1936-03-20 — Page 12

12

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1936.

OVER FOURTEEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR SALARIES

(Continued frum Page 11,)

..11

the conventional dollar, and 'as-. serts without any explanation in support that a revenue of just over $261 milion must be regarded as normal, or, a

as he says, as repre- Henting the cloch according to which the Government must cut. its coat. It will be remembered, that the revenue in 1931 was $33,- 146,724, In 1932 $33,549,716 in 1933 533,099,278 und n 1934 $29,574,286. The final gures for 1935 are not ye to hand The Government is of opinion that a figure, which, # 19 hoped, represents the es- timated minimum revenue of the Colony at the padir of a period o: depression cannot be taken as the standard for future years.

The Government again is unable to agree that the Colony cannot, at the appropriate time, stand the strair of

taxation extra

This Colony is frequently compared with Singapore, although its municipal undertakings are "under the direct control of the Colonial Govern- ment.

Honourable Members will remember that the assessed rate i Singapore is 22 + 2 per ccht. a total of 24 per cent., in comparison' with the 17 per cent. In force in this Colony and in Singapore there is no free water allowance. The Government cannot agree that a Colony, such as Hong Kong. in which there is little, direct taxa tion, where there is no Income Tax, where

the duty on whisky and sin is one-sixth of the duty In the United Kingdom, and the duty on cigarettes proportionately even less, "is already taxed to capacity, f not beyond it."

ministration in Hong Kong com- pares not unfavourably with that of other Colonies.

to the League of Nations, has at. the same time diminished our revenue and swollen the popula-

tion of our faois

more

the

.cf a sterling officer should be post-idea of engaging a medical officer poned. That officer had, however, with specla, training in anaesthe- The Government tics was concalved. Such an off- already saled. Analysts do Important work for cer is avalicole in the Medical the mercante community as well Departments of the Straits Sette- as for the Government and fully ments and of the Federated Ma- qualified officers are necessary and lay States, and the lack of a spic- the Government had no reason to talist in Hong Kong has ald open 'belleve that મ local candidate to serious criticism the curriculum with the necessary qallications or the instruction of students. was avaliable for the vacancy. In

GROWTH IGNORED this connection I would remind the Honourable Member that

one uf the exiting Assistant Analysts is a local appointee.

1

I regret to have to state that the initial experiment of employing Chinese Sub-Inspectors af Po ce proved unsuccessful, and that the services of the officers employed in that capacity had to be discon- tinued.

BRIBERY CHARGE

I suggest that it would be more profitable to abandon this fallaci-

I now turn to the third of the vas distinction between salaries ques.lons I suggested as matters and other forms of expenditure for consideration viz, whether the and to consider the question of

services rendered by the Govern- whether the taxpayer receives an ment could be performed adequate return for his expendi-" cheaply without undue loss of effl- ture as a whole, whether the Co- ciency, The Honourable Member's leny has undertaken services arguments on this point are aimed which it cannot afford and whe-chiefly to show that the Govern- ther the services it provides men; ought to proceed more rapid- could be provided more cheaply ty with the replacement of an ad- than at present without undue loss mictedly expensive European staff. of efficiency. Now these are mat- more particularly in the subordin- Mr. Lo ters which the Government has ate grades, by Asiatics. always in mind. It believes that quotes statements by the late Gov- the taxpayer dues receive an ernor and by the Acting Colonial adequate return for his expendi-Secretary. The Government stands ture, the services it undertakes by these statements but as the have been asked for and indeed Honourable Member must realize In most cases demanded" by the the process is an extremely slow, į The mover and Seconder of this public and have in all cases been one. The "Government has motion have both referred to the approved by this Council. Such matter constantly In mind but i subject of bribery and to the need services could of course be cur there is transition period in

for some change in the conditions talled but the Honourable Mem- which we now are when we still of employment which wou'd make ber has wisely refrained from have the Europeans more or less It easier to dispense with an off- however Now. Sir. specifying the services he wishes as teachers and the non-Europeans cer's service. curtailed, except for a bint that still more or less in the capacity desirable it may appear the the of Government servants the Government is giving greater of pupils. This is the case in the services medical facilities than the Co-Sanitary Department, where local generally should be determinable

at the discretion of the Governor lony can afford.

