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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
poor but honest people, or that the Colony gestion which has the approval of my should have in its midst a host of un- Unofficial colleagues. Owing to the un- desirables. I hope that this representa-rest prevailing in the interior of China, tion will receive the sympathetic con- sideration of our energetic Captain- Superintendent of Police,
On page 9 of the Estimates appears the item Kowloon (West) Ferry Licences" which show a revenue of nearly $119,000 The unofficial members are of the opinion that, as a cheap ferry service would tend to help the spread of the native popula tion from its present congested area in Victoria to the other side of the harbour the Government should obtain from the lessees a reduction in the fares, especially in that for third class, against a reason- able rebatenient in the present rents paid to the Government.
was
Arising out of the item "Money Changers Licences I would ask that the the embargo on the export of subsidiary coins from the Colony, which entails hard- ship on the people, may be withdrawn at an early date. Since the matter taken up by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce with the co-operation of the Chinese banks, the premia on Hongkong sub-coins have disappeared. our small coins and bank-notes are again Moreover, at a discount in Canton and the adjoin- ing districts, and it does not now pay anyone to take these moneys from Hong kong to such places, The reason for the embargo, therefore, no longer exists.
The revenue from Opium Monopoly shows a decrease of $1,500,000, and the explanation given in the note against it is that a decrease in consumption of opium is expected. We should like to know whether the decrease is the result of a policy of the Government, or is due to a diminishing demand for the drug, or to a probable increase in the quantity of opium smuggled into the Colony. Without expressing our opinion in any way, we desire a fuller explanation for such an enormous shrinkage in a prin- cipal item of our revenue,
We find that the number of Pawn brokers' Licences has increased, and we wish to record our opinion that where there are too many pawnshops gambling inevitably springs up or largely increases. with an attendant increase in crime. We trust that this point of view may receive the attention of Your Excellency.
Passing now Li "China Companies Fecs" on page 12. I wish to offer for the consideration of the Government a gug-
the number of business nien who hav transferred their commercial activities to this Colony, which affords them securit and protection, is large and is daily in creasing. If it could be done, I should like to see British protection afforded to outside this Colony. all Chinese companies registered bern Hongkong would assuredly become in In that event, creasingly popular with Chinese busi prestige in China would be greatly en ress men, and, what 18 more, British hanced. I know that this is an Imperial question, and one that is beset with many difficulties, but none the less I would urge Your Excellency to give it your considera tion.
$1.000 in
There is an estimated decrease of "Prison Industrios." If you will turn to page 58, under "Prison. Other Charges," you will find that the in- crease in expenditure in the item Sub- being partly due to an increase in the sistance of Prisoners" is explained as number of prisoners. Since the number of prisoners has gone up, how is it that the prison industrial labour has yielded or is expected to yield, a smaller re like to be enlightened on this point. venue ?
Whatever the cause, we should
The gross receipts from the Kowloon Canton Railway (page 4) are estimated to amount to $482,000, while the working the inscribed stock issue of 1906 together expenses, special expenditure, interest on with the Sinking Fund at 1 per cent. thereon,
to
amount are expected to $1,136,184, thus showing a deficit of over 8654,000, ag is shown in foot-note 3 on page 119. If, therefore, it is for no other Government should make every effort to reason than a commercial
reason, the get our railway linked up with the Can- Eon-Hankow Railway, which would un doubtedly result in a considerable in- crease in the traffic on our line. The railway could also be rendered more popu ar by certain improvements, but it would take up too much of the time of this honourable Council for me to detail them here. If Your Excellency desires it, I shall be glad to submit my sugges tions at a later date.
on
The item "Interest Government House Furniture " on page 18 is estimat ed to amount to $290 next year,
We pre sume that this interest is payable by the Governor on the value of furniture in
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wero war measures. Now that the war has ended, these vexatious restrictions should end also.
We desire to comment upon the present system of searching passengers leaving or arriving in this Colony by Revenue Off- cers and by the Police. This question was raised by the unofficial members in this Council in 1916, and although some improvement has since been effected. we feel that much more can still be done. Now that the European Police contingent is to be substantially augmented, we hope that more European supervision of the search work on the wharves may be exer-
roms occupied by him as his living quar ters. We consider it somewhat niggardly on the part of the public to require the Governor to pay for the use of furniture. provided by them as a matter of neces ity. Even if this is done in other Colonies, there is no reason why the prac tice should continue here. Let us take the lead in this small matter. as we have done in one or two larger matters in the past, and abolish the system; and most likely our sister Colonies will follow suit. In connection with this question, we in- vite attention to the itemRent of Gov- ernment Furniture on the same page. This is evidently rent paid by officers Jiving in Guvernment quarters in which
furniture is supplied by the Government. The unofficial members will unhesitat- If our suggestion regarding the Govingly vote for the sum inserted under ernor's furniture is adopted, the privilege Miscellaneous Services for special allow should be extended to the other Governances on salaries; but, they are of the ment officers, the amount involved being opinion that, if the allowances were to only #170 a year in their case.
be made retrospectiva in the case of offi- Cers in receipt of sterling salaries or exchange compensation, the other Civil Servants should be similarly treated, as they have suffered in common with their senior officers from the high cost of living.
I now come to the Estimates of Expen. diture. In the Estimates of the Harbour Master's Department, we suggest that provision may be made for a launch and, say, two fairly high-power motor-boats. The launch is to be used for towing junks and smaller craft to the Harbour of Re- fuge in typhoons and storms; while the inotor-boats are to serve as life-boats, which can at the same time perform or dinary harbour duties.
the
Under Other Charges, Imports and Exports Department,'
sub-heads Fuel" and "Packing Expenses "show no reductions, in spite of the statement in Your Excellency's Budget speech that much less opium was expected to be boiled next year, and also in spite of the fall in price of coal that has taken place since the current Estimates were passed. It is true that the amounts in- serted for next year need not be all speat; but the provision of a sum larger than what will actually be required does not conduce to economy.
cised.
In the Police Estimates, the addition of 4 European Lance Sergeants, 15 European Constables and 32 Chinese Con- stables, to bring the Force up to pre-war strength and in conformity with present- day needs, has the warm support of the unofficial members of this Council.
The unofficial members beg to associate themselves with the remarks made by Your Excellency at the last meeting in reference to the good work done by the members of the Force and by the Police Reserve during the war.
In the Sanitary Department, we are glad to see that two additional Sanitary inspectors will be appointed so as to re- lieve the Police Inspectors at Kowloon City and Shamshuipo of sanitary duties. We consider that the practice of putting police officers in out-stations on all kinds of extra duties, such as the collection of revenues and the performance of sanitary inspectors' duties, should as far as pos sible be done away with.
In connection with the Estimates of this Department, we desire to take this oppor- tunity to urge the early abolition of the trade restrictions introduced owing to the exigencies of the war, particularly the regulations governing Import and Export Permits, which are causing great ineon-Chinese, I think that the administration Speaking as a representative of the venience to the general public, and are inflicting much hardship on the Chinese. of the lime-washing regulations is not At the second reading of the Budget Bill above criticism. Complaints bave reach- last year this question was raised, and ed me from time to time that lime-wash- His Excellency the Officer Administeringing done by one's own contractor often the Government said that the restrictions failed to be passed by the Sanitary In-
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