men are employed. As a side line! he is responsible for the care of the Chater collections of pictures and porcelain.
I think I have said enough to show that the post is one of considerable responsibility.
a
With regard to road maintenance I should explain that although the estimates for Kowloon, New Kow- loon and New Territories show slight reduction in 1937 as compared with 1936 $139,000 as compared with $144,000-in fact only $80,000 Next is being expended this year. year we hope to spend up to the full amount provided.
The individual improvements sug- gested have been noted and some, at least of them will be attended to during 1937. Special provision has been made under subhead 57 P.W.E. for the improvement of the road near Kowloon Reservoir and under sub-head 80 of the road between Taipo and Fanling.
I am informed by the Superinten- dent of the Botanical Department that the trees uprooted by the typhoon will be replaced when the planting season comes in the spring. The Chairman of the Urban Council has been asked to consider the pro- blem of market gardens in residen- tial areas and the question of the future of the Homuntin Cemetery.
Bathing Beaches
the
Provision for additional playing fields in New Kowloon will be found under sub-head 60 P.W.E. I find some difficulty in interpreting
Mem- meaning of the Honourable ber's remarks regarding bathing beaches. There are no matsheds at Sheko and Repulse Bay has its Lido where facilities for dressing can be obtained for a small sum. I do not propose now to embark on this very controversial subject, but I shall be very glad to receive any suggestions which Mr. Braga may care to put forward regarding the policy to be adopted with regard to any beaches which the new road may open up.
The question of improved broad- cast programmes for Chinese listeners is under consideration by the Broadcasting Committee.
When appeals are heard from all sides for a share in the inadequate resources of the Treasury it is in- evitable that some will have to be passed over. The needs of the people of the New Territories have not been forgotten, but I believe that
am right in saying that they are as a whole not unprosperous at the present time.
The Honourable Mr. Lo Man-kam has entered the lists for one more tilt against that old dragon, the Military Contribution. The burden is admittedly heavy, and the method of assessment is open to obvious objections. But the long negotia- tions which led up to the passing in November 1935 of the Defence Con- tribution Amendment Ordinance re- sulted in the removal of some of the Colony's most serious grievances. The position represented by the Ordinance has been accepted, and the Government does not feel that any useful purpose will be served by reopening the controversy at a time such as this. Moreover I doubt whether the benefit which the Colony derives in increased trade due to expenditure by the Garrison is fully realised. The money comes back to the community in another form and on only one occasion, I be- lieve has it covered the whole cost of the Garrison. Normally the War Department spends in Hongkong far more than it takes from our tax- payers.
10
"Road Fund”
With regard to the taxation on motor cars and motor spirit it is true that this is often justified by refer- ence to expenditure on roads and their upkeep. I have used the same argument myself, but I realise that it is not one that can be carried to its logical conclusion. It is a form of taxation like any other, although it has, at times, and in places other than Hongkong, been used to raise money which has been earmarked as, and sometimes raided from, a "Road Fund."
Incidentally the royalties paid by Bus Companies and the special taxes, on public cars represent I think a tax on the general travelling public and not on motorists as such; and considerable expenditure on traffic regulations should be entered on the debit side of the account.
The Government is giving close attention to Mr. Burney's report with the advice and co-operation of the Director and the Board of Education. Certain recommendations have already been carried out; others 'await the appointment of the
Senior Inspector of English Schools. School Certificate
new
What has been done includes the
institution
Certificate of a School
and examination for Class II
the establishment of an extended system of Physical Training in Government and Grant Schools. A small exten-
has sion to the Peak School
been completed, and the Government School at Yuen Long has been con- verted from an English to a Higner Primary Vernacular School.
I should like to refer, in this con- nection, to the completion of the Trade School at Wanchai which, thanks to the co-operation of the Building Contractors' Association has been constructed at a very moderate cost.
I do not know what grounds the Honourable Member has for his statement that the Grant Schools teach Chinese better than the Gov- ernment Schools; but I would point out that, besides the Anglo-Chinese Schools such as King's and Queen's colleges, there is also a specifically Chinese School for boys, the Verna- cular Middle School, just as for girls there is the Vernacular Women's Normal School.
Figures from which the cost per capita of the education of children in
Goverr nent schools can be calculated will be found on page 311 of the Blue Book for 1935. The question of fees has been considered by the Board of Education whch has expressed the unanimous opinion that the present is not a suitable moment to raise them.
With regard to the Central British School and its play-ground, I have two comments to make; one is that the school has been designed ultimately to provide accommoda- tion for 500 pupils. At present the maximum attendance is 270 (230 is the average). The other is that the playing field formerly used by the School has now been allotted to Chinese Schools.
Surplus into Deficit
im-
I must apologise if I appear to deal rather sketchily with the portant subject of excess water rates. I have had before me figures supplied by the Director of Public Works from which it appears that when interest and sinking fund on $700,000-the cost of Tytam Tuk Catchwaters—and a sum of ap- ! proximately $200,000 in respect of Extraordinary works, passages, housing, transport, office rent, light, incidental expenses, typhoon damage,
76
and a share of the cost of Treasury and Audit have been added to the figures of expenditure, and Military Contribution has been deducted from income, the estimated surplus is turned into a deficit.
The difficulties which face owners of tenement property are appreciat- ed, but I should like to be assured! first, that charges for excess water do not still provide a very necessary restriction on the amount of water
that consumed and secondly
the owners of property who do not at present pay excess water rates would view with equanimity a very large
in proportionate increase general rates. All I can say at the moment is that the Government is not dis- posed to favour the suggestions but that they will receive further con- sideration.
Dangerous Beach
The safety of Island Bay Beach has been discussed on many occa- sions. One difficulty is that when bathing is dangerous a boatman who was being tossed about on a choppy sea would not be able to see bathers in trouble. Other suggestions have, been made and will be reconsidered. But I am not sure that responsibility should not rest, as in many places on the Cornish coast, with those who insist on swimming in bad weather from
beach known to
be dangerous.
a
Centralisation in the hands of Government of Press Messages re- fers of course not to the case of owners of wireless sets who listen in to news broadcasts but to those who receive for publication messages sent out by news agencies. At present a special licence is required before such publication can be undertaken. Ordinary listeners licences expressly prohibit publication.
The boiler installations at the Gaol and Queen Mary Hospital provide, in addition to heating and hot water, steam for sterilizing and cooking and power for the laundry and the air- conditioning plant in the Hospital theatre.
The mechanic in charge will need to possess a good knowledge of Eng- lish as well as a sound theoretical and practical experience in this par- ticular branch of mechanical engineering. I regret that I was in in predicating University qualifications for this post.
error
Bowen Road Filters The Director of Public Works has recommended
of the installation rapid gravity filters at Bowen Road in place of the existing sand filters but this project has had to be post- poned for the present owing to lack of funds. I am advised that the I aqueduct at Shing Mun has a capacity of twenty million gallons per day and has been designed to de- liver the ultimate maximum draw- off from Shing Mun. The size of the tunnel was governed by considera- tions such as economy of construc- tion.
have Preliminary arrangements been made for the preparation of new editions of the Ordinances and Regulations as in force on the 1st January, 1937. Legislative sanction for this work is being sought by a Bill already drafted and shortly to be submitted to the Governor-in- Council.
Preparation and printing of the new editions will take some time but it is possible that they will be com- pleted by the end of 1937.
I have listened to Mr. Dodwell's rather melancholy views on the sub- ject of the Colony's trade with the
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.