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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
of. It is stated in paragraph 6 of the Hon. Colonial Treasurer's informative memorandum that a duty of 3% is charged on the takings of totalisators or parimutuels, and a duty of 5% on cash sweeps. In my opinion these percentages can easily be doubled. I realise that the increase may, to some extent, affect that revenue. of the organisations concerned, but if people can afford to have a fling with their money, they should be able to contribute a little more to the well-being of the Colony.
In this connexion I have yet another suggestion to make for the consideration of the Council. I think that a substantial levy on winnings can fairly be introduced. Such a tax would probably be paid quite as readily as the percentages of prizes that often go to the vendors of lucky tickets, or as are the sums of money, sometimes quite substantial, that are spent on celebrating the occasion! Surely, it should be a matter of
of greater mental satisfication to the lucky winner to feel that he has given some of his unearned gains towards-it may be providing the masses of the Colony with some precious water in times of drought than that the same money has been spent, certainly unnecessarily, in champagne for just a few!
I offer these suggestions, not necessarily for immediate implementation, but for the Government to use as a first choice, if and when the necessity arises; for I fear that in balancing the Budget for next year, the Government has cut its estimates to such a fine point that there is left hardly any margin in case of unforeseen expenditure arising, such as a fall in exchange or other circumstances over which we can have no control.
By this advocacy of preparedness and of care in spending what we have, I hope I will not be considered unduly pessimistic. Indeed. I am not. I have unbounded faith in the Colony-in its ability to weather any storms, as well as in its future. Although we are, at this moment, passing through a rather serious period of trade depression, I have the firm belief that we will emerge unscathed from it, as we did from many similar depressions in the past. As long as the people have the blessings of peace and protection; as long as the Colony is governed with foresight and vision, and with that policy of broadmindedness and justice which characterises the present administration, I foretell for the future not only a full recovery of our former prosperity, but a prosperity even greater than the Colony has ever enjoyed. (Applause).
THE HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.-Your Excellency, with the existence of a residents' association at Kowloon, it is more than doubtful if the title could be conceded to me of 'guardian of Kowloon's interests.' This much, however, I may claim for myself -a zeal and an enthusiasm for all that appertains to Kowloon that compel unmitigated interest in and unabated attention to the welfare of Kowloon's inhabitants, its unarrested development
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