who have already done so much for vernacular education in the L'olony.
cause
Mention was made last year of the gen- rous help that is being given by certain Chinese gentlemen to the
of vernacular education, and the Govern- ment has no desire to be behind-hand in supporting their efforts. I hope that a considerable sum may be forthcoming for the erection of school buildings and for education generally, but as the money is pot part of the revenue of the Colony it is unnecessary for me to go into the
natter now,
Under Other Charges" a sum of $800 has been added to the vote for the upkeep of the Rifle-ranges, as this vote had previously been under-estimated. Considerable savings have, however, been
crease of $11,116 In connection with these votes I desire to express the apprecia- tion of the Government of the excellent work done during the war by the members of the Defence Corps. I desire. also, to mention the valuable services rendered by Major Morgan as first Administrative Commandant, the high state of efficiency in the Corps being due, as I am informed, in no small measure to his efforts.
Public Worka.
There has been in recent years, as hon- ourable members are well aware, a consid rable expansion of the work done by the Public Works Department. During the war any increase of the staff was, of course, impossible, but with the return to more normal conditions and with a
large programme of public works in pro- strengthening of the Department is re- gress and in prospect a considerable
quired. On the retirement of Mr. Jaffe owing to ill-health, the post of Special Engineer has been abolished, and two 2nd. ther with two 2nd. (irade
Grade Executive Engineers, toge- Assistant Further Engineers, have been added. building operations, present and future. are of such importance and extent that it has been considered necessary to insert a second post of Clerk-of-Works, while the great extensions in the system of roads during recent years and the adapta- tions of existing roads for motor traffic has necessitated the addition of a Road Burveyor. The work in the office dealing with the drainage system of the Colony has also greatly increased, and one new post of Apprentice Surveyor has been added to cope with the work and to keep up to date the drainage plans and records.
The work of the Architectural and Drainage Office has also expanded con- aiderably, and it has therefore been neces Draughtsmen which are fully shown in sary to create several new posts of Appendix II.
Further, a considerable number of addi tional furemen and survey coolies has
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