1933-10-13 — Page 6

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THE

BUDGET DEBATE

TAXABLE LIMIT REACHED?

At the commencement of the new services, constant breakdowns of buses took plate, especially when going up Garden Road," and, even recently, breakdowns on Garden Road still occur, whereas such breakdowns under the regime of the Hong Kong Hotel Company were practically unknown...

(Continued from Page

road, be barred to motor lorries, the draft Estimates, leaving de- the unless being used in connection "tails to be dealt with in

the footnotes with building operations on Maga-memoranda and zine Gap Road itself.

the Hon. Mr. Tratman has suc- ceeded in presenting to the public a clear perspective of our econo- mic situation.

I feel that the Government is wise in "reverting to the scheme for re-building Government House on the site available at Magazine Gap which is so admirably suited

If such breakdowns are in any

to the purpose. The new Resid- ence, with the completion of the way attributable to the obtaining of less experienced drivers at lower new Motor Road will be almost as wages, then such saving has been conveniently situated as the pre- distinctly false economy, both from sent Government House and in the point of view of the Company much more pleasant surroundings. and also of the travelling public However for the convenience of who have a right to expect a punc-passers-through and residents .on tual and efficient service.

the lower levels might I suggest Another complaint which has that Your Excellency arrange to have a Visitors Book kept at the been voiced in the columns of the local Press, and which is doubtless

Government Offices. also due, in a measure, to drivers having insufficient experience, is the failure of the buses, especially on the Hong Kong side of the Harbour, to keep to a proper re- gular schedule of times, thereby causing grave inconvenience to pas- sengers going to and from their offices.

In Kowloon special grievances have recently been ventilated in the South China Morning Post namely the insuficiency of buses on certain routes at certain hours.

We trust that the Government will fully investigate the above matters with a view to their being remedied as it is so obviously necessary that the regularly and eficiency of public utility com- panies should. in the interests of the public, be fully maintained.

THE HON. MR. GORDON MACKIE

The Hon. Mr. Gordon Mackie, said:-

Your Excellency, My Honourable friend, the Senior Unofficial Mem- ber, has dealt very fully with the principal points in the Honourable the Colonial Secretary's speech and has covered most of the ground which calls for any comment.

There are one or two matters however which have not · been touched upon and on which I would like to make a few remarks.

I note with, interest that the Harbour Survey is to be completed by. 1935. The Colonial Secretary did not refer to the subject, but I see in the Estimates, Public Works Extraordinary, Item 91, that a sum of $224.000 has been bud- geted to be spent next year on dredging the Harbour. It is satis- factory to know that this now long overdue work which has been pressed for by the Shipping and Commercial interests is at last to be taken up seriously. I shall be glad if the Colonial Secretary, when he replies to this debate, will tell us what is the present position with regard to the contracts for

work in hand.

Members naturally listened with interest to the Colonial Secretary's remarks on the subject of aviation, I agree that we must continue to develop Hong Kong as an air port in readiness for the time when the China becomes a party to International Air Convention and thus places herself in a position to derive the incalculable benefits to her progress which will follow upon development of aviation. In the meantime, I desire to acknowledge the value of the work done by the Postmaster General in effecting air mall connections with existing ser- vice to Europe.

I would like to say a word on the subject of Empire Preference. Since Hong Kong has been brought within the scope of this scheme there have been distinct signs of Improvement in the export trade of the Colony but unfortunately the flip which the reduced' duties have given to certain lines of busi ness has been to a great extent nulfed by the difficulty experi enced in passing goods through the Customs on their arrival at des- tination. Merchants have been put to much unnecessary trouble and expense in satisfying the United Kingdom Customs that their goods comply with the conditions under which they benefit from the re- duced tarif, that is to say that the finished article is 50 per cent. British, either in the form of raw material or labour applied to it in Hong Kong.

ASSESSED TAXES

On the Revenue side of the draft Estimates there is only one item-"Assessed Taxes"-on which I have a few remarks to offer. In spite of these hard times, with in- numerable vacant shops and tenement houses in all parts of the Colony, this item shows an increase of $200,000; and the ex- planation given in the foot-notes is "Normal tricrease." Allowing for the new houses that have been erected since the last Budget was passed, we must not forget. the equally large number of old house, which, on the other hand, have been vacated. It is an un- challenged fact that at this mo- ment there *are more empty houses or flats than there were at this time last year, and my Chin- ese colleagues and I are driven to the conviction that the increase in revenue is due not so much to

normal development as to the higher ratable values placed on tenement houses by the Assessor's Office. This action has had ari adverse effect on the Colony, în that the higher the assessment, the higher becomes the rental, so that the increased burden' ultim- ately falls on the tenants."

In this connection the Hong Kong and Kowloon Property Owners Association has recently made .representations to the Chinese members of the two Councils asking that the Govern- ment be requested to grant certain alleviations, even temporarily. by 'a reduction in the rates, and by separate assessment for each floor in all houses which are let by the floor, each having access to u common staircase.

