CO129-543-12 Loans for public work 29-3-1933 - 20-12-1933 — Page 42

116

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

I note with interest that the Harbour Survey is to be completed by 1935.

The Colonial Secretary did not refer to the subject, but 1 see in the Estimates, Public Works Extraordinary, Item 91, that a sum of $224,440 has been budgeted to be spent next year on dredging the Harbour. It is satisfactory to know that this now long overdue work which has been pressed for by the Shipping and Commercial interests is at last to be taken up seriously. I shall be glad if the Colonial Secretary, when he replies to this debate, will tell us what is the present position with regard to the contracts for putting this necessary and urgent work in hand.

It is a a matter for regret that the already considerable expenditure on the vehicular ferry piers is to be increased by a lakh or more, but I trust that the advice of the Naval Dockyard expert will put things right. It would appear to the layman that some of the initial mistakes might have been avoided if expert advice had been sought in the first instance.

The application of the new Safety and Load Line Conventions to one of the World's great ports is, of course, necessary, and the Colonial Secretary informed the Council of the verdict of the Board of Trade as to the minimum increase in the Government Marine Surveyor's staff which application of the Convention will call for. The Technical (Shipping) Committee of the Chamber of Commerce stressed the point that once existing shipping has been surveyed and brought into line with the Convention requirements, the subsequent periodical surveys will doubtless occupy much the same time as before.

They therefore recommended that, until the amount of extra work has been ascertained in the light of practical experience, the Government should engage additional staff on temporary appoint- ments only in order to avoid expensive enlargement of the pension- able staff.

The Committee still hold the same view notwithstanding the ruling of the Board of Trade that three additions to the permanent staff are necessary and they express the hope that any new appoint- ments made will be in the first instance for a fixed period only, say three years.

I am afraid it is unlikely that there will be any large amount of new construction of ships in Hong Kong in the next few years, The proposed expenditure of $60,000 on making Magazine Gap' Road accessible for motor vehicles will be welcomed by all Peak Residents, as it will reduce considerably the distance from the Upper Levels to the centre of the town.

I would suggest, however, that, in the interests of public safety, the road be barred to motor lorries unless being used in connection with building operations on Magazine Gap Road itself.

40