1930-03-01 — Page 7

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1930.

KOWLOON RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION.

PRESIDENT'S ABLE SUMMARY OF A SUCCESSFUL YEAR'S WORK.

VISIONS OF FUTURE PROSPERITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF KOWLOON

PRESENTATION MADE TO MR. W. J. STOKES.

The retiring president of the Kowloon Residents' Association, Mr. C. M. Manners, O.B.E... made, at the annual meeting held yesterday in St. Andrew's Church Hall, an excellent speech summarizing what had been done during the past year and visioning the future greatness of Kow-

loon.

During the meeting a presentation was made to Mr. W. J. Stokes, who is shortly leaving the Colony. Mr. Stokes, has served as different times as president, vice-president and as treasurer to the K.RA, and a great tribute was paid to his ability and civic spirit. The Rev. J. Horace Johnston was elected president for the ensuing year.

HOW THE MAINLAND IS GOING AHEAD.

THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MR.

LAI IM TO.

1

The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga has, according to expectations, become our representative in a very real Mr. C. M. Manners, presideat, sense of the word. He has main asked all present to stand in silence tained a very cordial and kindly for a moment at the beginning of co-operation; his intimate know yesterday's proceedings, as a token ledge of the past history, prosent of respect to the late Mr. Lai Im requirements and future prospects To who had died during his term of the Peninsula and the New Ter- of office on the general committee.ritories is amazing. His unstinted The President then announced that service has at all times been at our ho was in receipt of a letter from disposal and his criticisms helpful Dr. S. W. Ts'o, O.B.E., congratulat-I thank Mr. Braga for the very ing the Association on their year's large amount of valuable time be work and expressing regret that he was unable to attend the meeting. | He then turned to his review of the year's work saying :---

MR. MOW FUNG'S PLEA FOR reflected the meticulous accuracy of

THE POORER RESIDENTS.

the engineer as well as the keenest possible interest in the civic life of The adoption of the report and the community among whom you accounts was proposed by the Pre-have resided. Your work has been an example, not only to younger sident and seconded by Mr. F. C. members of the association, but to Mow Fung in the following words: many others who for reasons best Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, ed their civic responsibilities."

known to themselves, havo neglect- It gives me much pleasure to second the adoption of the report and ac- counts for the past year. I am sure we have all listened with great in-you with us, but our feelings of terest to the President's speech, regret at your impending departure and none but the rankest pessimist from the Colony are tempered by will disagree with his portrayal of the knowledge that you are pro- the bright prospects which Kowloon ceeding on a well-earned rest. holds for the future.

I am pleased to endorse generally the "views expressed by him, but there are one or two points on which I would like to make a little com- ment. With reference to the Hon. Dr. Ts'o, I am closely associated with this gentleman in connection with a certain public service and can from personal knowledge say, that he takes a keen interest in all matters affecting "the welfare of Kowloon and as he is the only Chinese member on the Legislative Council residing in Kowloon, it naturally follows that he would be consulted with reference to Kowloon matters.

"Unhappily, this will be the last occasion on which we shall have

"We wish for Mrs. Stokes and yourself good health and all pros perity, and as an earnest token of our regard and admiration, it gives me the greatest pleasure to ask you to accept this parting gift from the members of the General Committee. of this association."

Mr. Wylie asked Mr. Stokes to accept a silver model of an antique incense burner inscribed with the following "words:-" Presented to W. J. Stokes, Esq., Past-President, Kowloon Residents' Association, by the General Committed on his res tirement, 97th February, 1830...

MR. STOKES' REPLY,

Mr. W. J. Stokes replied as fol lows

Mr. President, Mr. Wylie and

Tribute to Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga. | Salkung Road and Existing Needs.

Captain T. T. Laurenson, D.S.C.. I am convinced that posterity

seconded the proposal to elected More Playing Grounds Needed. Mr. Stokes a life member, saying will have reason to be grateful to

On the subject of the work of the that he associated himself with ni Sir Cecil for the part he has played Playing Fields Committee, I look that Mr. Wylie had said, and add- in planning for the building of the forward to secing in the Coming that he had newer known a man, Saikung Road, the development of mittee's report, which will doubt anywhere, who had worked so un- less be published before long, re-selfishly for the general good of all this district and for the opening commendations for the immediate as Mr. Stokes, "(Applause.) up of such a beautiful area for provision of adequate playing residential purposes. Personally, grounds for the poorer residents; I refer to the class represented by feel that the Saikung Road will the youths who have recently ultimately prove of great value, been appearing before the Kowloon and will justify the expenditure Magistrate on charges of playing recently voted at the same time football and trick cycling in the streets: While entirely agreeing we trust that urgent wörk nearer that such games in the public strects home will not be neglected-there must be prohibited, I cannot too