Sanitary Inspectors have been and

Government is are being trained. It is also the in-Council the My Honourable friend the Direc- case in the Medical Departinent in bound by the Colonial Regulations tor of Medical and Sanitary Ser-respect of Nursing" Sisters, but covering this" matter. and It is vices has replied dr detail to most here are other reasons why it has more than doubtful whether thei of the points raised by the seconder not been found possible to reduce Secretary of State for the Colonies of the motion in connection with the number of sisters and increase would grant a special dispensation therefrom in the case of one Col- the Med.cal Establishments of the the number of nurses. There is no Colony. On this subject I shall imculty with regard to recruiting ony. Criminal proceedings as the confine myself to more general re-probationers for the local nursing Honourable Member points marks on the points raised by the

may not in certain cases suc- Mover of the Motion.

cessful. but a difficulty exists in that if an officer were found gulity by the Governor-in-Council of an offence which is clearly criminal. he might wel protest Government did not

THE MEDICAL SIDE

are Medical and Sanitary De-

staff; in fact there is a large walk- ing ist. In spite, however," of the salaries given which are higher other in- than those offered in stitutions and in spite of the ex- of the accommodation the majority of nurses

partments have during the last few years been reorganised with what was thought to be the sup-cellence port, if not the encouragement, provided

of the unofficial members of this Council, a reform which cuimin- ated in the recent legislation covering all matters of public health.

and

out,

E

As I said before the Honour- able Member appears to ignore the growth of the Colony with- in recent years, a growth which I hope and expect will continue. That growth alone accounts for the increase in several depart- ments, and to this must be add- ed the inte.national obligations

had which the Colony has

to undertake. I would mention in passing the Internationa Con- vention for the Safely of Life at Sea, which has entailed an in. crease in the work of th Har-

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ex

in

up to meet just such an emer- bour Department, the Factory sterling basis without consulting

gency as has now come upon us. and Mul-tsal legislation, which this Council, and that no vucan-

The Government agrees with the has necessitated an Inspectorate cles, should be filed without.simi- under the Secretariat tor Ch'n-lar consultation. That to a large resolution standing in the nume of

the present the Bonourable Member only ese Affairs, the development of extent represents flying with its attendant In- practice. The" annual estimates. so far as it refers to present cir- crease of staff, not only under by which the expenditure of the cumstances. It cannot accept all Air Services bat a'so unde Ro- year is definitely limited and ar- the arguments advanced by Mr. to this Lo in support of his motton and .yal Observatory. the dev.top-ranged. are submitted

that the Hancurab.e ment of Wireless services. en- Council and in respect of any ap-it hopes

ex- Member after hearing this the pllcation for supplementary tailing more work in both

of theplanation will be content with the Post Office and the Public Works penditure the approval

on Committee,

which ventilation of a very Important Department, the increase in the Finance Volunteer Defence Corps and the there is an 'unoffelal majority, matter and will not press his mo- inauguration of the Naval Vo- almost invariably sought in lunteer Force. All these addi- Arst instance. tional commitments" have been undertaken by Government with the approval of this Council. The Honourable Member refers to the numbers of officers in th: Police.

three Assistant

unc two

seven

the

who

The Honourable Member seconded the motion suggests thi an Unofficia Member should b appointed to the Appointments Board of the Senior Clerical and

Mon to a division.

GOVERNOR'S, ADDRESS

Addressing the Counc. Sir An- drew Caldecott said:-

I want to thank the Honourable" Member who proposed this Reso- ution for a most usefully critica ap-speech..

Accounting Service.

APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE It is assumed that the Honour-

the pointments Committee which deals chiefly with promotion's and with, the ning of vacancies

to

refer Council. It does so

them and the Legislative Council after receiving such information as

It may consider necessary to justify the proposals, must share with the Government the responsibility- for the creation of new posts and for any changes of salary scales. The Government feels that the Honourable Member's proposa! would not provel satisfactory either to this Counch or to the Govern- ment.

If his particular points could not have been met to the very fuli extent that they have been col- niet by my. Honourable League, the Colqulai Secretary, it would of course have signified that the authorities who framed aur past budgets and the Coun- cillors who passed them were either négigent, Incapable or Improvident. Happily for their reputation and for the Colony's well-being the picture is not In fact so black as the Honourable Member has painted it Its gloomy tones, I am bold to be- lleve, are part.y and largely the shadows of the dark clouds of a passing depression.

The authorised establish- 1921) the ment, fifteen years ago (in that

to was one Captain Superintendent venture leave hospital soon after qualifica-bring the case before a Court, so of Police, one Deputy Superinten-able Member refers to

that he might take h's trial be-ident of Police. tion. This exodus has been very the

public fore 4

Independent Superintendents of Police and on disappointing especially to

probationer. The provision in the

1.5 they teaching staf who have worked so tribunal.

far estimates for this year is for one

for The Seconder proposes

. These. cecur.

are matters hard to train the nurses and up-

30- which ha Inspector Gereral of Police, on

which the Government must standard required: A reaching change It must be remembered that in hold the

wil hardly expect the Govern-Deputy Inspector General,

cept complete responsiblity. The 1924 the estimated population of large number of the nurses have

Divisional Superintendents of 20-

Committee does not deal with the Hong Kong was 695,500 as against married, some are in Government ment to express an opinion at a

notice. The Government lice, two Superintendents,

creation of new posts or with sa public health ment's ELS 368,341 in 1935. In 1924 the public employment

farier. These matters the Govern- probationer. It is submitted that ment is obliged by the Constitu- health organisation of the Colony nurses, others are engaged in pri wil! however give careful consider- Assistant Superintendents and one

rtion to his proposal. was considerably below that deem-vate nursing

The Mover points the anger of this increase is not disproportion- tion to refer the Legislative. ed normal, for a first class, Colony

TRAINED NURSES

Colony. It appears to be

that reproot at certain individual of-ate to the growth of the a fact such as Hong Kong then was and

cers and certain departments. He nor is the number of Commission- still is. In 1994 there was no Gov. Chinese girls like their sisters in

Ed Officers excersive for a Force of to the

In this connec- Kowloon, England prefer to reside in their mentions the Secretary ernment Hospital In

Director of Public Works. whose over 2.000 men. which had then a population of own homes or in their own quar- 140,000, The only medical assisters where there is more freedom salary is on a scale recommended tion the Honourable Member wil lance offered by Government on than is possible in an institution by the Salaries Commission, which bear in mind that times of de- pression are not necessarily times in which the work of Government the peninsula was at a smail out where routine work under strict consisted of the then Chief Jus

tie c this Colony, together with

On the contrary such patients' dispensary In Nathan discipline must be

have been decreases. two gentlemen who Road. The present Government Government trained nurses are 10 Civil Hospital, scon to be replaced good demand outside and there is members of this Council. He refers times frequently throw considerable by the Queen Mary Hospital, con-

no dificulty in finding employ- to the Librarian and Chief Clerk additional work on certain Gor-

at the Colonial Secretary's Offee ernment Departments ment. The time must come. tained two wards less than to-day.

and asks whether the one need the Police is onc. and the Trea- the number of trained The Maternity block at the Vic- when

THE PERSONNELLS toria Hospital had not been erect- nurses will be sufficient to satisfy be a sterling paid officer and the sury another.

other on a salary of £1050, in re-

The Honourable Members

the quoted figures to show that spect of the Librarian. It should be pointed out that this officer is responsible for the preparation f Government has not implemented Government publications and their its promise to retrench, particu-1936 at the time when the budget distribution. is also the storekeep-larly in the matter

of European for 1936 was under consideration. er of the office and in charge of staff. He quoted the number o

