1936-10-08 — Page 7

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1936.

"TEACHING OF CHINESE IN ADEQUATE"-HON. MR. LO

(Continued from Page,6)

owners. But even If this argu- ment were sound no case hat, as I submit, been made out for the proposed increase in car licences.

I venture to think that the argu- ments of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer on the 24th June, 1938,

somewhat are

vitiated by the omission of two important itema constituting the credit side of the account.' namely, the royalties payable by the Bus Companies which, of course, are responsible for much of the wear and tear of the roads on

heavy vehicles

account of their

The total revenue contributable by what I may term Vehicle- owners," as far as I can ma cut, is as follows:--

4

Duty on motor spirit $750 000 Licences for motor cars. $232.000 Licences for motor car

$ 45,000 drivers Special licence fee for

foreign vehicles

$ 30,000 Licences for storage of

motor spirit.

$3,000

Royalty payable by:~ China Motor Bus Co..

Léd Kowloon Motor Bus Cu..

Ltd, Licences for other vehi

cles

$ 96,000

$114,500

>

Licences for drivers of

other vehicles

$40,000

$ 2,000

$1,318,500

I submit, Sir, as a master of in- cidence. a contribution by vehicle- owners in the Colony of the sum of nearly one and a quarter million dollars 1. $1.318,500 less contem-

Is plated increase, more than adequate, and I accordingly sub- increase the proposed mit that should be abandoned.

EDUCATION

"

I was interested to note from the Hon.

Colonial Treasurer's

',

to Government Secondary Schools, in which the teaching of Chinese is at best inadequate. And if the · problem for a parent in such clr- cumstances is difficult as regards his son.

the difficulty is much more accentuated in the case of his daughter, for I believe I am right. In saying that there is only one Government Secondary School for girls open to Chinese,

Or the total Education Vote of over two million dollars, the sum

over $1,800.000 of just

13 "for Personal Emoluments. But the materials provided do not enable one to work out how much # costs to

Government run "each School, and the cost per capita of the boys in each Government School. I respectfully ask for a statement on the lines indicated above. .:

Mr. Burney, at page 18 of his Report referred to the British Schools as follows:-

one

"In 1914 the Director of Edu- cation wrote:-The Government realises the justice of making the ratepayers contribute as lit- le as possible towards the cost of this special class of schools, And fees are therefore put as high as the parents can afford It is open to doubt whether that is true now; in 1933 the fees were $90... just about seventh of the gross cost per head. $90 means in sterung from about £4 10s. to about £9, ac- cording to the rate of exchange. There would not appear to be any hardship in making the parents contribute a rather higher proportion of

the total cost. and this could be done either by increasing the fees or by reducing the staff, or both."

UTTERLY. INADEQUATE Für boys whose average atten- dance in 1935 came to 230 a new school has just been opened, but at a cost of about half a million dollars, with playing grounds suf ficier for two large football fields, tennis courts, and a pavillon. Ac- the Director's Report

cording to "the

On

Is

Memorandum

Estimates for 1937 that, arising out of Mr. Bur- ney's Report on "Education in Hong Kong." the Director of Edu- cation is arranging a Class 'Z' ex- amination which will be directly fanced by the Education Depart- ment, and that the Director

his arrangements or Extending the provision af Physical Training and that, for this purpose, a num- ber of Chinese Assistant Instruc- tors are being trained by a locally engaged Instructor and Super- visor. I would like to congratulate the Director on these steps.

In answer to certain questions by my Honourable triend Mr. J. P. Braga, the Hon. the Acting Co- lonial Secretary, on the 23th Nov- ember, 1935, made the following statement in regard to Mr. Bur- ney's Report:-

"Although the Report in ques- tion has been laid on the table of this Council it is the opinion of the Government that the consideration of its detailed re- commendations should in the the Board of Education to which first place be the concern of the Report has been referred " In view of this remark I refer 7to Mr. Burney's Report with dif- Adence because, so far as I know. the Board of Education has not published any report of the result of its detalled consideration of this Report. But I share the view. which I know is held by many in the Colony, that there is some. thing wrong with the educational policy of the Cotony. A Govern- ment announcement as to its edu- cational policy would have been welcomt.

or 1935 the "total enrolment in all schools, Government or otherwise,

as follows:-

Vernacular Schools

... 58,394. 17,086.

......

In English Schools 1 cannon readily call to mind any Vernacular School which possesses recreational grounds. and the re- creational facilities for other Ens- itsa Schools are either non-exist- ent, or utterly inadequate.