I think it would be far easier to are certain roads in Kowloon which strongly urge the necessity for

proper facilities being provided to find reasons why none should be demand immediate attention and I encourage

open air recreation given, for, although, in common suggest claim priority over "all among the residents of the congest with every member of this Com- ed districts. The conversion of the mittee, what I have been able to others--I refer principally to

typhoon shelter parapet opposite do has been a labour of love of Waterloo and Salisbury Roads.":

Saigon Street in Yasmati into a pro-great interest and a mine of experi- Waterloo Road should be com- menade is a right step in this direc-ence, I fear it must be admitted that my share does not amount to pleted as was originally intended tion. on both sides of the Nullah which

very great deal when taken by itself. leads into Nathan Road; it is con-

has devoted to the interests of Kowloon and for the many personal conferences he has been pleased to attend which had for their object the ultimate benefit of the com- munity.

Gentlemen, Every member has beca provided with a Report ad Statement of "Accounts in printed

Many matters have thus been form covering the work done by placed before the authorities which your Committes during the past could not have been done without year and with your permission, the established liaison between the will take them as read. I am con-member for Kowloon and the vinced a perusal of the Report will lead to the conclusion that we, as an Association, continue to vin- diente our existence and have main- "tained the high standard set by our

predecessors.

K.R.A. The importance of main

taining this liaison cannot be over estimated as it must be beneficial to all concerned,

Playing Fields Committes. Local development has gone for- ward much more rapidly than was On the recent Playing Fields Com anticipated by our most aptimistic mittee, whose protracted labours, I resident and all indications point to understand, have just recently been the growing importance of the ee winded, Kowloon had the honour Peninsula and to public faith in the of, representation two members future of this wonderful territory.nominated by the Government, and New industries can be seen estab- when I mentioned that the repre- lished all around us and old ones acutatives are the Hon. Mr. J. P. continue to develop and prosper. Braga and Mr. E. Cock, members New buildings, both Chinese and of the K.RA. can rest assured that, European, are being erected in large in so far as the needs of Kowlood are concerned, they will have been properly safeguarded for the present and adequately advanced for the future. We look forward to the publication of the Committee's re- port with considerable interest.

numbers.

A Vision of the Future.

Looking into the dim and distant future, I visualize Hong Kong as a suburb of Kowloon when we shall have made this side of the Harbour sp attractive that the Peak will house only those who are compelled to live there to keep the drying

rooms functioning.

We have already reached, the stage where it has become unneccs. sary to patronize the ferrice in order to bank the surplus of our salaries, and as a shopping centre we are rapidly approaching pertec- tion: nowadays we can purchase anything and everything without having to take a sen voyage to the Island for the purpose and if we desire to entertain our friends we can invite them to one of the finest hotels in the world.

Kowloon Hospital.

We learn through the medium of the Press that a Maternity Ward will shortly be available in the Kow. loon Hospital-for the past seven years the K.R.A. have endeavoured to convince Government it was in- Perative that accommodation be provided for maternity cases Kowloou..

in

We are thankful we shall realise one of our, ambitions in the near future and earnestly trust that an- other of our hopes may be fulfilled in that private medical practitionera be allowed to attend at the hospital, more especially in maternity cares.

At one time Government did pro

Speaking of our palatial hotel and again looking into the future, Iise that they would be granted. envisage on the opposite side of own patients but the was subsc- that privilege in respect of their Nathan Road and facing the har-

quently withdrawn. bour on the South, another impos

The advan- ing building, which would be the tages which would result from this future Administrative Building of facility are too obvious" for me to Hong Kong and in which the execu- elaborate upon and we therefore

sidered of paramount importance as an arterial rond and we trust Government will appreciate the urgency of proceeding with its' con- struction at the earliest possible

moment...

Gentlemen,-I find it very difficult to thank you adequately for this handsome present, showing as it does your kindness of heart...

interested in the developments of I have, from the first, been great-

the Star Ferry Circus; and with the aid of Mr. Wylie, I think I got out the first tentative drawing, which of course looks very old- fashioned to-day.

My other special interest, was in improving the lighting of the more important streets and, in this case at any rate, I have seen very” great, progress.

