t
J
3
254
As I have already stated, I do not propose to recap- itulate what is in the Annual Report. I would, however, draw attention to the progress that has been made in social services such as education, and health, and in helping the farmer and the fisherman. In education, although advances have been made over the previous year, much still remains to be done, especially in Goverment schools, where 27 pre-war schools are housed in 19 buildings, necessitating the continuance of the unsatisfactory two sessions system. Grant-in-aid schools are, I am glad to say, now all working on the normal one session a day as a result of substantial Government assistance. The most marked progress has been in primary education; Government schools now catering for twice as many primary pupils as in 1941. Grant schools have also increased, but it is in subsidised and private schools that there has been the greatest advance. Secondary education has shown some progress during the year, but not so much as primary. Although there is an insufficient number of places in schools for every child in Hong Kong, it is probable that there are few permanent residents in the Colony whose children are not receiving education, for it is the policy of Government and subsidised schools to give preference to the permanent resident. It is not, however, possible to enforce such a rule in the case of private schools. $13 million were spent on education in 1948, nearly $4 millions more than in 1947, and more than half went in grants and subsidies. Education is dealt with on pages 66 to 74 of the Annual Report.
The
Steady progress has been made in agriculture and fisheries to the mutual benefit of the producer and consumer. The wholesale Vegetable Market, for instance, increased its sales from 445,000 to 537,000 piculs, but at a reduced average price to the consumer of $14.64 a picul compared with $16.18 in 1947, Fisheries Wholesale markets deal with 121,820 piculs of fresh fish, and 246,370 siculs of alt/dried fish; the figures for 1947 being 44,420 and 139,270 respectively. Prices have dropped from $97 to 971 a picul in the case of fresh fish, and from $87 to $48 a picul in the case of salt/dried fish over the last two years, About 40% of the salt/dried fish is exported, bringing in about $4 millions. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry are dealt with in Chapter 6 of the Report. Government has under consideration the carrying out of a social and economic survey in the New Territories to determine such things as agricultural indebtedness, land tenure, etc. These things are fundamental to the farmer, but until we know more precisely than we do at present the nature and extent of the problem it is impossible to decide on measures to deal with it.
During the forthcoming year we shall continue the progress, but for the reasons I have given, it will be slower, far slower, than we should like. If, however, revenue flows in better than is at present anticipated, the authority of this Council will be sought for extending existing projects or carrying out new ones. Conversely, if there is a falling off in revenue, we shall have to curtail our expenditure.
On the constitutional side progress has been slow, but a good deal of preparatory work has been done, and it is intended to publish shortly the draft Bills setting up the proposed Munici- pal Council. The first reading of the Bills will not be taken for at least six weeks after publication, so as to give those interested time to consider them. The proposals themselves were made public in July 1947.
We now have more than 200 posts, occupied by local appointees, that were formerly held by expatriate officers. This is not unsatisfactory, but I mm disappointed that we have only one member of the Cadet Service who is locally born. I would urge undergraduates at the University, and their parents, seriously to consider the administrative branch of the Colonial Service. It doesn't offer a fabulous salary, but the work is both honourable and interesting.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.