Considerations, such as the above, make so much more tragic the lament of the Director in his speech a the Opening of the new Central British School, of the absence of recreational facilities for Queen's College. The Director said:-

thinking of a

NEW RATEABLE VALUK

The new rateable value for 1936 to 1937 is at the reduced figure of $34,843,760% but even this figure capitalised on the same basis, re presents an investment of nearly ave hundred million dollars. The Importance of Hong Kong property as an asset, though no doubt ge- nerally inadequately appreciated, ly obvious.

causes

The Commissioners reported that property values were very de- pressed and that it was extremely difficult to negotiate the sale of any property. Tour main for this state of azairs, were sux- gested by the Commissioners, two excessive charges of which were for water (in the case of Chinese property), and rates.

An regards Rates, which were some years ago raised from 13 per cent, to 17 per cent., in view of the present financial position of the Colony, I can only respectfully coneur in the Commissioners' ob- servation that:-

While it may not be possible. to restore the old rate of taxa- tion, we consider that ir view of the severe depression in property It should be Government's aim to bring about some reduction at the earliest possible moment " If no alleviation can at present be giver in regard to rates I sub- mit that something can. * should be, done, in regard to ex- cessive charges for wuter which, ac the Commissioners, remarked:--

"be be fairly described sun- reasonably high, and have had a serious effect in making such property unsaleable."

In the Commissioners' view-

rellef "clearly soine

here is overdue,"

PROPERTY MARKET NOT

tary.

IMPROVED

MORE THAN REPAID

I understand that the total ca- pital expenditure for the Water Works of the Colony, up to the end of 1935, came to approximately $28,600,000. But submit that da regards expenditure incurred prior than to 1927, it has been more repaid from Water Revenue ob tained. And, as far as I can make out, capital expended since 1927 is as follows:-

$ 3,500,000.00

Loan Worki Under 1927 Ordin-.. ance. ist Section Shing Mun Valley Scheme. Under 1934 Ordin- ance, Revised' Es- timated Cost Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme. . s 2,555,702.78 Shing Mun, Balance

or 1st Section and whole of 2nd Sec- tlon.

$ 9.941.877.98

$15,097,580.76

cidents' have occurred, As it can- not be very expensive to provide for a rowing boat (any on Wed- neaday and Saturday afternoons, and Sundays, during the bathing season), with a man in charge to throw in a life buoy when needed, I suggest that this question should ↑ be considered by Government. appreciate that Government gets a certain amount of revenue from the matsheds at Repulse Bay, whereas Government gets no revenue from bathers at Island Bay. But I submit such. a small expenditure would be more than amply justified if even

one life could be, saved,

The maintenance of the happy and

Cordial

relations between Hong Kong and Canton has often been referred to in this Counell It is unnecessary for me to dwell on this subject. But may 1, Sir, be permitted to say that the Co- tony learned with pleasure and ap- preciation of the warm welcome accorded to. Your Excellency and Lady Caldecott, on the occasion of your recent visit, by our hospit- able neighbour, and that nothing could be more effective than such a vishi, in view of Your Excellency's

gracious charm, in cementing the friendship aud promoting a spirit of mutual co-operation between these two places?

Government has all along stated that it has no wish to make money out of water supplied to the in-personality and Lady Caldecott's habitants, and I submit that the only fair way of computing the cost of water supplied is to ascer tain the amount payable for in- terest on the amount of the new capital outlay, the amount pay- able for the annual reduction and repayment of the loan, "and for the cost of maintenance, On this basis my figures are as fol-

lows:-

Total loan attributable to Water Works from 1937 to date-say... $16.000.000 Yearly reduction of

1/25th.

$ 840.000 Interest at 31 per cent. $560,000 P.W.R. and Salaries.

Say

$ 500.000

$1,700,000

not improved but has, on the con

That the property market has

clearly deteriorated, is shown by the Hon. the Colonial

According to the Dratt Estimates Treasurer's report on the Assess-

the revenue from Rates is comput- ments for the year 1936 to 1937.

ed at $5,600.000, representing 17 in this report it can be seen that

per cent. ct the Assessment. the rateable value in respect of

2/17ths of this is in respect of 1934 10 1935 o Just over thirty

water, amounting to $658,824; the eight and a hell million dollars

estimated revenue for water excess cropped, in respect of 1935 to 1938, to less than thirty six and a half supply and meter rents for 1937

1a. $1,775,000, making a total million dollars, and again drop- $2,433,824. (I am not clear as to ped. In respect of 1936 to 1937, to Just over thirty four million dol-whether the above revenue in- 13rs. As the Hon. the Colonial cludes payments received by Gov. eramen: for water suplied to Treasurer observed, this is the

steamers at Hong Kong). third successive, annual valuation

As any revenue for water showing a decrease and "there

cessive charge for Water on the Budget figures comes to over $700.- 000 for the current year.

has been no instance of a decrease being shown in three successive annual valuations for the last fifty years."

