1938-11-11 — Page 16

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PAGE 2-HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,

·FRIDAY, "NOVEMBER 11, 1938.

MR. CHAU ADVISES AGAINST INCOME TAX

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DESIRABLE PUBLIC WORKS lony. I maintain that this policy We wish to place on record our is particularly suited to Hongkong opinion that new Infectious having regard to its proximity to. Diseases Hospital. a new Science and economie and political rela- Laboratory for the University, ations with China. new Queen's College, and "a new Volunteer Headquarters are public works which will have to be under- taken in the near future, and we would once again call attention, as we did last year, to complaints concerning, the Kowloon Mortuary,

TRADE AND TRAFFIC WITH SOUTH CHINA

WATER

the railway track, caused by the I have from time to time already typhoon of September, 1937 was taken up so much of this Council's repaired, and through communica→ time in submitting my views on tion restored. the Water question that I propose this afternoon to limit myself to nly a few words on the subject of waste and prevention of waste, and of licensed plumbers.

knowledge that the population of this Colony ebbs and flows; bat what is not so well-known is that that movement constitutes an in- visible export business, for much

It is of course impossible to find of the trade of this Colony consists out the exact figure of consump- of small purchases. In my view. tion per capita per day because the remedy does not lie in the one of the facts in calculation, restriction of immigration, but namely, that of population, is never rather in scientific town-planning exactly ascertainable. But assum- and in the economic exploitation ing that the average consumption of the New Territories.

MORE HOUSES WANTED

HIS EXCELLENCY'S ADDRESS The Senior Unofficial Member has already expressed the joint Views of the Unofficials on Your Excellency's masterly survey of the Colony's problems, on which I now respectfully venture few ob servations.

HOUSING COMMISSION'S

REPORT *.

Ano, lastly, we urge the British Government to press vigorously for

One of the most important sub- the promptest resumption of trade,

per month in respect of the period jects dealt with by Your Excellency facilities and trafic communica-

January 1, to July 21, 1833 is 498.75 was the Housing Commission's Re- tions by land and water between,

million gallons (and this figure is port. I should like to invite the The first practical remedy is to based on the answers given re- attention of this Council to para- this Colony and South China. We

encourage are confident, air. that the Hong-dwelling houses. I advocate that Council), and assuming that the dum, which shows that the charges building. especially rently to my questions In this graph 67 of Mr. Owen's Memoran- kong Government is in complete Government should open up new "population" is 1,050.000 persons now imposed by Government on sympathy with us and will actively areas for residential purposes and minus the floating population and land for development in Hongkong. support our stand in this matter.

THE HON. MR.

T. N CHAU

embark on extensive site forma- those who draw their water from in Shamshuipo, and gimilar dis- tion, thereby offering ready-made street fountains, estimated at 250.-tricts, is "about three times higher lots to Intending builders, with 000, leaving a balance of 800.000 than those on the outskirts of careful control of the type of consumers, then the consumption Londen where the price of land houses and with safeguards against per capita per day works out at is notoricusly high."

The Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau sald:-exploitation by profiteers.

Sir-In his lucid speech on the Budget for 1939, the Hon. Senior Unofficial Member has presented the united views of all the unof- ficial members of this Council. There are, however, certain mat- ters principally affecting the Chin- ese community on which I venture to express my personal views,

With regard to the list of desirable, public works, the Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo will speak on the urgent need for a new Queen's College, and I wish to say. Sir, that I heartily en- dorse his remarks.

20.78 gallons.

According τα the Public Works Department Report, the amount of water consumed from the reservoirs for July," 1938 came to 932.13 million gallons. The water consumed by metered consumers of 498.75 milion gallons therefore amounts to only 46 per cent of the total water consumed, leaving 54 per cent unaccount- ed for.

The other remedy is to ex- plore the possibilities of the New Territories. The Sino- Japanese conflict has taught us a lesson, and I do hope that in the noi distant future, there will be great development of industrial and agricultural ac- tivities in the New Territories. I note in paragraph 26 of the Hon. Financial Becretary's Memo randum on the Financial Position for 1937, 1938 and 1939," that the I do not know the quantity of supply of firewood from Govern- "tree" water consumed.. but even ment plantations has resulted in allowing, for, say, 40 million gal- great savings. On several occa-lons per month, and taking into

In the course of your compre-alons recently when there was a account the fact that the July hensive and fluminating address shortage of supply. the price of consumption may be appreciably to this Council at the opening, of firewood went up very consider-higher than the average monthly the Budget Debate, Your Excel-ably. I respectfully suggest to the consumption, the amount of water, lency proposed the appointment of Government the possibility of ex- unaccounted for ic still appalling- a committee to devise" means of tending the sale of this essential ly great. I shall be glad to be "broadening the basis of taxation commodity to the public, whenever enlightened on this aspect of the

in order to carry out Government's there is a shortage of supply, hav-matter. policies of developing the essentialing due regard, of course, to the social services.

conservation and preservation of our plantationa

Whatever new forms of lax- ation the Government may have in view, it is to be hoped that Income tax will not be one of them. Although not an expert on public finance, I have no hesitation in advising against it.

