HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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not British subjects. There is a certain amount of work which in other Colonies may be undertaken by locally born British subjects, which in this Colony has perforce to be performed by Europeans. The growing complexity of modern government is inevitably reflected in an increase of work and responsibility in the Colonial Secretary's Office.
I am glad the Honourable Member referred particularly to the proposed appointment of a sterling-paid officer as official anesthetist. He will be interested to learn that this appointment was advocated with a view of improving the facilities for the teaching of medical students at the University of Hong Kong. The great majority of these students are non-European, but to make them proficient to replace Europeans the engagement of Europeans, as in this instance, is necessary. The appointment in question is not that of a special sterling-paid officer as official anæthetist, but of a Medical Officer with special experience in the administration of anethetics to fill a vacancy in the medical establishment for a European medical officer, and it was with a view to economy combined with efficiency that the idea of engaging a medical officer with special training in anæsthetics was conceived. Such an officer is available in the Medical Departments of the Straits Settlements and of the Federated Malay States, and the lack of a specialist in Hong Kong has laid open to serious criticism. the curriculum for the instruction of students.
As I said before the Honourable Member appears to ignore the growth of the Colony within recent years, a growth which I hope and expect will continue. That growth alone accounts for the increase in several departments, and to this must be added the international obligations which the Colony has had to undertake. I would mention in passing the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which has entailed an increase in the work of the Harbour Department, the Factory and Mui-tsai legislation, which has necessitated an Inspectorate under the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the development of flying with its attendant increase of staff, not only under Air Services but also under Royal Observatory, the development of Wireless services, entailing more work in both the Post Office and the Public Works Department, the increase in the Volunteer Defence Corps and the inauguration of the Naval Volunteer Force. All these additional commitments have been undertaken by Government with the approval of this Council.
The Honourable Member refers to the numbers of officers in the Police. The authorised establishment fifteen years ago (in 1921) was one Captain Superintendent of Police, one Deputy Superintendent of Police, three Assistant Superintendents of Police and one pro- hationer. The provision in the estimates for this year is for one Inspector General of Police, one Deputy Inspector General, two Divisional Superintendents of Police, two Superintendents, seven Assistant Superintendents and one probationer. It is submitted that this increase is not disproportionate to the growth of the Colony, nor is the number of Commissioned Officers excessive for a Force of
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