HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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In connection with the second cross-Harbour Pipe-Line, which would have been quite useful during the recent few months for conveying surplus Kowloon water to the Island, we beg leave to point out that such a second Pipe-Line was suggested by the Unofficial Members as far back as 1929 (see Hansard 1929 at page 101) but was then negatived by the Government, on the ground that the Pipe-Line was an experiment (Hansard, page 110).
We would also enquire whether it is impracticable to complete that Pipe-Line and its necessary connecting pipes by the end of 1934 instead of at some date in 1935 (see Estimates, page 114).
Charitable Services.
The Unofficial Members cordially agree with the Government's inauguration of a Fund to meet "the wide and increasing distress which the bad times have brought upon Officers of the Mercantile Marine".
R. N. V. R.
They also approve of the proposed establishment of a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Military Contribution.
The Unofficials are glad to note that by friendly agreement with the War Office a reduction has been obtained in regard to certain items chargeable to Military Contribution.
Their congratulations on this point are, however, somewhat tempered by the reflection that such Military Contribution in the year 1910 amounted to less than $1,400,000 and that the Unofficial Members unanimously advocated by Motion in this Council, which was defeated by the Official Vote, in the year 1911 (see Hansard 1911, page 102 et seq.) that the Military Contributions should be limited to a fixed annual sum of $1,000,000-whereas in the present year, 1933, it is estimated that that contribution will amount to over $5,600,000.
The principle of paying increased Military Contribution because we have to raise additional revenue to pay for necessary public works extraordinary is so obviously unsound that I do not think that any Member of this Council will be found to support it. The full absurdity of the position is brought out by the fact that the Military Contribution is now four times what it was in 1910.
Public Works Extraordinary.
The Unofficials note with pleasure that the action of the Polo Club in kindly consenting to a transfer of their Polo Ground at
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