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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
The Hon. Colonial Secretary in his speech said that "the transition was too far advanced for any calling back now, and there was nothing for it but to complete the installation of the meterage system." From this remark it is apparent that the Government has made up its mind to go on with its scheme, whatever the merits of the people's case. The discussion now being permitted to us is, it would seem, permitted merely for the purpose of fulfilling a forgotten promise as a matter of form.
The Hon. Colonial Secretary also said that even at the time of Sir Cecil Clementi's promise, "the conclusion was foregone and the discussion could hardly have been more than a facing of the facts and an explanation." A reference to page 232 of Hansard of 1929 shows that when Sir Cecil Clementi gave his promise, he added these all-important words: "It will, of course, be impossible to discard the rider-main system until there is an assured supply of water available both on the island and on the mainland throughout the year." From this very definite expression of opinion of Sir Cecil Clementi it is clear that whatever might have been the contemplated policy of the Government at the time, it certainly could not have been its intention to abolish the rider-mains before "an assured supply of water is available both on the island and on the mainland throughout the year."
We are far from this happy state of things at present; and so it would not be unreasonable to ask the Government to accept Sir Cecil Clementi's view.
But after anxious and careful consideration of all aspects of the problem, we have decided to accept the principle of the resolution, but to ask that it may not be carried into effect for two years from this date. We realise that sooner or later the system has to go, not because it is wasteful or because universal meterage would conduce to economy-both of which we do not admit-but because a uniform system of water supply for all parts of the Colony has much to recommend it, and because the present intention of the Government will tend to accelerate applications for meters, thus gradually obliterating the rider-main system without undue haste or unnecessary compulsion.
The reason for our request for a two-year respite is that, in our view, the people should not be forced out of what, after all, is some sort of contract entered into between them and the Government, especially at the present time, when "an assured supply of water is not available throughout the year," when it is not really a case of stopping waste, when the rider-mains are still quite serviceable, and when, as we have it from Your Excellency, the proposed change is not a matter of revenue.
Our suggestion is in accord with Mr. Chadwick's idea that the rider-main system should be allowed to abolish itself by the gradual
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