HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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Under other charges subhead 2-" Ammunition" and subhead 7- "Clothing and Accoutrements "have been increased by $4,000 and $8,000 respectively to provide for the Police Reserve. Subhead 19- "Passages
"has had to be increased by $5,000 to meet the increased cost due to the reduction of the qualifying period from 4 to 4 years. Subhead 20-" Petrol, etc.," is increased by $1,500 owing to the forma- tion of the Police Flying Squad. Subhead 22-"Rations for Indian Police has gone up with the increase in the strength of the Indian contingent. Subhead 24-"Repairs to Police Cars and Cycles was under estimated in previous years, and a supplementary vote for $2,000 was taken last April. The vote has now been increased by $2,500. "Secret Service," subhead 27, has been reduced by $2,500, the amount now inserted being considered sufficient.
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One hundred rifles will be required for the Police Reserve, and provision has accordingly been made under subhead 32-" Purchase of Arms." A recurrent expenditure of $2,500 which is required for spares and replacements has been transferred from subhead 32 to subhead 3. One of the Police motor cars and three of the cycles require specially extensive repairs, and provision is accordingly made under subhead 33. The Harbour Launch, $25,000, is to replace No. 8 Launch, which was quite worn out, so much so that, when the engines had been removed not more than $200 could be obtained for the hull. At the present moment therefore the Police are one launch short for harbour duty, which means that the remaining launches have to be run almost continuously night and day without adequate provision for overhaul and repair or actual breakdown. The cruising launch is to "Shun Lee" which replace the present No. 3 Launch formerly the was only bought as a stop gap. The Government Marine Surveyor has reported that she is quite unseaworthy in anything but the most sheltered waters; consequently she is to all intents and purposes useless as a cruising launch. The new launch will be fitted with wireless and a 3 pounder gun. The Indian beds, subhead 44, are for increased number of Indian Police,
Head 25-Medical Department.
As a result of the investigations and recommendations of the Naval Malaria Preventive Officer, Singapore, who visited Hong Kong, in conjunction with the Medical and Sanitary Departments, it has been decided that the only really effective way, and at the same time the most economical way, of tackling the malaria problem in the Colony is to appoint a specially trained malarial research officer, with a small staff to assist him, to investigate and advise on the work to be undertaken. At present the incidence of malarial fever in some parts of the Island and in the New Territories is very high; and it is largely due to the prevalence of malaria that districts such as Taipo, Stanley and Shek O have not been developed as residential areas. In view of the great progress which is being made in other
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