CO129-545-2 Government House and city development scheme 13-10-1933 - 12-1-1934 — Page 32

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sible to judge the popularity or otherwise of broadcasting

is by the number of radio receiving licences taken out. At

present the number of licences held by Europeans is 1,571

and those held by non-Europeans, of whom 95% are Chinese,

is 1,311.

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矍

Charitable Services.

The attention of the Government has recently been

drawn to the widespread and increasing distress which the bad

times have brought upon officers of the Mercantile Marine.

His Excellency accordingly appointed a Committee under the

chairmanship of the Attorney General to investigate the facts

and make recommendations for the future. Among the recommenda-

tions of this Committee is the creation of a permanent com-

mittee to deal with deserving cases and the appropriation

annually of an adequate sum for that purpose which has been

fixed provisionally at the $20,000 shewn as sub-head 17 of

this head. I feel sure that Honourable Members will agree

that in a port like Hong Kong such a step is fully justified.

Defence.

It will be observed that the scheme for a Royal

Naval Volunteer Reserve rejected in 1929 has been revived.

As already announced in the press considerable enthusiasm

for this scheme is being shewn by the sea-minded section of

the community and being advised in the light of closer examına-

tion that competition with the land corps need not assume

serious proportions, the Government has felt justified

in bringing the scheme before the Council afresh.

I may

add that if the Council shares the Government's views it is

hoped to introduce the necessary legislation at a very early