Even supposing such a course had Government the Government printing and pub-European Civil Servants in

been possible fishing sales department. He also as 975, the number given by the could not properly have taken it performs the clerical duties in Government in answer to his re- The matter was very tu ly dis

with the connection

Legislative cent question. That figure in-cussed at the time. The Govern- Council meetings. It is more than cludes, however, fifty-two

ment was in possession of exclu- Coubtful whether he could be e-pean Civil Servants on dollar sa-sive information as to the prob-find in the Unofficial Members on ciently replaced by an officer on laries. The total number of Euro-able course of exchange in the Finance Committee

À FUNDAMENTAL FALLACY The Honourable Member has de- voted a considerable, part of his speech to an attempt to prove that because 60 per cani, at the Colony's revenue is spent on what he calls *salaries" leaving only $9,500,000, I quote his words, "to cover the Witale cost of Civil Administration Including social service" and the thousand and one items of es- Seitial public expenditure" there- Jore the exising Civil Service is 100 costly for the Colony to bear. Now I venture to assert that there is a Jundamental lacy in the Hon- surable Memes dramatic con- trast --of $14,000,000 spent on alaries and nine and a half mil~ lion dollars on the whole of the civil administration including so- rial services. No such contrast in "act exists. The Honourable Mem- ber seems to imply that there is nothing to show for the large aum spent on alaries, but the salaries for the mos: part represent the east of the civil administration and of the social services to which the Honourable Member refers: Take; ed. (or example the legni departments the cost of which goes almost en- | Branch tirely in salaries-what are these but part of the cost of cvl 3d- ministration? Or take the Medical Department, the personal emolu- ments of which amount to roughly eleven

sixteer: lakhs out of

of dollars or the Education Depart- The amount of work performed ment with fourteen lakhs for per- by the Medical Department, that sonal emoluments out of just under. is. the amount of service to the nineteen lakhs. What are these community of Hong Kong, may be but two of the social services of gauged by the folloing figure show- the Colony? Does he include ing the increase in the number

Roads. -under

essential of patients treated in Government items of Public Expenditure? It has been | Hospitais; clinics and dispensaries.

asserted that under certain modern

methods of road making 25 per

cent., of the cost goes in wages.

A COMPLETE "NON SEQUITUR"

The

needs

19

maintained.

There was no Central Medical' all

15 the case tr Store. no special

Radiological England; when that happens gra- or Malaria

Bureau, no duates will be content to continue Venereal Diseases Clinic, no New their careers in hospita's. Territories dispensaries.

The folowing record shows the fant Welfare Centres and no school after history of Government train- welfare service, and the Tsan Yuk a Goverment Hospital was not institution,

Inpatients. Outpatients.

-Vaccinat.on.

no

In-

*1924 1935

€899 12,510 66,578 277,188 11,438 864 2,691 INOPPORTUNE TO QUERY

Operations. conclusion drawn by the

Honourable member from his pre-

Kong

"An

Settlements

11 Kenya

Nigeria

way

ed nurses:-. Employed by Government of whom two are in Govern- four- ment Hospitals and teen in outside e inics Married

Employed by the Society for the Protection to Chi dran Private nursing

16

17

3

a lower scale of salary.

2

THE CHIEF CLERK

2

2

Died

2

2

Training for a medical de-

gree

Nursing, outaide the Colony Physically unfit

Unaccounted for

です

In regard to the Chief Clerk.

of which

a.so

1935

Euro-

pean Civil Servants has increased from 647 in 1923 to 975 in 1935, Europeans but the proportion of

The Mover refers briefly and the seconder at some length to the failure of the Government to Ex exchange forward or the whole 01 ts sterling commitments, for

the

value

Of

But the pragmatic criticism lles not in the answers given to particular points but "in the general reaction which it evokes; and I can assure this Council that the Government will, so long at any rate as I am asso- clated with it, react to Mr. Lo's two main points: firstly, that staff must be kept at the mini- mum compatible with efficiency; secondly, that the percentage of local recruits must be kept at the maximum so compatible.

