CO129-539-12 Loans for public works- military finances 26-2-1932 - 7-3-1933 — Page 25

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

importance to which it has reached. We submit that the foregoing decision ought now to be reversed in the interests of the future expansion of Kowloon.

Having now dealt with the Memorandum of the Hon. Director of Public Works and with the special needs of Kowloon, we desire to call attention to various scattered items in the Estimates for 1933:

1. On page 34, under Head 10, Harbour Department and Air Services, subheading "Government Slipway, Yaumati," we notice that the Personal emoluments for 1933 amount to $33,313 as against $19,223 for 1932, and we would inquire why this considerable increase should occur at this slipway where only the smallest of Government Floating Craft can be berthed, and we would further inquire from the Hon. Harbour Master whether it is not bad economy for the Government, in view of numerous other berthing and repairing facilities available in this Colony, to maintain this slipway in use.

2. As regards item 20, on page 92, Harbour surveying $20,000, and the foot-note "considered sufficient,' we would ask the Hon. Harbour Master whether this sum of $20,000 is sufficient to complete the re-survey, as a preliminary to the effective dredging, of the Harbour. On this point I would quote from the speech of the Hon. Mr. Gordon Mackie during the Budget debate of last year (Hansard, 1931, page 163):

"I consider that a matter requiring much more urgent attention (than the vehicular ferry scheme) is the re-survey of the Harbour so that the long overdue work of dredging can be taken in hand without further delay. I understand that one officer has been detailed for this special service. There has been no extensive dredging done since 1928 and had it not been for the reclamation at Kai Tack that work might possibly not have been carried out even now."

3. Our third additional query, arises under item 30 on page 92 of the Estimates "Steam-roller, 12 tons, $20,000," with the foot-note "heavy roller required for roads for heavy traffic" and we would ask the Hon. Director of Public Works whether such a roller could not be made locally.

regards

4. As regards the suggested Government Bungalow at Fanling (item 104 on page 105 of the Estimates), we understand that it is the intention of the Government to abandon Mountain Lodge as a place of residence for the Governor, and, at our request. the Hon. Mr. Shenton will deal specially with this matter and also with aviation questions, and will also as Chairman of the Society for the Protection of Children make an appeal to the Government that the proposed increased grant by the Government to that Society may be yet further increased, in view of the magnitude of the work.

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