HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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of the population in which the Chinese element predominates to the extent of over 95 per cent.
Although the Honourable Senior Unofficial member has dealt with the all-important question of waterworks at some length, we make no apology for expressing the views of the Chinese by way of amplification and emphasis.
When the 1929 Estimates were before this Council the Hon. Dr. Kotewall, speaking on behalf of the Chinese Unofficials, offered some pertinent comments on the subject. I feel that I cannot do better than repeat some of his words. "The complaints we have heard this year," he said, "have been particularly bitter. While one may regret such bitterness, one cannot help sympathising with the distress that evokes it. The more intelligent classes know that there are things which are beyond human control. They also know the efforts made by the Government to secure a permanent aug- mentation of our water supply. But the people bearing the actual hardship cannot be expected to make fine distinctions. All that they know is that year after year, for many years, and sometimes more than once in the short period of a few months, they have to endure a restricted supply; and that, so far, no tangible evidence of the Government's endeavour to find a permanent remedy is in sight."
No one, Sir, has challenged the accuracy or fairness of this statement; and since then the water situation has become worse-at least it became worse for a few months. The Government has on more than one occasion during the last two months expressed admiration and appreciation of the fortitude and patience shown by the Chinese community, and it is with pride that we share this sentiment. But patient though the people had been, I shudder to think what the consequence would have been, had not the rain come in such a timely way-just when the situation had become so bad, and the people's patience was on the verge of exhaustion, That rain was providential. Had the drought continued a few more months the Colony's surplus balance which is so much needed for constructive and productive public works, would have been largely consumed by the emergency measures.
Sir, we cannot afford a recurrence of that most distressing con- dition. It must be prevented with all the means and energy at the command of the Government. All the permanent schemes should be decided upon, and then pressed on, with the greatest possible speed, without a single day's avoidable delay. Any such delay would have an unfortunate reaction on the minds of the people and I know that Your Excellency will not permit it.
Until these schemes are completed, and until an adequate water supply is assured to the Colony, we ask that Your Excellency's policy in regard to wells may be interpreted in a liberal spirit by
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