85
1
THE GOVERNOR.
Defends Volunteers and Saikung Road.
NOT DISAPPOINTED.
His Excellency the said:
of the Kowloon byewash reservoir, ask why the work was not done which is now in progress, and the more rapidly; but to this I would commencement of the construction reply, in the first place, that I of the Aberdeen waterworks doubt whether, with the engineer- scheme, for which tenders have now ing resources at our disposal, more been received. I am happy to know rapid progress was possible, and that Mr. Henderson has the skilled in the next place, that funds could assistance of Mr. Purves, a very not more rapidly have been made experienced waterworks engineer, available. Memories in this Colony who has just declined an offer of are short; but I cannot believe that promotion to the Gold Coast, in or- there is anyone in this Council who der to remain in this Colony, where forgets the troubles of 1925, 1926 Governor the value of his services to the and 1927. The Colony's finances at Hong Kong Government is fully re- that time were much embarrassed. cognized. By their joint efforts, I It would have been impossible in Gentlemen,-I am very grateful, both to the Official and to the Un-have no doubt that Mr. Henderson those years to raise the local loan, which was successfully floated last official Members of this Council,
[year. There was no accumulation for the care and attention which
of surplus balances, as there is to- has been given to the preparation
day. We were economizing in every and scrutiny of next year's bud-
direction, reducing staff and post- get. More especially I thank my
poning all expenditure, to which honourable friends, the Colonial Secretary and the Senior Unofficial
we were not already committed. I claim that, instead of criticizing Member, upon whose shoulders has
the Government. for delay in this fallen the chief burden of debate.
matter, there is cause for thanks- The criticisms made by the Unoffi-
giving in this Colony that the first cial Members have been most help-
section of the Sheng-mun scheme ful; and, where any difference in
had not to be proceeded with even opinion exists between the Govern-
more slowly than has actually been ment and the Unofficials. it is at
the bottom usually a question of the priority to be accorded to various projects, which we all of us re- cognize as desirable in the interests of the Colony.
The Colonial Secretary and other members of the Government have already dealt with most of the mat- ters mentioned in speeches made by Unofficial Members at the last meeting of this Council; but there remain a few points on which I wish to address you myself.
and Mr. Purves will before long place before us detailed plans and estimates for the construction of the second section of the Sheng-mun scheme; and, as I have already told the Council, directly reliable plans and estimates for this scheme are in my possession I shall sub- mit the matter for your considera- tion and ask for the approval of the Secretary of State.
Unfair Criticism.
The Senior Unofficial Member criticized, as I think somewhat un- fairly, the delay in constructing the harbour pipe-line, and he pointed out that the Unofficial Members of this Council had, in November, 1926, urged the Government to across the bring the pipe-line harbour. In this matter the
Unofficial Members appear to have overlooked the fact that it
Finance.
aw
the Senior no reason
con-
The Unofficial why ther
to-day should be saddle.
ast expendi- ture upon
te
which has been paid from time to time out the prit that all Government of revenge nor did he agree with
would have been useless to con-
expenditure ought to produce a re- venue, which would give a reason- struct the harbour pipe-line until water could be supplied to expended. I cannot, however, hold able rate of interest on the capital it from the Sheng-mun valley, and out any hope to this Council, or Water Supply.
that even to-day the land pipe-line to the Colony, that it will be pos- First of all, and most important has not yet reached Kowloon Point. sible to complete the very large and of all, is the subject of the water I informed the Council, in my ad-
very expensive schemes for water- supply. The Unofficial Members dress of the 5th September, that we works development which are now have unanimously pressed upon my still have to construct 3,300 feet of under construction and in Government the importance of ex- pipe-line at Sham-shui-po and 450 templation without increasing the pediting the construction of the feet across the railway terminus price paid by residents in this dam in the Sheng-mun gorge, before it will be possible to deliver Colony for their water supply. Nor which, as the Senior Unofficial Sheng-mun water at Kowloon Point. do I consider that it will be any Member well said is the corner- I also explained to the Council on hardship for consumers of water stone of the second section of the that occasion how work on the to pay for it at a price commensur- Sheng-mun scheme. I am as an- Sheng-mun scheme began in 1923 ate with its cost to Government. xious as are the Unofficial Members and was steadily continued from I am informed that the price of to see this project pressed rapidly that time onwards. It was not water in this Colony is cheap by to a successful conclusion, and I until 1926 that the tunnels through comparison with prices charged can assure the Council that no Smugglers' Ridge and Golden Hill elsewhere. I am collecting data on pains will be spared to obviate any were completed, and after that we this subject and will place the sta- avoidable delay. Mr. Henderson, still had to build a reception reser-tistics, when procured, before this our waterworks engineer, has just voir in the lower Shek-lai-pui valley Council. I do not, however, pro- returned to the Colony, and I have and a rapid gravity filtration plant, pose to increase the price of water already impressed upon him and of which the first section, capable until it is possible to ensure a full upon my honourable friend, the of filtering five million gallons a supply throughout the year to all Director of Public Works, the day, has only recently been com- houses connected with the water- necessity of preparing plans and espleted. There is also still under works both on Hongkong island and It would certain- timates for the Sheng-mun gorge construction, and not yet completed, on the mainland. reservoir with the least possible de- a covered reinforced concrete reser- ly cause justifiable discontent if the lay. In my opinion, there is no one voir with a capacity of 11 million Government were to increase the in the Colony who can do gallons adjoining these filters. price of water at a time when a re- this work better than Mr.
Reason for Delay.
stricted supply only can be made
as As I pointed out, expenditure available. Therefore,
I in- Henderson himself. Unfortunate- ly, Mr. Henderson's hands are amounting to no less than $2,326,-timated at our meeting on the 5th already very full with the con- 490 had actually been incurred on inst., I do not propose to move in struction of the harbour pipe- the development of the Sheng-mun this matter until the budget for line, which he hopes to complete scheme, to the 30th June last. 1931 is under consideration. It will, in January next, the construction Honourable members may perhaps
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.