Experience elsewhere shows that it is only possible to collect income tax from permanent residents, and from professional men and others whose income is discoverable. In other words, the success of this tar will depend on the number of permanent residents; and in Hong- kong the ratio of temporary to permanent residents is, I believe, at least 6 to 4.

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PREVENTION OF WASTE

The Report shows clearly that for years house-building: has not kept pace with the in- crease in population, and some of the reasons for this lag are Indicated or implied in the Report. Numerous and

per- sistent complaints have reach ed me against the delay and difficulties of having sites put up for auction, and of having plans approved and passed: I venture to hope that insafar ;; as 'such`cause is due to over- lapping of departments, or is traceable to the administrative machinery of the Public Works Department, this question may

be looked into by my Honour- able friend, the Director of Public Works.

CROWN RENTALS Another complaint which I have often heard has reference to the high. charges for land and Crown rent, especially in view of the com- Although the water problem has paratively short term of tenure On behalf of my Chinese collea- always been with us, and although under existing Crown Leases. This gues and myself, I wish to express the problem of prevention of waste complaint would appear to be our grateful thanks to Your Ex-should always have been one of borne out by Mr. Owen's obsérva- cellency and Lady Northcote for great importance, it is a matter tion, which I have quoted abore. the great sympathy you have both of surprise that it was not until I venture to think that, apart from shown and the practical interest last year that the question of or any action on the Unes indicated you have taken in the formation ganising a special department for by Your Excellency, Government.. of the Hongkong and China Branch of the British Fund waste was seriously taken in hand. building development in approved South the detection and prevention of should do ite utmost to facilitate for Rellet af Distress in China. "

REFUGEE CAMP

I would like, however, to con-areas and, above all, that Govern- . gratulate Government on this step. ment should anticipate develop-- I feel confident that everyone in regulations that all plumbers must on pre-marked out roads, so that The requirement under the newment by laying down drainage etc.. this Colony will generously sup-nist obtain a licence from the newly built houses would not have port this worthy cause. While on Water Authority before they can to wait for months, or even years. this subject I cannot let the op-carry out any work of construc for their houses to be connected portunity pass without paying ation, alteration or repair for con- to a Government main drain. very warm tribute to the Hon. Dr-sumers is of course a valuable safe-

Selwyn-Clarke and his able staff

fi

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IMMIGRATION

As Your Excellency has pointed

remedy.

I can adduce other and strong for the valuable services they have guard against incompetent work- arguments against the adoption of rendered in connection with the manship. But I understand that income tax here, but the time is Refugee Camp at Kam Tim. I there is a certain amount of ap-out, a fundamental issue was rais- not yet. For the present, may I have visited the Camp myself and prehension on the part of the ed by the Commissioners: Report express the hope that if more know. what an enormous amount public as to how far this require-relating to the enormous reservoir money were needed, some other of work it must have involved in ment will have the effect of sub of population which exists at our form or forms of impost may be organising a camp of such

jecting the public to unreasonably por, and by the question of re- devised, and that, in any case, the magnitude.

high. In other words, monopolistiestricting immigration as a possibię Government, and whatever com- mittee that may be appointed, will tion to my Chinese colleagues and

It is a matter of great satisfac- charges. I therefore respectfully invite the Honourable the Director

MyBenior Chinese Unofficial afford the public every opportun-myself that the entire Chinese of Public Works to inform this colleague has spoken on this ques ity to express their views on this community has faced these dim-Council as to the approximate mission's. Report observes, is one tion which, as the Housing Com- matter before coming to any decl-calt times with such good sense Dumber of firms who have been which presents very serious dim- and dignity, and we assure Your licensed, or who are Hikely to pos-

culties** Excellency of our loyalty and co-sess the qualifications to be licens

́ed, and as to how far, the Water to the welfare of the Colony. operation in all matters pertaining

Authority can exercise any control over exorbitant charges.

sion.

RESTRICTING IMMIGRATION

As regards the suggestion of restricting immigration, I submilt, with great deference, that such a

scheme could not produce the de- THE HON. MR. M. K. LO KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY

sired remit except at great cost.

The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo said:---

I would very much like to con-

Having regard to the history of the Colony when it was ceded to the British Crowił, and the public Proclamations made in connection with mach....... Goession, I'am qufte clear in my own mind that restricted --kumigration, as this word" is understood - in other parts of the World, as against the Chi- nese, cannot be justified.

and that the Government should Your Excellency The Senior gratulate Major R. D. Walker, not make a departure from the Uncficial Member has alreadyManager of the Kowloon-Canton time-honoured and successful po- expressed our unanimous views on Raliway, and the very efficient licy of admitting Treely Chinese the Budget, and on the new Budret star wader him, particularly the Hongkong-a polity which procedure. It remains for me to Chinese Engineer-in-Charge, for has contributed so largely to the offer a few remarks on my own the miraculously speedy way in Excellency has in mind not such growth and prosperity of the Ca- secount

which the grave damage done to restricted immigration, but soma

into

I imagine, however, that Your