TRUSTY WATCH-DOGS Coming from the Straits Settle- ments I am already accustomed to

Whe trusty

h.s

keeping its expenditure within comparison between "the two "Far- its means. Its

Colonies expenditure Eastern

particularly happens at the moment to be cult. But if my calculation is inflated by commitments on large

near future. To use that infor-watch-dogs of the tax-payer; this mation to meet a possible. budge is an important function and none they tary difficult at, an extremely cri- the less salutary because who is the head of the Govern- on sterling salaries to "the tottical moment for the Colony's curmay occasionally be found bark- ment Clerical Staff, and to the Civil Service in 1823 was only 9.65 rency when a transaction such as ing up the wrong tree. But the European clerical staff of the Co- and it has decreased. to 9.52 im

mover of this resolution in that suggested might have precl- caused generally, 1935. The increase in the Civil pitated a crisis and have

two main points, is undoubtedly onlal Secretary's Office it will be remembered that this Service has been consonant, with detriment to others appeared to on the right scent and one that I

have been foliowing up myself.. from Colony differs

most other he increase in the growth of the

the Officer then administering the Total..... 47

Inter-Colonial comparisons are Colònies by the fact that the great Colony and the amount of work,

Government and to his advisers mises is a complete "non sequitur." It is somewhat inopportune now

A local branch of the Senio

and municipal and otherwise which

difficult. Variations in Exchange to be little short of immoral. A far better analysis of Public Ex- to query the cost, unless the Co-

rate here, and the complexities of. Clerical and Accounting Staff majority of its inhabitants

INFLATED BY COMMITMENTS penditure is to be found in a publony is prepared to forego the ser-

has been formed, but consider even of its locally recruited Civil has to be performed by the Gov-

Municipal, Rural Board, Education Servants are not British subjects. crnment. able, difficulty bas been exper-There is a certain amount of work

The Government regrets that tr The Government, Sir, is now

Board and Hosptal Board finance lication entitled

Economie vices which it has til recently been

ienced in of the Colonial Empire

engaged in the' difficult task of in the Straits Settlements make a reorulling suitable Survey

demanding. In providing these

which in other Colonies may be has again as in the case of ster. (1932)" published by His Majesty's services Government in no

candidates from outside Gor-

undertaken by locally born British ling-paid officers in 1931, found it ernment service, Stationery Office in 1934. The wishes to enter into competition

subjects, which in this Colony as necessary to impose alevy on the figures there given in respect of with private practitioners, or to

INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY

perforce to be performed by Euro- emoluments of its servants with several Colonies are as follows:-

Honourable Members are provide free what can and should

peans. The growing complexity a view to decreasing the deficit in be paid for. A recent investigation ready familar with the work per-

of modern government is inevitably the Budget. As Honourable Mem- been as to the use made of the Govern- formed by the Electrical Depart reflected in an increase of work bers are aware a b' has ment Hospitals by persons, other cent of the Public Works Depart- and responsibility in the Colonia: read a first time this afternoon in which legislative sanction 15 than Government servants. able to ment in the training and employ-Secretary's Office.

on salariés I am glad the Honourable Mem- cought for the levy afford the services of private ment of local staff, but they may

the and in introducing the Bill be unaware that University train-bers referred particularly practitioners does not support the

Attorney General has set out the complaint that the Governmented Chinese expect salaries equal proposed appointment of Medical service is merely entering in those drawn by European Omling-paid officer as official anaes-nancial position which compelled into competition with the private cers. Mr. Lo of course will point thetist. He will be interested to the Government to impose the practitioner. It is true that the to the saving on pasages. Leave learn that this appointment was levy. The Government is taxing. fees charged could be raised but in England, however, server more advocated with a view to improv-its own servants to meet what it to purposes than mere recruitmenting the facities for the teaching hopes is a temporary emergency. 9.1 the Government is anxious

avold the necessity for raising them of health. Many professional off-" of medical students' at the Univer- and it is exploring every possible being of opinion that the charges cers of this Government devote sity of Hong Kong. The, great means of economy; It is at the at present fixed are not unduly their leave of absence to bringing majority of these students are same time considering every pos- themselves up to date in their non-European, but to make them sible method of increasing the low.

