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track formation, and the 1920 estimate Was $150,000. Therefore, it was not altogether a rough estimate by the Public Works Department. They had the necessary working drawings to go upon. Well, Sir, continuing with my criticisms of Your Excellency's remarks i want further to point out that the extension of the motor roads eastwards from Wanchai Gap to Victoria Gap is not likely to cause any houses to be built which would not be built otherwise, with the exception possibly of a house for the Captain-Superintendent of Police Mount Gough Hill. With regard to your remark that there was a piece of land sold for $80,000 on the road to the Peak, that piece of land was to the eastward of the Wanchai Gap. It was on the lower part of the road, not on the road to the Peak proper, which I have always ob- jected to.
on
With regard to the possibility of the further addition to the road between Wanchai Gap and Victoria Gap which is now contemplated, that is to say from "The Mount ".down to Victoria Gap, I would point out that it is impossible to conceive that that will open up any fresh building sites having regard to the fact that that piece of road is in the Pokfulum drainage area, and, therefore, buildings would not be allowed to be erected on that road. I thought I had better make these remarks in order to make my personal position clear upon the question, and so that it may not be imagined that I am in any way departing from my previous position or compelled to depart from it, which is that the road ought not to have gone east of Wanchai Gap. As regards the piece of road at the back of Stewart Terrace and above the Peak Church, I think everybody will agree that the road will have the greatest difficulty in force- ing its way through there and that it certainly will not open up any new sites. With these remarks beg to express my agreement with my unofficial colleagues.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK,
RICE
GROWING IN NEW TERRITORIES.
The Hon. Mr. LAU CHU-PAK: Sir,-In supporting the remarks which my hon. friend opposite has made on behalf of the unofficial members, may I add a few words in reference to some other subjects which affect the Chinese? Plenty of capital would be forthcoming from private sources for the development of the waste land from Un Long to Fanling and Taipo for the purpose of farming, build- ing and industrial enterprises, if greater facilities and encouragement were given to intending investors.
A scheme which my Chinese colleagues and I and several friends,-by way of encouragement to new comers have pro- mised to support financially, is one for reclaiming a large tract of submerged and partially submerged land in a cer- tain part of the New Territories for the purpose of growing paddy. This should suffice to meet all local demands for five or six months a year, thus rendering Hongkong less dependent on outside sources for the supply of rice. The scheme has been under the consideration of the Government for several years. More than twelve months ago, we were led to expect that a lease would be granted, but we have been waiting for. this elusive lease up to this very mo- ment. Unless radical improvement is introduced in dealing with applications for land in the New Territories, I fear that the development of the place will be slow, indeed. The scheme I have
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