HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
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robbed the Colony of an immense amount of manpower, so great that it is impossible to value it in money, therefore, no effort is too great to deal with this scourge. Bound up with malaria and other diseases are sanitation and hygiene in our villages, because cleanliness and care in the villages will go a long way to eradicate malaria.
Under public works recurrent, the Honourable Colonial Secretary has dealt with the maintenance of bridges and the upkeep of our splendid roads. I would, however, like to draw the Honourable Colonial Secretary's attention to the fact that the Taipo bridge, which is in the main line of traffic, has been demolished for something like two years and during the whole of that period, there has only been a temporary wooden bridge, capable of carrying light motor traffic. For all practical purposes the position to-day is the same as after the demolition of the bridge two years ago.
From a perusal of the estimates it would appear that whilst a smal increase is expected in business and commercial transactions, a substantial increase in immigration from China may be looked for. I note that whilst the fees for marriage licences and the registration of births and deaths may be expected to increase by fifty per cent., the public executioner's fees are expected to increase to a similar extent.
A careful consideration of the details of expenditure of the various departments reveals the information that several steam launches, motor boats, motor cars and machinery are to be purchased in the coming year, and it is to be hoped that the selection will be confined to those of British manufacture and is construction is called for or production possible in this Colony preference will as far as possible be given to this Colony. Similar principles might with advantage be adopted by all Government Departments as well as by private concerns in this Colony as our industrial concerns require special assistance in these times.
I desire, on behalf of the Kowloon Residents' Association, to draw Your Excellency's attention to two matters-Bathing facilities and the Star Ferry Kowloon approach road. As to the question of bathing facilities, this matter has been fully dealt with by the Bathing Beach Committee, and estimates prepared in connection with their Report. The Association, whilst appreciating fully the general financial position, so ably elucidated by the Honourable Colonial Secretary, hopes that Your Excellency will be able to see your way, year by year, to allocate money in this direction, increasing the amount as conditions improve. Whilst I am informed by people who are able to speak with personal knowledge, that in this Colony far more has been done by the Govern- ment to assist public bathing than in Shanghai, Singapore, Colombo and many other places, nevertheless one should not lose sight of the fact that sea bathing in this Colony has increased in popularity chormously in the last few years that it makes for health and hygiene, and, therefore, of general benefit to the Colony. It should not be
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