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CORRESPONDENCE
LOCAL WATERWORKS
South China Morning fost
The University
Approval of Further
12/6/3 Expenditure Asked
(To the Editor, S. C. M. Post)
Sir, There seems to be expecta- tion that people will write about the report of the Special Committee on the University. Not many people are competent to criticise the report, but certain subjects emerge.
(1) Finance. It is certain that the budget must be made to balance, and, whatever this may mean, it seems to be the first need.
This may be done by using interest only on gifts of say, a few million dollars, if salaries are to be reckoned in dollars, or a million pounds, if salaries of Europeans are paid in sterling; and when it is obtained, thorough revision of the budget must be made annually.
It should not be done at the expense of the public, which we are told means the poor, as all taxation finally comes from the poor. To educate a few well-to-do people at the expense of the poor is a gross injustice.
a
It would be interesting to know how many firms or societies provide pensions and pay salaries on sterling basis. The Government can do as it likes, as it simply takes the money, and fixes its own rates.
If the Government is to assist, it should be to a limited extent, and perhaps for a definite object, say a contribution for the new Vice- Chancellor's salary, but perhaps not his pension.
(2) Staff. More local staff must be employed, and if the staff made more contribution to the public by lectures and helpful enlightment it would increase their value. Some- thing is already done.
It is astonishing that so few of the professors, lecturers, and non- Chinese staff have learnt a language so simple and easy to learn as Cantonese.
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(3) Chinese Studies. It seems that these must be reduced to a low level or else given up, because there are not sufficient Chinese youths willing to really study Chinese classics and philosophy, and Chinese with a few years elementary and lower middle school teaching can read a newspaper, and do a small amount of detective novel reading, which seems to be the extent of attainment in Chinese at the present day. It is said that the University was advised not to open the school unless two million dollars was provided for the purpose.
Hongkong cannot compete with Chinese Universities; it is most prob- able that even their standard is very low.
If the University should be closed, Chinese will be the principal losers, and they should consider the subject and definitely decide one way or the .other, as to whether they wish to have the University here or not. They are the deciding factor.
Another possibility is looming up, but that need not be discussed at present.
These items will be sufficient for considerable thought and planning.
$3,185,000 INVOLVED
Even with the completion of Jubilee Dam the water situation in the Colony is far from satisfactory. Although the Mainland is on constant supply the Island is still under restrictions.
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This position is causing the Gov- ernment some anxiety, and it is to the Secretary of State for learned that a despatch has been sent the Colonies requesting permission to spend the sum of $3,185,000 on new water works.
As soon as approval of the expen- diture is received from London, it is understood the preliminary stages of the new works will be put in hand. Part of the money will be included in this year's Supplementary Estimates.
Although the sum of $3,185,000 is
the specified in Secretary of State,
message to the this represents only part of the sum needed to en- sure adequate supply.
Works which will be pushed on in the immediate future will be as follows:
Island and Harbour Supply Mains and Pump- Improvement and Protec-
ing Stations
$ 190,000
tion of Harbour Pipe- lines New 18in. Harbour Pipe-
line
New Filtration Plant at
Eastern Additions to distribution
system
Tatal Island
Mainland Shing Mun-Taimoshan
Catchwater Service Reservoir to Kow-
loon Tsai Supply Mains to Kowloon
Tsai Reservoir Additions to Distribution
system
Total Mainland
240,000
290,000
300,000
100,000
$1,120,000
$1,500,000
200,000
290,000
75,000
$2,065,000
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