Another point is the question of a separate Police Station for the sorry to see the Government has Kowloon Tong District, which I am

shelved for the time being. I at not a resident of Kowloon Tong nor have I any vested interests therein; but I am extremely well Roquainted with the locality, and I say without hesitation that the policing of Kowloon Tong, surround- That part of Salisbury Road leaded as it is with country areas which ing to the Star Ferry Approach is are partly or non-developed, cannot bo effectively or efficiently carried a problem that has, engaged the out from the Kowloon City Police Mr. Wylie has been kind enough to attention of your Committee for Station nor from the Mongkok make much of my work as Treasur- Police Station, and it is to be hopeder, but he has mercifully omitted many years; we feel very disap that the Government will give this pointed that nothing definite can be reported as to Government's

matter urgent attention.

intentions with regard to this work, which is long overdue and admits of no further delay. ·

Case for Municipal Control," I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without reference to a part of-His Excellency The Governor's farewell speech to the Council on January 23 in connection with a

reorganization of the Public Health and Sanitary services.

His Excellency said:-

"I do not pretend to prophesy what form it will take; but there is one form which in my opinion it certainly ought not to take and that is the establishment of a municipality.

Before I sit down, I would draw special attention to the annoyance caused to residents in the vicinity of Signal Hill by the Bring of

salutes. The President has evident- ly forgotten to mention this matter and I am sure that all members of the Association will agree that the time has come when these signal guns should be removed to a more suitable location.

a

Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the adoption of the report and ac- counts.

This was carried unanimously. Mr. Allison asked if it were. possible to know whether, under the agreement to supply electric current to certain districts in the New Territories, referred to by the President, the roads in those dis- tricts would be lighted.

to mention that, when I handed over the job to go on leave, I left a minus quantity in the till and it has been due to the skill and

pertinacity of my successors that at the present time you have over $1,400 in the bank.

Mr. Wylie has also referred to the addition of Rule 14A, with which the natural outcome of the fact that, he credits me, but I think this was in those early days, we had quite a lot of names on the roll which had no dollar mark attached to thom. This inconsistence was made glar- ingly apparent when Sir Henry Pollock inquired as to the strength of our membership. I could not give him a definite number because

did not know which names to in- elude and which to reject.

That is all changed and every one of the 360 members now on the roll has raid his duca.

Mr. Manners replied that he be Jieved so but he had no clear instruc-fall tally of my doings...

I think. Sir, that is about the

The creation of municipalitions on the subject. ties would duplicate the adminis trative machinery of the Colony to en intolerable extent. It would be excessively uneconomi- cal and it would be open to all the political objections which would beset democratic institu- tions if introduced into Hong Kong: I sincerely hope that nothing of the kind will be at- tempted."

PRESENTATION TO MR. STOKES.

MR. B. WYLIE'S TRIBUTE.

We cannot entirely agree with

tive staff of the Government will be trust Government will give - His Excellency's view point and housed and under the roof of which pathetic and immediate considers are of opinion that the time will will be found a co-ordination of tion to this very important matter which may affect any of us at any

come when Government will find time and may result in the saving it advisable to institute some form of municipal control of purely domestic matters.

the various departments that form

the machinery governing this in- portant Colony.

Kowloon, Representatives on Council,

of valuable lives.

H.E. Sir Cecil Olamenti,

official status is ni

Mr. Manners then called upon Mr. B. Wylie to represent the Com- mittee in making & presentation to Mr. W. J. Stokes who was leaving the Colony..

پارسی

Mr. Wylle spoke as follows:- recipient of a presentation by this "Mr. Stokes, next to being a association, there is nothing which could have given me more pleasure to-night than to be chosen by its members as its representative to tell you how sorry we ars that in a short time you will be leaving Hong

Team Work.

This, Gentlemen, is where I want to stress the fact of the real team work that is consistently done by your Committee, composed, as it is, of men of at least three nationalities and as many religione and representing nearly every branch of human activity; clergy- men, merchants, sailors, engineers and journalists; cach with his specialised knowledge to be used for take their jobs very seriously and the common good." These gentlemen I know of no Society or Committee where the attendance at meetings is so consistently full

The natural outcome of this is that the mere glint of any idea has only to be expressed by one to be I would now like to say a few ministration and for some years