replace Europeans Colony's revenue." In addition The Education Department like particular, speciality, and increase proficient to "the Medical Department has in qualifications is reflected in in- the engagement of Europeans, as is considering, 'the

developed with the times. Hon- crease in efficiency.

In this instance, is necessary. The facilities to officers to retire before The Honourable Member refers appointment in question is not the normal age limit and except Durable Members will recollect how Government was urged to to an application for the post of that of a special sterling-pald om" | where it is abolutely proceed with the new Central Assistant Government Analyst from cer as oficia anaesthetist, but of it is not appointing new officers from Canton. n Medical Officer with special éx- for whom provisions made, in British School. The Police De-e certain Chinese partment, regarding which I On the appearance of this candi-perience in the administration of the estimates or fling, vacancies.. shall speak more fully later, has date, as his qualifications were anaesthetics to a vacancy in as they occur, or renewing the had new and onerous duties prima facie satisfactory, a tele- the medical establishment for a contracts of officers on a tempor- thrust upon it, and an opium gram was immediately sent to the European medical officer, and 1tary basis. The Honourable Mem- ber asks that Government should policy, which we have adopted in Secretary of State for the Colonics was with a view to economy, com- conformity with our 'obligations requesting that the recruitment bined with efficiency that

per per per per

per

Adminis-

cent. cent, cent. cent. cent.

tration 38.00 34.4 41.4 37.0 38.1 Economic ·

$

9.7 12.0 13.7

20,7

develop-

ment Social Ber. vices... 21.8 21.5 24.5 22.17 17.8 Defence 18.9 2.8 13.3, 4.45 7.2 It will be seen that the cost of administration in Hong Kong is put at 38 per cent., as against 41.4 In the Straits Settlements, 37 per 'cent, In Kenya and 36.1 per cent.. in Nigeria. Mr. Lo will of course object that the cost of adminis tration should be computed by his method to include various other items, but this would, apply alike to the computation in respect of these other Colonies.. The Govern- | ment's case is that the cost of ad-

to

a

th

granting

t

of

necessary,

the

not engage any more persons on a

per cent of their 1936 budget and 56 per cent of their annually re- current expenditure, I should tell you also that their mounting pen- slons llabfity has been a matter of increasing concern to their Legislative Council, and that the ear-marking out of general sur-. plus of a Pensions Reserve Fund has been recently mooted..~

correct that the Straits Settle public works which cannot eca- -ments salaries bal, exclusive of nomically be curtailed and some pensions and allowances. 18 48 of its revenue producing assets are at the moment unrealizable. The sudden drop in exchange has disturbed the rqullibrium be- tween revenue and expendifure but there is no reason for panie or for aneconomic retrench ment: Our major commitments should be completed by this time next year, certain of our assets which do not appear in the bal- ance sheet should be realizable as soon as commercial prosper- Ity revives. and a cautious polier in the future should quickly re- ystore the équiBbrium, 'Mean- while the Government is oblig- ed to take unusual and I hope temporary measures, to reduc the deficit in its budget and these measures include a tem-

work 'porary "lovy on salaries and re- trenchment in stan and where this can be accomplished without

together undue. loss with anturoad into the surplus balances which have been built

1:

WILL CONSIDER WELL.......... While therefore I am not pre- pared to subscribe to the letter of this motion I have a grate- ful sympathy with its spirit, and I will say how on behalf of the Government that no vacant post on the establishment will « be filled without examining the possibility of its retrenchment and that" no amicer will be en-

·gaged · from

overseas without first examining the possiblitty. of a focal recruitment.

(Continued on Page 3)