CO129-519-2 Estimates for 1930 19-9-1929 - 19-9-1929 — Page 206

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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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 an increase in the number allotted to the G.M.S. Office beyond the four completed launches above referred to.”

I regret that I am unable to agree with the hon. member that every shipyard in this Colony can be reached by tram or bus with considerable saving of time over travelling by launch, nor can I agree that some of them can be reached at all by tram or bus without covering a considerable distance on foot.

Shipyards in this Colony are situated on the foreshore from Lai Chi Kok on the west to Lyemun Pass on the East, and are principally small Chinese yards several of which are a consider- able distance from tram or bus routes. It may not be known to hon. members of this Council that surveyors proceeding out on survey work have to carry a considerable amount of gear with them and the average weight of such gear is approximately 20 lbs.

Surveyors employed on boiler or double bottom work have to change their clothes. These changes are carried out in the launches on their way to and from their work thus effecting an appreciable saving in time. They could hardly do this if travelling by tram or bus. Each morning in the G.M.S. Office the work of the day is allotted having due regard to the facilities available for transport, but with only two launches at disposal for ship work there are considerable delays despite the fact that the Surveyors' private cars are used as much as possible. It must not be overlooked however that:-

(1) There will be normally 11 surveyors working in this port,

the remaining 3 being on leave.

(2) Approximately 70% of the survey work in this port is done

afloat and only 30% in the Shipyards.

Of the four launches H.D. 3, 6, 7 and 8, at present allotted for service with the G.M.S. Department, H.D. 6 is detailed for work as a tender to the Yaumati Slipway which is a full time job and consists of carrying workmen between the Slipway and Government launches, under repair, and also doing all the fetch and carry work of a Dockyard tender.

H.D.3. is detailed for duty in surveys of launches other than Government launches. When it is realised that there is in this port between seven and eight hundred steam and motor launches the greater proportion of which are surveyed twice annually I do not think hon. members will be surprised to hear that she is running continuously all day long. This then leaves only two launches at