C. S. 0.
M.F. 237.
To return to the question of street lighting, I trust that the Government will push on with the experiments
has been altogether lost, such as the It is possible, even probable, that some portion of the Colony's trade transhipping, storage and other strict- referred to and measures to remedy the present situa- this there is a gradual increase in the then take promptly entrepot business; but against tion which to put it mildly, does not offer the greatest possible safety to
number and diversity of factories be- pedestrians or motorists.
ing established here which, in due time, should be of greater value to the Colony as a whole, in that wages earned in these various industries will be greater than is usually paid for unskilled labour. Meantime, as the Honourable the Colonial Secretary correctly states, our manufacturers must find it difficult to secure outlets for their products in face so generally imposed by all countries. of high duties and prohibitive tariffs that are
While on the subject of lighting it affords me pleasure to note that a small sum has been added in the Estimates for 1935 for the lighting of certain districts of the New Territor- ies along motor roads.
ment has been made in Taipo Market, A commence- I trust the claims of Un Long, Ping Shan, Fanling and Shatin will each in turn merit consideration. This is a public improvement that should be appreciated by villagers in the New Territories.
TRADE OBSTRUCTIONS.
Merchants Harassed.
Looking over Hansard and the Re- find the Hon. the Member represent- port of last year's "Budget Day," I
ing the Chamber of Commerce allud- ed then to the unnecessary trouble and expense which merchants were put to
British Customs Blamed By in satisfying the Customs authorities
Hon. Mr. Owen Hughes.
PERMANENT LOSSES.
of Great Britain, and I regret to say that, in my experience, there appears to be no improvement, Exporters still being harassed by continually chang- ing rules and regulations, thus hinder- ing our yet small though steadily- increasing local industries, which, as again the Hon. Colonial Secretary states, provide a livelihood for many thousands of our citizens. Further- more, there is the threat of the Quota system overhanging some of our in- dustries.
The Hon. Mr. J. Owen Hughes said: -Your Excellency,-My Honourable colleagues have very fully dealt with the Honourable Colonial Secretary's lucid and interesting presentations of the Budget. There is, therefore, very
I feel very confident that, in Your little left for me to add further than Excellency, manufacturers and ex- to emphasise some of the points made. porters have one who will strenuously We are indeed fortunate that Ex- champion their cause, and that your change has again favoured us during Government will do all that is possible the past year, otherwise drastic reduc- to encourage and foster further enter- tions in expenditure, or the unthink-prises. H.M.'s Trade Commissioner, able resort (in view of the state of Mr. G. C. Pelham, is another who, I the Colony's trade) to higher taxation
am convinced, can be trusted to pre- must have been inevitable, and I am
sent the Colony's aspirations and in entire agreement with the conserva- plead for "fair play" both from our tive figure of 1s. 4d. taken in framing Home Government and the various the Budget for 1935.
Colonial Governments of the Empire. Mr. Pelham has rendered service by his very interesting "talks” over the wireless on "England" and "British Industries" as well as on many other topics which must have been listened to with profit and plea- sure by many of those who have not yet visited our homeland. Let hope that, during his next visit home, he will devote a small portion of his time to a similar talk to the people of Great Britain on Hongkong.
Hon. Members who have preceded me have not criticized in detail the mass of items of Expenditure in the Draft Estimates-neither do I intend doing so, believing as I do that great care has been observed by those re- sponsible. There are, however, under practically every "head" two items which I have combined as one, namely, those of "Transport" and "Convey- ance Allowances" to which I invite attention. Separately, except in the case of the larger departments, the sums are comparatively small, but in the aggregate they mount up to the considerable total of $145,600 odd. The outstanding figures are those of the Public Works Department, $51,- 000; Police, $24,640; Medical, $17,- 000; Sanitary, $14,400; Harbour, $6,- 980 and Import & Export, $6,940. In several instances these items show a small reduction, indicating that a blue pencil has been at work, but I would suggest the possibility of its further use, especially during the present time of declining Revenue. We all know the old saw "A penny saved is a penny earned."
Colony's Future.
I, for one, have not lost faith in the ultimate recovery of the
Colony's
trade, but must confess that I see no signs of any immediate improvement and therefore fervently hope the Estimate of a Revenue of 291⁄2 mil- lions is not too optimistic.
The Trade School.
excellent
us
To me, one of the most gratifying items of the Government programme is that of Trade School which I have always strongly advocated, and the Building Contractors' Association is to be congratulated and thanked for their generosity in constructing the building at cost price. Members of that Association will be well repaid in due time by having at their service properly trained Mechanics and Art- isans, which will enable them to carry out their contracts with greater satis- faction to themselves and those who employ them. It is sincerely to be hoped that young Chinese (especially Hongkong born) and other Nationals will eagerly take advantage of the teaching which this school will offer. The Colony's need for "Masters of Craft" is greater at the present time
than for Masters of the Arts and Sciences. I am also glad to note that it is proposed to engage an expert Pattern Maker from England for the Junior Technical School. He will find in the young Chinese of the Colony excellent material to work on, being very adaptable to good training. The Managers of the local Dockyards, Electricity and Telephone Companies will, I am sure, confirm this.
Wanchai Market.
I, also, much regret the Govern- ment's decision not to proceed with the Wanchai Market. The present unsavoury building is long overdue for demolition and I strongly support what has already been said by Honourable Members who have pre- ceded me. The High Cost of Liv- ing Committee were right when they opined more Markets would tend to bring down cost of the Colony's food supply.
I think it will be pertinent to en- quire whether Government exercises any supervision over charges made by Stall-holders in the various Markets, and if not, may it not be well to do so, when so many, and especially the poorer classes, have so little to spend. even on the necessaries of life?
Bathing Facilities.
I wish to support what my Honour- able friend, Sir William Shenton, has said in connection with the Bathing facilities of the Colony and to ex- press the hope that Pavilions now erected in the North Point district will be allowed to remain till the last possible date and unc other places are found and made accessible.
Before leaving this matter of bath- ing beaches, may I urge the Sanitary Department to make a real endeavour in preventing them from being litter- ed by the City's refuse; the condition of Repulse Bay at certain times of wind and tide is, to put it mildly, dis- gusting.
Whilst regretting the necessity for approving any additional vote for the Medical Department at the present time, I welcome the inclusion of the, cost of an additional Lady Doctor to assist the Medical Officers for Schools.
I also approve the scheme that has Radiographic and Massage assistants. been instituted for training Chinese Here is surely a useful, in- teresting and profitable profession for young, well-educated Chinese of both
sexes.
Finally, I want also to support the Honourable Mr. W. H. Bell in what cial Aviation. Unless and until the he has just said regarding Commer- Colony is linked up with the Imperial Airways, the public will not be able service which Air transport of mails to enjoy to the full that invaluable offers. The four days and more now taken by steamer to Singapore takes would result. away the advantage which otherwise
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