I do not forget the recent re- duction in the charges for excess "I am...

water consumption and the dis- stronghold of young people, sur-

counis allowed for prompt pay- rounded by a strip of green and

ment. But these measures, which enveloped in quietness, and

are gratefully appreciated, do not about all, ig, the air, essentially

go to the root of the problem a castle in the air just such a

which

is merely this, that the place as Your Excellency has to-

landlord is under the liability to day thrown open to our, British

and unas- pay an unascertained 1 ask boys and girls.

no more

for a supply and

no less. for our premier certainable amount

exercise over which he can Chinese school

effective, or any, control.

UNIVERSAL METERAGE

I beg respectfully to associate myself with the Director in his hope, and his request.

EXCESS WATER CHARGES

and

no

ASSURED SUPPLY

DI

ex-

Now that we have an assured supply from he Jubilee Reservoir I suggest that all excess, water charges be abolished and that, in led thereof, an additional 3 per cent. on the Assessments be raised As a separate "Excess Water Tax." This tax will bring in just short of one million dollars this year, and as the abolition of excess water charges will have the effect

ப

QUERIES

There're still a few other mis- cellaneous matters on which I'de- aire some information, and, for the sake of brevity, I propose to set out the items in an interroga- tite form--

On page 14 of the Hon. the Co- tontal Secretary's Memorandum there is a reference to centralisa- tion of the reception of Press mes- sages in the hands of Government. Will Government be good enough to make a statement, for the In- formation of the public, as to the extent and effect of this centra- Usation, especially in relation to owners of radio sets?

In both the new Gaol and the Queen Mary Hospital 'a highly qualiflea mechanic. having the ¦ qualifications of a University gra-

duate

in Engineering" will have

to be appointed to, take charge of the boiler installation. What is the necessity for such an elaborate boller Installation? I assume that these posts are open to graduates of the Hong Kong University, but I respectfully ask for confirmation on this point.

I understand that the Island 13 drawing a considerable supply of water from King's Jubilee Peser- voir because. In spite of the fact that Island reservoirs are full the existing flitering capacity of the Island is insumclent to cope with the demand. If this is so will Gov- ernment consider the question of increasing the filtering capacity on the Island?

I understand that the carrying capacity of the aqueduct along the King's Jubilee tunnel is only half of the capacity of tunnel, and that a pipe with a carrying capacity equal to the tunnel could replace

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of improving the property market, the aqueduct at a reasonable cost. MASTERS THE HAIR

the rateable value of property If this is so will Government con-

in Hong Kong will rise, and the adder the question of remedying amount represented by the new tax will correspondingly increase.

this defect?

In view of the mass of legisla-

It may be recalled that one of the main grounds for the intro-On the other hand, by the abolition which has got on the Statute

duction of universal meterage was, not to obtain an increase in re- venue out of a sheer necessity of life, but to prevent waste, and yet,

the Commissioners clearly showed, "the prevention of waste

од д

as

tion of excess water charges, there will be a very heavy saving in personnel and administration in the P.W.D.

I propose now to make a few observations on the question of Hong Kong property in relation to Rates and Excess Water Charges.

In the Report on the Economic

There should be no difficulty in Position of Hong Kong published

checking wastage or excessive con- In February 1935, the Commis- 13 mainly dependent upon the sumption, by water restriction if sloners pointed out that in 1934 measure of physical control ex-necessary, in particular districts, the rateable value stood at $38,- | ercised by the Water Authority "in

and the supply of water can be $41,856, and that this figure, ca- any given year, and that the fac-

conserved sectionally, or by dis- pitalised on the basis of 7 per tor of "prevention by economic tricia cent. per annum, represented an pressure is not operative under "SECONDARY EDUCATION"

investment in rateable property of our present system." and the Com- The insufficiency of the existing no less than five hundred

missioners held that "it is difficult. provision for, Primary Education fifty million dollars. After point was commented upon by the Re-ing out that the total value of the trenchment Commission.. (See shares of local companies (other charges, based paragraph 9, under the Heading, than financial institutions), listedsupply plus 'extras," "Education Department.") But I by the Stock Exchange amounted either equitable in incidence or efficacious in prevention of waste." respectfully differ from the view to approximately one hundred and

