CO129-623-9 Estimates of Expenditure- includes a report for the year ending March 1952 1-2-1951 - 30-11-1951 — Page 187

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Meeting in the Minister of State's Room at 12 noon on 1st March

Present:

Minister of State

Parl. U.S. of State

Sir C. Cox

Mr. Sidebotham

Mr. Palmer

Mr. Hall

Mr. West.

Mr. Dugdale opened the discussion by stating that before he could accept the Governor's contention that tax should not be increased we must be satisfied that expenditure on Social Services, Health, Education and Housing

was adequate.

Mr. Sidebotham stated that the Reports Sub-Committee of the Colonial Social Welfare Advisory Committee had, after studying a series of despatches, reported that the amount of social welfare work being undertaken was highly commendable. The Medical reports also show that much good work is being done. With regard to Housing the Secretary of State had recently suggested

somewhat similar to the Singapore Improvement to the Governor that a Trust Trust should be established and the Governor has agreed to this proposal and had informed us that he intends to apply for a C.D. and W. grant to meet the cost of site formation, access roads and the installation of water and drainage. Mr. Sidebotham had not yet seen the Governor's reply.

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Mr. Dugdale said that the application for a C.D. and W. grant was an example of the sort of case he had in mind. Hong Kong should undertake such work at its own expense and not come to the United Kingdom for assistance. It was then pointed out that the application would come out of the £1 million C.D. and W. allocation already made to Hong Kong and which Hong Kong had not yet used to any extent it was not a "fresh" application for additional funds.

He said that as

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Sir C. Cox spoke of his recent visit to the Colony.

Mr. Fisher, Chief Education Officer, Manchester, was due to arrive in the Colony to investigate expenditure on education there, he (Sir C. Cox) had not himself gone into this aspect. He had just read Mr. Fisher's report on

The Colony's education his investigation into expenditure on education. programme was impressive and approximately 85% of the children were attending schools. Mr. Fisher had recommended some changes in emphasis i.e., that more attention should be paid to primary education, and had drawn up a seven year

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