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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
(4) On pages 19 and 20 we notice the items of $2,000 and $500 respectively for Afforestation in the Northern and Southern Districts of the New Territories respectively, and would suggest that in future years that expenditure might be doubled.
(5) In connexion with the Post Office (page 21) we suggest that the accommodation on the ground floor and in the basement is insufficient for its requirements.
(6) On page 27 what is the meaning of the sudden appearance of two items:-19-Coal for Offices, $5,000; 20-Rent, light and water allowances for Slipway staff, $2,934?
(7) On page 27 we notice that, although the Government Marine Surveyor's Department already has 4 launches, namely one steam- driven, H. D. 3 and three motor-driven, H. D. 6, 7, and 8, the Harbour Department is asking in addition to the new motor-launch for the G.M.S. Department, now under construction, an additional motor- launch for this Department and also a new launch for the carriage of Stores and Relief.
In view of the fact that every shipyard in the Colony can now be reached by bus or tram, with a considerable saving of time over travelling by launch, and also that (see page 27) the Marine Surveyor and his 13 Assistant Surveyors receive conveyance allowance, the necessity for the use of launches by the G.M.S. Department is limited to the inspection of vessels lying afloat in the Harbour which are not numerous enough to warrant any increase in the number of launches allotted to the G.M.S. Office beyond the four completed launches above referred to.
In these circumstances we suggest that the unfinished new motor-launch be utilized for other purposes to be determined later and that the second new motor-launch and the new steam-launch be not built at all, seeing that the Kau Sing, which (we understand) is capable of steaming at 91⁄2 knots on one boiler, seems to be eminently suitable for stores and relief work.
We would add that other sub-departments of the Harbour Department seem to have numerous launches under their control and that if, by chance, an additional launch is occasionally required by the G.M.S. Department. that Department ought to be able to obtain it for the special occasion by applying to another sub-department in the Harbour Office.
Incidentally we are informed that the staff of Government Marine Surveyors has grown to such dimensions that it seems doubtful whe- ther there is sufficient ship-building and ship repairing work now going on in the Colony to keep them all fully employed.
(8) On the same page 27 we notice the item "Training expenses of G.M.S. in England $20,945."
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