78
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
Among the chief increases are a total for Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon of $11,750 for lighting and extensions of lighting to keep pace with the development of the Colony. Item 2 of subhead 13, "Water Meters" for Kowloon, has been increased by $10,000. There are at present nearly 400 applications for metres outstanding, and $15,000 is the minimum sum necessary to meet these demands. "Maintenance of Praya Walls and Piers" at Kowloon has been increased by $7,000. The corresponding vote for New Kowloon has been placed at the proper figure of $10,000, the figure of $100 in the current year's estimate being an error. "Maintenance
" and "Im- provements to Buildings" in the New Territories have been increased by $8,000 and $6,000 respectively. This is chiefly due to the number of Police Stations which will require heavy repairs next year. Maintenance of Roads and Bridges" in the New Territories has been increased considerably in order that the roads may be maintained in a fit condition for vehicular traffic. The Colony is justly proud of its splendid roads, and it would be false economy not to keep them up properly.
Head 31-Public Works Extraordinary.
It has been customary to speak at length on the details of this head when introducing the Budget. This year a memorandum by the Director of Public Works on the works which it is proposed to under- take has been placed before each Honourable Member. This gives fuller details than would be possible in a speech, and it is hoped that this new departure will prove a convenience to Honourable Members.
The Head, Public Works Extraordinary, is in some ways more interesting for what it omits than for what it contains. Almost all the large items are for works to which the Colony is committed, and until these are completed no new schemes of any magnitude can be contemplated except from Loan Funds. A very long list of urgent public works was very carefully considered, but as Honourable Members will see from the figures placed before them the services we have provided for have used up practically the whole of our available balances and we cannot undertake further liabilities without funds. It is needless for me to enumerate the many works which have had to stand over apart altogether from large schemes such as the Vehicular Ferry, and the Increased Water Supply which can only be considered in conjunction with a further loan. There are Hospitals, Markets, Latrines, Bath Houses, Schools, Roads, a Police Training School, Police Stations, Public Bathing Beaches, the Kowloon Point Improve- ments, Wireless Direction Finders, and many other works which the Government would gladly undertake if they could be accomplished without increasing the burden of taxation. As matters stand they must wait until we have cleared off our commitments or until our revenue increases,
47
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.