21:
50
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Kowloon Roads
Under Roads, item 55, $200.000 e provided for the main roads from Shamshuipo to Kowloon City and from Hunghom to Kow loon City. Provision is also made for extending Coronation Road to meet the new main road from Shamshuipo to Kow- loon City. $100.000 is provided for com- mencing the work of surfacing the main roads in Kowloon in order to fit them to carry omnibus and similar traffic.
Item 60 provides the sum of $60,000 for filling in the tidal flat near Taikoktsui. This filling in will result in the provision of a large area of good building sites.
Further provision is made under item 68 for improving the water distribution service in Kowloon, and under item 69 $65.000 is set aside for new filter beds.
Items 71 and 72 are in respect of quar- ters for the Land Bailiff and the Court House for the District Officer at Un Long and new Clerk's Quarters at Taipo.
Under item 73, $40,000 is provided for the commencement of the new Gaol build ing at Ngau Shi Wan. The Government has acquired from the Kai Tack Reclama tion Company an area of 15 acres of re claimed ground at the eastern end of Kow- loon City Reclamation, upon which it is proposed to erect the Gaol and the Police School. The site is admirably situated for both purposes and there is in the im- mediate neighbourhood a very large quan- tity of granite upon the working of which it is proposed to employ the prisoners.
A diaphone fog signalling installation at Waglan is provided for under item 74 The Harbour Master, who goes on leave next spring, is proceeding to Canada in order to study this system which has heen successfully employed on the Canadian
coast.
Under item 75, $17.000 is provided for a new school building at Cheung Chau.
Item 77 refers to roads in the New Territories. $15,000 is set apart for widen- ing the Taipo Road between the third and fifth milestones, and $100,000 is provided for metalling and tar-painting the Laichi kok-Castle Peak and Taipo Roads. An additional $15.000 is provided for improv ing the Coastal Road to Laichikok in order to enable it to carry the refuse tractors and trucks to which I have already referred.
Under item 78 and 84, $100,000 is pro- vided for training the main stream at Laichikok and providing a large basin for the water boats at its mouth. This work is rendered necessary by the extensive re- clamation schemes which are in progress or are contemplated in this neighbourhood.
$10,000 is provided under item 79 for sewerage work in connection with the Kow- loon City Reclamation.
$200,000 is asked for under item 80 for continuing the reclamation at Shamshuipo. The Government is using every endeavour to induce the Chinese population to live in this neighbourhood and the rapid growth of Shanshuipo testifies to its succes* in this connection. It is hoped that eventually the provision of housing accom- modation both here and at Kowloon City will relieve the great congestion now ob taining in the City of Victoria.
Under item 82 provision is made for a new pier at Cheung Chau.
Item 83 refers to the refuse dump near Laichikok, of which I have already spoken.
Item 88 sets aside a sum $30,000 for a Fanling waterworks scheme. The Govern- ment proposes to take over the system which now belongs to the Golf Club, and to supply water to the neighbourhood.
A Record Vote
The total expenditure on Public Works
to â Extraordinary amounts
sum of $4,967,400, an amount which is far in excess of any vote in former year. It will prob- ably be necessary to strengthen the staff of the Public Works Department in order to enable it to carry out the programme; but I may mention that I am prepared, if necessary, to place work in the hands of private firms both to relieve the pressure on the Government staff and for the pur- pose of encouraging local enterprise. The development of the Homestead site has been entrusted to Messrs. Little, Adams, & Wood, and Messrs. Denison. Ram, & Gibbs are erecting a house for the Govern- ment at the eastern end of Finlay Road.
I have no hesitation in asking for this large sum of money. I consider it to be of the utmost importance that the Govern ment should do all in its power not merely to keep pace with but to anticipate the growth and expansion of this progressive Colony,
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Schemes of Development
may
of
already led to several enquiries for build- ing sites, and the enterprise of the Hong- take this opportunity okong Hotel Company at Repulse Bay fore- refer to schemes
development shadows the rapid development of that which are not touched on or are neighbourhood. The Government is in barely touched on in these estimates. treaty with the Dairy Farm for the release There is in the first place the proposed of some of the land now under grass at motor omnibus service for Kowloon. Ten- Pokfulam, and applications have been re- ders will shortly be invited for a service ceived for permission to build upon a Farm which will maintain a fixed schedule at Lot on the Pokfulam Road which has re- cheap rates along the main Kowloon cently been resumed. Arrangements have roads, with a view to opening up out been and are being made for the conver- lying districts. It is not the intention of sion of farm lots at Wongneichong, for the the Government to make money out of the purpose of the erection of a large number scheme, which may possibly be run at a of houses. The question of the resumption loss, at least at the commencement. I do of military lands in Victoria is appre- not propose that the service should be main- ciably nearer solution. tained by the Government as I consider that an enterprise of this nature is better left in private hands.
The European House Shortage
I may say here that I have been at some I may refer in this connection to the paine to ascertain to what extent there is housing problem. Under its policy of an actual shortage of housing accommoda- building loans the Government has adtion for Europeans, but without any very vanced or has arranged to advance definite result. That there is a shortage $1,000,000, in exchange for which it has appears to be generally admitted but I secured the erection of 11 houses and 29 have been struck by an advertisement Hats in Hongkong. 67 houses and 63 flats which has for some time past heen appear- in Kowloon, and one house at Fanling. ing in the Press to the effect that a number It has under consideration schemes for the of European flats are available for occu extension of the enterprising Colony at pation on Coronation Road. I understand Ho Mun Tin and for the development, that the flats are in every way suitable possibly on Garden City lines, of a large but that enquirers consider the distance area at Kowloon Tong. The chief obstacles from the Star Ferry Wharf to be too have hitherto been inadequacy of communi- great and are not apparently disposed to cations, which will be largely remedied by use the Yaumati Ferry which is close by. the omnibus service, and the necessity for Prospective tenants can hardly expect that preparing in advance proper town-in towns of constantly rising land values, planning schemes which will ensure the such as Victoria and Kowloon, they can best use being made of the ground. Pro- continue to rent dwellings at cheap rentals gress is being made with this work as fast within easy distance of their offices. as possible, but the many other calls upon question is primarily an economic one the Public Works Department preclude the which cannot be greatly affected by Gor- possibility of an early completion. It is ernment action. The Government can pro- the sincere hope of the Government that bably do little more than endeavour to the Kai Tack Reclamation Scheme at Kow- secure that existing possibilities are made loon City will meet with the success which the most of and I may say in this connec- is anticipated by the promoters. The tion that I have under consideration the promoters have been somewhat handicapped question of taking steps to ensure that by lack of the funds necessary to complete suitable land is not allowed to remain un- so ambitious a project, but a very large occupied. amount of good building land in one of the best situations in the Colony is now available, and when once a start is made development should proceed rapidly. The now omnibus and ferry services and the new roads to Kowloon City will no doubt prove of considerable assistance. On the island of Hongkong the road to Wanchai Gap has
Revision of Salaries Costs A Million Dollars
The
With regard to the Estimates generally, I have not attempted to deal in detail with the very large number of changes brought about by the salary revision schemes. The
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