229
(8)
DEBATE ON THE BUDGET.
(Continued from Page 18.)
SOUTH
CHINA
MORNING
"Comparison of Executive | may almost be taken as token charges and Cost of Buuding by figures-an
earnest
of
our
any
(a) Architectural Office and sympathy which must be strong to (b)
Private Architects,
find the sums promised in these "Executive Charges for work times. The sums are as much as actually executed by this Office dur- we can afford, and have compara- ing the period January 1921-June 'tively little connexion with
1930 show that they are about half the requirements of tirement has recently been altered of what they would have been it scheme, as these requirements as hon. members are aware and may executed by private architects. It cannot yet be estimated with with permission be as low as 50; must also be remembered that the reasonable accuracy. The money, also the training period for Cadets work executed during this period, however, is ready, and will lengthened by the addition a about half of which has been a time be available for any proposi-: course of one year at Home before of retrenchment, consists mainly of | tion which the Government is satis- coming to the Colony. These two comparatively small works where, fied will offer a reasonable chance changes obviously necessitate some the percentage cost by this office of success; but such a scheme must extra provision during the transi- but not by private architects is inevitably show a close connexion tion period, and it remains to be greater than in the case of really with wider schemes covering seen in due course how recruiting large works.
hemispheres. Our mite would be requirements will settle themselves Executive Charges by theseful then and would be forth- down in the future. Government is Architectural Office for the two dog. As shewing the difficulties satisfied that no excessive demands large works about to be commenced Triving at a decision in this have been made in the Estimates the new Gaol and the new Govern- after the Secretary of State has before you, in view of the retirement Civil Hospital-would be little intimated that it will be necessary ments that can already be foreseen. more than one third of those by for him to be satisfied of the
An Experiment.
private architects. The charge of 'soundness of any scheme propos- The creation of a new section in 9% applied in the calculation of ed before he can sanction the ex- the Senior Clerical and Accounting cost by private architects is based penditure even of the sums enter- Staff is quite a separate matter and upon the scale of charges authorized ed in the Estimates. is an experiment designed to meet by the Royal Institute of Britisn an untenable position with Architects and includes the pre- minimum of expense. You cannot paration of bills of quantities and man forty-one posts with a staff of other items. forty-nine if one fifth of their num- ber are always on leave. It so happens that during the current year the number of Cadet officers on leave has been much below the true proportion and it has been possible to mitigate the difficulties of the clerical position by placing Cadet officers in the two clerical, posts at the Magistracies. It is only at the Magistracies that Cadet officers have been employed in clerical duties. But next year the disproportion of Cadet leaves us in the other direction and we shall have great difficulty in manning the Cadet posts if we are not to detain certain Cadet officers in the Colony beyond their proper term.
Specialisation.
a
"Actual cost of building as dis- tinet from executive charges the buildings considered cover the majority of those executed for Gov- ernment by private architects in the past and these are compared with similar buildings by the Architec- tural Office, they are divided under two heads Police Stations and Government Quarters and show the following resulta:
Built by Architectural Office. Built by Private Architects. Police Stations (average cost per foot cube 41 cents, 53 cents.
Government quarters (do) 86% cents, 48 cents.
I note in passing that the Hon. Mr. Shenton refers to an offer of $60,000 spread over three years. I am not aware what this refers to. The amount provided in the Estl- mates is $300,000 spread over five years.
We are not meanwhile delaying in providing accommodation at Kai Tak. A new commercial aviation Hangar is under consideration, and the facts and figures you have heard to-day from the Hon. Mr. Shenton are being carefully weigh- ed so that the new hangar when it is provided shall as far as possible be sufficient for all needs. But the uncertainties of every phase of the subject of aviation make the ques- tion an exceedingly difficult one,
Kowloon Post Office. Balancing Costs.
Turning to the Kowloon Post "From the foregoing it will be Office, I fear I have small satisfac- seen that executive charges by the, tion for hon. members if they were Architectural Office are a fraction hoping that the plans and pre-
The references to the post of the Director of Education are not al-only of those by private architects, liminaries were ready for an early together clear, but I take it the and that the actual cost of building start of the work. It is only recent- meaning is that the hon. member has been substantially less.
ly that the scattered requirements who made the reference would like "Other aspects of the case have of Kowloon were crystallised into to see trained Educational experts also to be considered-convenience the idea of a large building which from Home in charge of the Depart-to Government, stores from Home, I would house a number of depart ment. The question is one that has presentation of reports, minor ments and to some extent relieve been with us for a long time and is alterations and additions, quality of, Kowloon residents of the trouble full of difficulties. It is obviously work, etc.
of crossing to Hongkong for Gov. open to argument that acquaintance "The Public Works Department ernment work. Much has to be with the Chinese and their has, at various times, been criticised done before it is even possible to mentality is at least as essential a from the point of view of cost of begin on the design, and no more part of the equipment of the Direc- staff as compared with value of, can now be said than that the re tor of Education as is the purely work executed and it can readily quirements of the various depart- academic side of his training and be seen that to take away just those ments are being examined. One we are fortunate indeed when we works where the expenditure is thing only is clear-that it would can get both requiremnts satisfied large and executive charges a small be uneconomic to design a Post as in the case of Mr. de Martin. percentage is to place the Depart Office only which might well have Further, especially in a small ser- ment in a position where this to be pulled down in the near future, vice it is necessary to consider the criticism can most easily be made."
