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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
been required for the proper supervision of roads and other public works under construction. These men are usually ap- pointed on a temporary basis and have so far been paid out of lapsing salaries; their posts aro now fully shown in the Estimates. Increase of clerical work in the Public Health and Buildings Ordi- nance Office has necessitated the addition of one 4th. Grade Clerk while one 2nd, Grade thinese Surveyor has been added under "Miscellaneous for work in con- nection with new roads under construc- tion.
These new nosta have necessitated several increases in Conveyance Allow ances shown under Other Charges" it has been possible, however. to reduce other votes to the extent of $4,370.
to find useful employment for a larger staff for many years to come, unless there should be some unlocked-for set- back to the prosperity of the Colony,
As regards' details, it will be observed tint in Hongkong the first six items ar for the completion of buildings already in progress. Item 7 provides for quar ters for scavenging coolies in the Western portion of the City. Item 8 for a new Fire Brigade station. Item 9 for the complete of the Crematorium. The mort uary in Hill Road is now to close to new residences that it is considered desirable to remove it to a new site. Under item 11 provision is made for building a second block of married quarters for Police in Caine Road. Item 12 is for twelve new
Several votes for Public Works Recur- houses in Wong Nei Chong Road. Six rent show an increase this year over those of these it is proposed to lease to the Naval Authorities for two years to house for the current year amounting in all to
Naval Civil Officers, who are at present $98,100, with reductions in other votes amounting to $14.500-the net increase occupying military quarters. It is PR. being, therefore, $83,600. The reasonssential that these officere should reside for these increases and decreases are fully shown in the fout-notes to the Estimates.
18
to
in Victoria, and, by the provision of quarters for them, the pressure on the housing resources of the Colony will be. The in some small measure. relieved. prevnt summer quarters for the familia: of Police-officers are quite inadequate. and it is proposed under Item 13 to begin the erection of a suitable building on the Peak.
The conclusion of peace makes it pos- sible to proceed with many public works held over owing to the demands made on the resources of the Colony for war pur- poses. Honourable members will not be surprised, therefore, to find that the sum provided under the head Public Works, Extraordinary clure on $4.000.000.
Under the heading "Communications" This is nearly double the amount provid- ed for this year, and nearly three times Item 16 (a) to (3) gums are provided for now in progress the amount spent in recent years. These completing works are large figures, but I feel sure that the Under (k) a sum of $60,000 is provided Council will agree with me that, now
for a very necessary widening of the road that the war is over, it is the wisest between North Point and Quarry Point. policy to press on our programme of while (1) and (m) are for improvements public works
the utmost of in Shaukiwan village. It is proposed to our ability in order both to make up the open Kennedy Road to motor traffic, and arrears of the years of war and to pre- the run provided under (n) will enable pare as fully as possible for the era of part of the work to be undertaken. The increased trade and prosperity which, we road contemplated under (o) will open hope, is now beginning. Even as it is we up sonie good building sites, and at the have been obliged to omit several works same time will provide for an alternativ of importance, but if 85 the year "oute from Aberdeen to Victoria, avoid advances, it appears to be possible to ing the very steep hill on the Pokfulum deal with an even larger programme than Road. Under (p) provision is made for that now included in the Estimates, I beginning the construction of a road over shall not hesitate to lay before you sup Wong Nai Chong Gap to Deep Water plementary proposals, to which I shall Bay, and under (q) for the first part of hope to secure your assent. I would road which will eventually reach Shek mention here that any such increase in and Cape d'Aguilar and will, it is work would almost certainly necessitate hoped, lead to the development of that an increase in the staff of the Public part of the island, which is at present Works Department, but there can, I somewhat isolated. Under (r) the road think, be no doubt that it will be possible to Wanchai Gap will be extended to
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
+1
10
Magazine Gap, giving access to new Under Miscellaneous the principal building sites. The sum of $30,000 pro- work will be the filling-in of the low. vided under (s) is for beginning the work lying areas in the neighbourhood of Tai- of making Victoria Road suitable for kok-taui and Fuk Tsun Heung. fontinuing the work of surfacing the heavy motor transport. Item (1) is for
Though there is abundance of water in the Kowloon Reservoir the difficulty main roads in the City with asphaltum. has hitherto been to supply the rapidly It has become very desirable to open growing population owing to the impos
new sites for residences in the Bill sibility of getting water-mains of suit- District. The only part of that district able size during the war. Provision has
up
far entirely undeveloped is Mount been made for laying a larger main Cameron, and provision is made under from the reservoir filter-beds and for im Item 17 for beginning the construction proving the distribution system.
of a tramway to Wanchai Gap, which will provide a rapid means of access both to Mount Cameron and to the hills be. tween Wanchai and Magazine Gaps.
Under Miscellaneous Works" provi sion is made for reconstructing ferry piers and beginning the reclamation scheme at Aplichau. Some important improvements are also to be made at the Central Police-station.
Kowloon Projects.
New Territories.
In the New Territories provision bas been made for completing the surfacing of the road from Fanling to Castle Peak so that it may be suitable for motor transport in all weathers. A very neces- sary patrol path along a portion of the frontier is to be constructed.
E:
Under the headings Drainage
and "Miscellaneous" large sums are to be expended in connection with the growing The rapid development of the Kowloon town of Shamshuipo, and provision has Peninsula necessitates the expenditure also been made for a scheme of electric of considerable sums. chiefly for roads lighting for Taipo and Taipo Market. and waterworks. I have not had time
The estimates for the Post Office show yet to make a personal inspection of the little change from those of former various portions of this important dis-
years. A large increase in the work of trict, but I have had an opportunlity of the Parcels Branch has necessitated the reading what has been written on the
addition of two 5th Grade Postal Clerka subject and hope shortly to be able to and of two Postmen at $144 cach, and arrive at definite decisions on the main questions under discussion. Among these been considered necessary amounting to increases under "Other Charges" have questions the provision of suitable means
$1,100. The working of the Post Offices of transport and the erection of a hos
continues on a satisfactory basis. the net pital would appear to be matters re-profit for the year 1918 for both Postal quiring early attention.
and Telegraph Bervices amounting roughly to $270,000.
Under Buildings provision is made for beginning a new Fire-station and a new Police-station; the erection of quar- ters at the Royal Observatory and in King's Park and very necessary altera tions at the Water Police-station to render it suitable for the increased number of Police to be accommorated when the Fire-station is erected.
Under Roads" a sum of $150,000 is provided for making new roads and im- proving existing roads, while it is pro- posed to extend Coronation Road towards its eventual terminus in Sham-shui-po. A beginning is also to be made with the road to the China Light and Power Company's new station,
Kowloon-Canton Railway.
ייִ
Under the heading Kowloon-Canton Railway there are a few small changes in the staff and a considerable number of increases and decreases occur in the votes for
Other Charges" under the various
the heads. Expenditure on Railway varies somewhat more than in the case of other Departments. These Increases and decreases, as will be seen from the Abstract on the table, amount to $94,035 and $22,249 respectively, giv ing a net increase of $1,787. The reasons for the changes will be found in the foot- notes attached to the Estimates,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.