mon 210
As regards the proposed Kowloon East Ferry service and the proposed Motor Bus services at Kowloon, it is hoped that the nocemary strengthening of the roads will be speedily put in hand, so that such im. proved means of communication may be started as early as possible.
With regard to the anticipated increase of traffic on the Kowloon-Canton Railway, it is our earnest hope that the Canton authorities will, during the coming year, maintain a strong Civil Government, and that the recent lawless epidemio of mili- Barism and violence will very B000 wholly disappear, and that the various armed forces will be disbanded throughout Kwangtung an Kwangsi. We would also, once again, urge the paramount necessity for the speedy completion of the Canton- Hankow Railway, and also for the linking up of the Kowloon-Canton Railway with that Railway.
As regards the Cadet Service, we have not sufficient materials before us to judge whether the proposed scheme of payment of Cadets by seniority instead of by posts is desirable or not; and we should like to know what is the nature of the two strict efficiency bars which are referred to in Your Excellency's speech.
Whilst welcoming the increase in the personnel of the Police Force, we regret that there has not been a greater increase in the European section, and we are not satisfied that the proposed number of Europeans in the Police Force is sufficient for the growing needs of the Colony and for the adequate protection of its inhabit- ante from the criminal classes. We con- sider, also, that stricter supervision of the Chinese Detective Staff is desirable.
As regards the Prison Department, we are doubtful whether the proposed increases in the Gaol Staff are sufficient. The slight increases appearing in the Estimates seem inadequate to copo both with the Gaol proper and with the recently-opened establishment at Laichikok, more especially as we gather that the chain-gang is to be revived. The establishment of a sepa- rate Head for the Prisons Department was one of the recommendations of the Goal Committee, and wo are quite in favour of it; and we would suggest, aa a corollary, that the Estimates of the Police and Prisons Departments ought to be kept separately from one another in the future.
With regard to the new Gaol at Ngau Shi Wan (Item 73 on page 86) we hope that the most ample room for expansion will be provided, as we consider that the ideal to aim at is to have that Gaol as the sole Gaol in the Colony, thereby con centrating the Prison and its staff in one spot and saving expense, and also releas ing the central and valuable site of the present Gaol for other purposes.
As regards the deficiencies in the European Education staff, the Unofficial Members trust that such deficiencies, which are retarding the teaching in our schools, will soon be remedied. "We also consider that there are not enough schools the Colony for the teaching of English.
in
With reference to the items on page 73, subsidies to schools in New Territories and Subsdies to Elementary Vernacular Schools 10 Hongkong, $7,200 and $10,000, respec- tively, we would make the following re- marks:-
For years, Vernacular Education-the want of which has been keenly felt by the working Chinese, who cannot afford to engage private teachers for their children -has received meagre attention and help from the Government, although it forms an important factor in British propaganda work and is the stepping-tone to English education so far as the Chinese population of this Colony is concerned. Without a fairly good grounding in their own langu age, the value and benefit of English educa tion to Chinese youths cannot be so fully realized as they should be. At present the system of vernacular education existing in this Colony is supported by the charitably disposed Chinese, who, beyond a small sub- aidy or a small grant under the grant-in- aid code, receive scarcely any encourage- ment or help from the Government, The schools which they are maintaining afford shelter for two or three thousand children of the working class, who, had it not been for such schools, would be thrown on the streets to swell the number of Juvenile Offenders. The present system has no per- manency, and those who are running the schools may retire from the field at any time for want of support and encouragement. My Chinese colleagues suggest that the sub- sidies and grants should be increased, and free scholarships given so as to enable the best pupils to pass on to the Government District schools for a course of English education. When things were cheap and rents low, a grant of 3 or 5 dollars per head might be adequate, but now that everything has gone up in price the old rates ranging from 9 to 12 dollars ought, it is suggested,
to ha restored.
With regard to the item on page 73 of Building Grants, $180.000, we should like to be informed how such sum be appor- tioned between the different schools.
We are glad to hear that, at last, a Maternity Wing is to he built on
to Vic toria Hospital, and also that a Hospital is to be built at Kowloon and a Hospital for Europeans to relieve the pressure on the Government Civil Hospital on this side of the Harbour. We approve of the pro- posal to have wards in the latter Hoenital in which private practitioners can see their own patients, and we hope that private practitioners will be given leave to treat their own patients in the Kowloon Hospital. As regards the reconstruction of Queen's Statue Wharf, we would urge upon the Government the necessity for the new Wharf containing much greater accommodation for launches than the present one, and also that it should be constructed in a manner worthy of its surroundings.
the
A regards items 78 and 84 (on Page 86) we should like to know whether the Government foresaw the necessity for this work (which involves expenditure of over * Ino of dollars) at the time when the land was sold for reclamation at Tai Chi-kok, and if this contingent expenditure was foreseen in settling the unset price for such land. We think it ought to have been forezent, As regards Item 84 we should also like to know whether the sum of $60,000 for the construc. tion of the water-boat dock at Lai Chi-kok will complete that work.
282
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.