During Sir Ceil Clementi's ad- Ko now something like eight specialised mind of another and eagerly helped out by the more We have now had a year to realise words with reference to the recent previous this Association has en-years ago that you joined this asso passed back again in a more work- and estimate the benefits derived loss we have suffered by the pro-joyed the confidence of Government ciation, and since that time you able form, with some of its more from having our own representatives motion of H.E. The Governor to and are not unmindful of the fact have always been a member of the awkward cornera rubbed off and ILS members of the Legislative the Straits Settlements. It cannot Council. Last year, my predecessor, be expected that any of his succes

that members of the K.R.A have General Committee. You have also ready for further polishing. Thus, been invited to take part in the most successfully held the offices of in progress made and I put it to Mr. E. Cock, pledged our assistance tors will have the intimate personal deliberations of various committees President, Vice-President and Trea you, Gentlemen, as forcefully as I to Mesars. Braga and Tro and pro- knowledge of Kowloon and the New constituted by Government to consurer. If I may be permitted to can that the more support your mised to keep them well informed Territories possessed by Sir Cecil sider and advise on matters of say so, in my own opinion, the Committee gets the better work will of all our activities should they so Clementi. It was His Excellency's public interest, but we must not most important of these offices held it be able to do. dedire.

pleasure in recounting reminis

In conclusion, I want to express My friend, the Hon. Dr. Ta'a, has fences of his early Cadet days in Jose sight of the fact that our by you was that of the last named

for, during your term an treasurer to you, my colleagues, my very seen at to declare publicly that he Hong Kong to say that he lived in is not specially representing Row- one of the houses in "Lyeemuz We feel that it is the duty of any you were instrumental in establish- deep appreciation of your kindly sound basis. good wishes, of which this is a token doon. Personally, I must confess I Villas" on Chatham Road, recent community to take an intelligenting un finances on

It was on your suggestion that and another reminder (if that were received this disclaimer with early demolished to make room for a interest in municipal affairs and we members of this association raised necessary) of our long association prise. Perhaps, Dr. Te'o, with his model and modern apartment build. hope our Government will see the their annual subscription, and also in what we honestly think is good legal mind, has interpreted HE ing now nearing completion. Under vindom of apportioning certain passed Bye Law 14A, dealing with and useful work. It makes a hard the Governor's nomination of a Sir Cecil, Kowloon's development duties to a local council which defaulting members, which has, per parting a bit harder and I hope the Chinese representative for Kowloon received a tremendous impetus. would be actuated by a civil spirit hapa, more than anything else, help. weekly paper to which I propose quite differently from as laymen. Towards the closing weeks of his all to the good of the Colony. ed to make this association the live to subscribe will never omit, owing There was no doubt whatever in my administration in Hong Kong, he In conclusion, I wish to thank body it is to-day.

to pressure on its space, the monthly own mind that the two 'now mem concluded an Agreement whereby all those who have helped us in Mr. Stokes, the Kowloon Resi-report of the K.R.A. bera were appointed to represent electricity for lighting and power any way, and especially to tender dents' Association has always been Thank you for the most unexpect the interests of Kowloon. That is will be supplied not only to New our thanks to the Press of this fortunate in having as members of ed honour of making me a life the impression generally entertain-Kowloon, but also, in course of Colony who by their encouraging its general committee people who member. I do not consider. I have ed-an impression that seems to be time, to moet of the inhabited dis attitude towards us have assisted have not been content to be merely have anything to deserve it, I have confirmed by Sir Cecil Clementi's tricts of the New Territories. This very materially and given an incen-ornamental. You have always been done no more than an ordinary day's farewell speech to the Legislative surely will prove to be an inestim.tive to our work, which has been one of the hardest workers on that work Council on the 23rd January last. able boon to the inhabitants.

very helpful..

body and your, labours have always (Continued on Page 12.)

A man handles his hat in the company of others more often than any other thing he wears. It thus more easily becomes the subject of conversa- tion. That means he gets more opportunity for pride in the possession of a good hat than in any other article of his dress.

A "GLYN" HAT

made by the famous firm of GLYN & Co., 44, Old Bond Street, London, IS A SURE WINNER- when compared with other makes. The Quality of the Fur, the trimmings and other minor details. make the "Glyn" a better product.

PRICES RANGE from $13.50

Call and see the many new styles and colourings now displayed at the

Sole Agents :

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

10, lee House Street.../

COLUMBIA

THE NEW 1930 MODEL

THE QUALITY

OF TONE

IS IMPROVED

AGAIN

RECORD ALBUM

FITTED IN.

THE LID

OFFERS A

NEW REFINEMENT

WHEN COLUMBIA DOES IT-IT'S WELL DONE, GIVE US A CALL AND HEAR THE NEW PORTABLES

The Anderson Music Co., Ltd.

TENNIS

$15

RACKETS

FOR HARD WEAR IN THE TROPICS

MADE BY

A. G. SPALDING & BROS.

F. A. DAVIS

W. H. JAMES

SLAZENGERS:

PRICES FROM

to $35

THE NEW PATENT PROCESS DUNLOP

TENNIS BALLS NEW STOCKS JUST ARRIVED

SPORTS DEPARTMENT,

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.