Shipping Taxes. effect of demanding specialisation
Tribute to P.W.D.
in appointments. Unless we can In any case there are a thousand be content with the wider kind of and one duties proper to the Public
alisation. that deals with a
Works Department which it is not knowledge of the Chinese, a water-suggested should be so handed over tight compartment will be called for buildings and works of essential, strengthened to allow for absences importance but of no spectacular on sickness or on leave; no trans-value-and the staff must be main- fers between departments will be tained to cope with them. The oc- possible and the expense of the casional transfer of a big under personnel will be increased. It is taking would make comparatively a difficult choice, but the method little difference to the regular staff Government has chosen during all, it is necessary these years of appointing a selected cadet to be Director of Education cannot be called unsuccessful. It is further a practice which finds justification in the views of the Re- trenchment Commission.
Contracting Out.
The Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell has referred to the question of 12 bour plurs. Race to the? Colony'- Usumates will show that) the expenditure on the harbour is greater than the consistently revenue, and perhaps the Shipping. interests are rather liable to for- get such items as Water Police, the hydrographic survey, dredging charges, Praya walls and the upkeep of Harbour Department
Any to maintain, and buildings.
shortage could hardly result in any economy necessarily to be made good from unless in the case of very excep the general revenue of the Colony, tional works. The Government ex-
and the Government is not pre- pared to disturb to the further disadvantage of the general tax- ayer the existing distribution of taxation.
has
The question of introducing a compounded fee has been careful- the ly considered, but it is Government's opinion that the fairest method of taxation is that based on the use made of the port. On this basis Hongkong is a cheap port as compared with other ports offering the same facilities.
It should be noted that river pay according to the steamers number of entries per month. They are therefore no exception to the rule of payment according to use made of the port.
I am in this matter only repeat- ing some of the conclusions reach-
ed in a detailed correspondence
of a few months ago. The bear- ings of the question were then fully considered, and in the view f the Government no sufficient reason has yet been shewn for varying the decisions then taken.
Kowloon Hospital.
perience of outside Public Works on the few occasions where we have contracted out has always enhanced the réputation of our own officers, and I am glad of this opportunity to The same speaker suggested the champion their cause. Their work comprehensive contracting out of may not be showy-they are forced the larger public works. In very to consider utility first and ita large works requiring the highest first cost may at times be high. But specialised experience there is noth-
we have keen and efficient over- ing to be said against this view; seeing of all detail, and the reduc- and the Gorge Valley Dam is a good tion of upkeep amply restores the Instance where Government has at balance in the ultimate cost. I am least gone a long way towards ac- glad of this opportunity to say a cepting it. But in less specialised word on behalf of our Public Works works the problem is not the same Department whose work through- An analysis of the suggestion shows out is, I believe, acknowledged to that it means alteration of existing be at least as good as any to be departmental methods only to the found in the Colony. extent of entrusting to outside firms There is one final consideration the duties of designing and of over- in this connexion. The idea may seeing. I wonder if the work of be that contracting out would secure the Public Works Department in more rapid progress in any one with the Chamber of Commerce designing our more important building. Progress however is schemes is appreciated and still rather a matter of the work that more whether any outside firm can be done in a limited area, but would stand for the worry and con- still more of the money provided. stant changes to which the Public The Government purse is not un- Works Department subject, and limited, and the first calls are the to which any Government scheme many works that are little noticed must be subject? Official and Un- but are essentially necessary, and The Outpatients Department at official views, technical and non- no more funds in any year could be the Kowloon Hospital is a sugges- technical requirements, depart provided to an outside contractor tion with which the Government mental suggestions have all to be than to the Public Works Depart- has every sympathy. It is too late dealt with and combined, only atment.
for the Budget before you, but I the end sometimes to find that the
am authorised by His Excellency money is short and that the work
to state that the question will be must be begun over again on a new The question of Aviation in reviewed as soon as may be in foundation. Even where the money Hongkong has been prominent in
1933 and that if the finances allow difficulty is absent. the problem re- the debate. In such a new and a vote will be asked for to make mains; the plans of the Government untried subject I suggest that very
a beginning with the work. Civil Hospital have run through the close thought is required at the out-
I take the opportunity here, in alphabet already to Letter J and set to find the fundamental prin connexion with several questions finality is not yet in sight. The ciples that should guide us locally. concerning the Medical Depart- Public Works Department might be Aviation is not a local concern
ment, to sav generally that the glad enough to hand over all this even a Training School and a Fly- Director of Medical and Sanitary trouble, but I doubt whether an out- ing Club can exist only as parts of Services is engaged with the Law side firm would welcome it with the a wider whole. No large aviation Officers in formulating his views dovetailing of all the interests to enterprise has ever started and for the reorganisation of the be considered. It could be done, of few if any exist without a subsidy, Medical and Sanitary work of the course, at a price; but private firms of the kind that can only be pro- Colony. The task is an arduous too have to allow in one way or an-vided by a National Government one, but when complete will make other for salaries, passages, leave which is too big for a Colony like it possible to view the whole sug- and something to take the place of Hongkong to consider, and there gestion in the simplest possible pensions and it is difficult to attack are many considerations other than way as a comprehensive whole. the assertion that the Government the subsidy-they need no reference Departmental method of Public which make it necessary to rest Works Department work is the most any aviation scheme which is to be economical. The following sum-given a hope of success on National mary of a report by Mr. Lowick, assistance. We can be "ympathetic the course of time: but as it still of the Architectural Office, Public and ready to do our bit, but we provides room for 5,000 burials a Works Department, is relevant; it cannot stand on our own feet alone; vear, other accommodation must is proposed to issue the whole re- and it is with this in mind that en- he found before it can be given port as a sessional paper in due tries to foster aviation have been up. Arrangements for
(Continued on Page 18.)
course.
Aviation.
made in the Estimates. The figures
Kowloon Cemetery.
The Cemetery in the centre of Kowloon must undoubtedly go in
other
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.