HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
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Chinese had to undergo during the water famine last year, but I should like to refer to a peculiar incident of about two months ago in connexion with the water supply on the Island.
One morning the inhabitants of the Western section of the rider-main district suddenly found themselves deprived of the regular supply of water to their houses, and put on the street fountains, the reason given by the Government being that the storage of the Pokfulum Reservoir, which was the principal source of supply to that section, was getting dangerously low. The people affected could not understand how, when rain had apparently been plentiful, the reservoir could have behaved in that way.
To our knowledge, the Pokfulum Reservoir has the vagary of rapidly emptying and filling itself in some mysterious way.
As a matter of fact, the full supply was restored only a few days after the restriction had been put on, as a good downpour of rain had providentially come to the rescue of the people. We sincerely hope that every step will be taken by the Government to render the people who now receive their supply of water from this reservoir less dependent on it in future.
it in future. The Aberdeen Reservoir will very appreciably help in this direction, and we trust that nothing will be allowed to delay its construction.
My Chinese colleagues and I respectfully associate ourselves with the honourable senior unofficial member in assuring Your Excellency of our whole-hearted support and co-operation in your arduous task of administration in these times of extraordinary difficulties. Your Excellency has the reputation of an administrator who, in addition to his native ability, is blessed with a Lucky Star. When Your Excellency was guiding the destinies of the people of the Federated Malay States, you brought to them unprecedented prosperity which, curiously, began to dwindle on your departure. The Chinese believe in such a mystical attribute-the good luck of a ruler; and in your case their belief has been markedly confirmed by the overflow of our reservoirs which, only a few months ago, were large muddy tanks. May you, Sir, give
May you, Sir, give us other blessings including the blessing of being a lightly-taxed community.- (Applause).
THE HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.-Your Excellency,-The comments I am about to address to the Council on the Budget and the Honour- able the Colonial Secretary's speech thereon, represent partly the expression of my own views and partly those of residents whom I have consulted. They are men who take an intelligent interest in civic affairs and on whose opinions I attach much weight.
Increased Taxation.
In all circles and among all sections of the community that part of the Colonial Secretary's speech that has aroused most dis-
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