126
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
The recent request of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Property Owners Association for a change in the method of assessment seems to me to deserve serious and sympathetic consideration. The present system of assessing tenement houses by the house instead of by each floor, and of allowing a refund of rates only when the whole house is vacant, is one that is clearly inequitable. It does not seem to be fair that rates should be required to be paid in respect of a floor that is vacant, and from which no rent has been received. Nor is the system economically sound, for it has the tendency of compelling landlords, as has been pointed out by the Senior Chinese Member, to close the whole house when there are two or more floors vacant, in order to enable them to obtain a refund of rates. This may have the effect of spreading the population, but in these days. of extreme commercial depression, the sight of entirely empty houses dotted about all over the town, does not conduce to a restoration of confidence, so essential to our economic recovery. I sincerely hope that the Government will accede to the request of the petitioners, and I venture to believe that if the concession is made, the revenue will not suffer, since many of the houses now entirely vacant will be at least partially occupied, and rates will be payable in respect of such partial occupation. The proposed method of assessment might be treated as an experiment which could be abandoned in favour of the old method in case the revenue were found to have materially suffered by the change. (Applause).
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.-Sir, I propose to reply to the observations of Honourable Members which refer particular- ly to works under the control of the Public Works Department.
Central British School Site.
The preparation of a new site for the Central British School was put in hand as soon as was possible after the Board of Education had signified its concurrence in September, 1932. As the new site. included the portion of land offered to and accepted by the Church Missionary Society for the re-erection of the New Victoria Home. and Orphanage, it was first necessary to re-open negotiations with that body with a view to their accepting an alternative site. It will also be appreciated that before tenders for site preparation could be invited, it was neceessary to make a contour survey of the area and prepare the necessary schedule of. quantities.
Cross Harbour Pipe.
As stated by Sir Cecil Clementi in 1929 the construction of this type of cross harbour pipe was in the nature of an experiment, and it was essential that its behaviour should be carefully watched before taking a decision on the second line. The experience now gained is being kept in view in enquiries at present being made in England in connection with the second pipe.
50
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.