Afty million dollars (which, of The Hon. the Director of Public therein expressed, that "too much

course, consisted to an appreciable Works was kind enough to supply is done for Secondary Education."

extent of investments in property), me with certain figures in respect Mr. Burney also deplored the ex-

that the estimated total Invest- of the period 1920 to 1935. The tremely pour quality of the Prim- ary Education provided, but I do ment in Chinese factories or in figures

expenditure for show not understand from his Report Chinese industry in the Colony maintaining Water Works on the that he considers that too much amounted to about fifty million

one hand (which, comprises Pub- the total note lic Works Recurrent and Salaries has peen done for Becondary Edu- dollars, and that

Issue cation. It is true that out of the

attributable to the Water Works), amounted to about one vote for the Education Depart-hundred and sixty million dollars and, on the other hand, the net (of which a great part is held out- ment of over two million dollars, a

revenue derived for Water (which very mibstantial part is devoted to side the Colony), the Commis- comprises water excess charges Government Becondary Schools, stoners observed:

and the "water rates" (2 out of subsidies and in

These comparative for subsidised

Agures the 17 per cent. assessment). schools. And yet, to the average serve to make it abundantly From 1920 to 1935 the total ex- Chinese parent in the Colony the clear that a very large portion,penditure for the whole period problem of giving his children a

amounted to just over $3,000,000, sound. education is difficult, it not Insoluble. There are, of course, numerous excellent Secondary Schools in the Colony, but for the most part they are.run by religious bodies, and if the parent does not want his boy to be brought up in a religious atmosphere not his own, he is practically restricted

NEW PRINCIPLE

The idea of applying this new in the face of this evidence to re-principle of water charges only to gard our present system of water what may be texmed tenement

valuation' house districts' has many attrac

being

tions. But I realize that it would be dimeult to work out the amount necessary to compensate the revenue for foregoing the ex- cess water charges in these parti cular districts having regard to the difficulty of computing the amount collectable as excess water charges from the rest of the Co- Tony,

:

If not the bulk of the wealth

of the Colony, is represented by and the total revenue came to just over $23,800,000, showing a net property.

That this must be so is hardly profit obtained by Government surprising in a territory where | from Water or about $15,800,000. there is little agriculture, almost The excess of a complete absence of any trace of mineral wealth, and where industry is still only in its in- fancy.

· 1927

revenue over ex- pendture for the period 1920 to comes to $4,351,846.17, and for the period 1928 to 1935 comes to $11.473.060,24.

,

Book since 1923, will Government consider "the question of bringing out a new edition of the Bong Kong Ordinances in the near. fu- ture?

J

TRIBUTE TO HE.

The Senior Unofficial Member has already expressed our, appre- ciation of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary's speech and · of the memoranda prepared by the Hot the Colonial Treasurer and" the Hon. the Director of Pubue Works,

in my remarks I have been somewhat critical. I certainly do not wish it to be understood that I am unappreciative of the way in situation. On the contrary I wish which Government. has raced the

to say, I may be permitted to do so, how much z have admired the courage, industry, and states- manship with which Your Excel- lency has grappled with the var fous problems, culminating in the Budget, since your arrival in Hong Kong. The decision to resort to surplus balances to meet the de- ficit rather than to new taxation, have a disastrous which may effect on Industry is, as I have stated, very much appreciated. The result of the steps which Your Excellency has already taken, or has in contemplation, by way of I accordingly respectfully com-effecting permanent retrenchment, mend this proposal, to the syna-

can only of course become appar. ent with the lapse of time, brit I pathetic consideration of Govern

venture to think that what you, Bir, have already done, merits, ‘and |will receiva;" the lasting gratitude

of the community,

It may be that my proposal may not be attractive to those who in practice have no excess water charges to pay, but I sub mit that all should cheerfully ac cept the burden of the new tax If, as I am persuaded, this is the only solution of an otherwise in soluble problem.

ment.

ISLAND BAY: BEACH

The Island Bay Beach, with its undertow, is know to be extreme- ly dangerous, and many fatal ac

(Continued 'on Page 10)

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