After careful consideration my Chinese colleagues and I cannot support the plea for a reduction in rates, for the simple" reason that the

be Budget has to balanced, and that if the rates were reduced other forms of taxation, perhaps more burden- some to the people, would have to be imposed to enable the Gov- ernment to carry on.

to

If shippers could obtain a Gov ernment Certificates that their merchandise is definitely of British

We do, however, commend origin, the cause of their present grievance would be at once remov-the" sympathetic consideration of ed. It may be argued that with the Government the request for the existing machinery at their separate assessment for each floor disposal the Government is unable as a temporary measure of relief to certify the goods. If that is to the people. Only recently I the case then the Customs at home have heard that the owner of a must be prepared to accept sup. house which was partly empty. pllers declaration of origin, i found it cheaper to give "notice necessary, supported by a certi- to quit" to the remaining tenants, the whole house ficate from a recognised Chartered so as to leave

vacant, which would enable him Accountant, da

Speaking as the representative to obtain a refund of the rates on this Council of the Chamber of paid. Under the present system Commerce. I can unfortunately tenement houses are assessed as a confirm the Colonial Secretary's whole, and no refund of rates is floors, With

Chinese National Electric & Pottery Co. putting this necessary and urgent observations about the depressed made for vacant Mr. T. N.

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It is a fatter for regret that the already considerable expend ture on the vehicular ferry piers is to be increased by a lakh or more, but I trust that the advice of the Naval Dockyard expert will put things right. It would appear to the layman that some of the Initial mistakes might have been avoided if expert advice had been sought in the first instance.

new

The application of the Safety and Load Line Conventions to one of the world's great ports.] is, of course, necessary, and the Colonial Secretary informed the Council at verdict of the Board of Trade as to the minimum increase) in Government Marine Surveyor's staff which application of the Con- vention will call for. The Tech- nical (Shipping) Committee of the Chamber of Commerce stressed the "point that once existing shipping

THE CENSORSHIP

state of the Colony's trade and this subject the Hon. shipping. In the general opinion, Chau will, I understand, deal in things are worse than they were greater detail. during the political agitations of 1925/1926. The Government has heavy commitments in respect of practically re-developing the centre of Hong Kong, as well as large works in prospect on the Kowloon side. With a decreasing revenue and lessened ability on the part of the taxpayer to bear increased taxation. It seems likely that there are difficult times ahead for the Colony is a whole. and many an- xieties for its administrators.

THE HON. DR. R. H..

KOTEWALL

On the Expenditure side of the draft Estimates, several matters call, for remarks and comments. In connection with the itemi "Chinese Assistant" and "Chinese Press Censors" in the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, I desire to pay a long-delayed tribute to these officers for the manner it which they have discharged their onerous duties. No one outside the Department knows more than I do, for I had some direct asso- ciation with the work of Chinese Press censorship in the troublone years of the General Strike and Boycott in 1925 aid 1926--what a difficult and thankless task these The Hon. Dr. R H Kotewall censors have to perform. The said:--

work has to be done within cer- Bir--In these days of unpretain prescribed hours, and done has been surveyed and brought cedented financial stringency, a at high pressure. It has been à into line with the Convention re- balanced: Budget, even with the marvel to me, how it could have quirements, the subsequent periodi-wealthiest of countries, is a mat- been performed so enclently by cal surveys will doubtless occupy ter for congratulation to both the Just four men under the Chinese much the same time as before. Government and the tax-payers. Assistant: and the absence of They therefore recommended The Budget now engaging our at serious mistakes and complaints the that, until the amount of extra tention is "balanced in more is a standing tribute to work has been ascertained in the than the accounting sense of the ability and tact of Mr. Lau Taz light of practical experience, the word, and I therefore venture to Ping and his junior colleagues. Government should engage addi- congratulate Your Excellency or TRIBUTE TO MR, &E WOOD tionar start or temporary appoint- your success in its production. It may not be out of place here menta: only, in order to avoid ex which must have involved "Bisy-to refer to the impending retire- pensive enlargement of the pen-phean labour.Ve

ment of my honourable friend,

The

sionable staff. The Committee The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Mr. A. E, Wood, Becretary for -still hold the same view natwith- too, has earned our admiration Chinese Affairs. The Chinese standing the ruling of the Board of for the able manner in which he members of Council heard the an Trade that three additions to the has presented this, his first Bud-nouncement, as did the whole permanent staff are necessary and get. When he described it as Chinese community, with more they expressed the hope that any colourless" he was, I think, an than ordinary regret, for Mr. new appointments made will be in duly modest, for a careful Wood, dûting his long association the first instance for a fixed period examination of the draft with the Secretariat, has won the only, say 3 years.

Estimates and of the admirably high esteem and admiration of ...I am afraid it is unlikely that lucid memorandum by the Hon.. all those who know him, there will be any large amount of Colonial Treasurer on the financial announcement came as a surprise new construétion of ships in Hong position of the Colony, as well as to the Chinese community, though Kông in the next few years.. the helpful notes prepared by the not to me personally, for I had The proposed expenditure of Hon. Director of Public Works on for some time known that he had $60,000 din inaiding Magazine Gap Public Works Extraordinary. has been contemplating retirement on Road accessible for motor vehicles convinced me that the Budget is grounds of health. My Chinese will be welcomed by all Peak Re far from being colourless,even colleagues and I sincerely hope Aldents, as it will reduce consider though it cannot be said to be that our Excellency may and it ably the distance from the Upper colourful By conuing His speech possible to prevail upon Mr. Wood Levels to the centre of the town to the broad Brinciples of the to suspend his application for to- I would suggest, however, that, in Government's financial policy and tirement until after the expiration the interests of public safety, the the more important changes in (Continued on Page 1.)

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