Sessional_Paper_1932 — Page 81

77.

figures were 17,862, and 4,003 respectively. A junk is larger than a boat and pays a higher fee; on the other hand it takes just as much time to collect the fee from a boat as it does from a junk. Also the average size of the boats paying fees (which vary ac cording to the size of boat) had diminished in the period 1924-29. The conclusion that follows is that approximately the same amount of revenue has had to be collected from a greater number of vessels. That the appointment of junk inspectors is a paying- proposition is also borne out by the following statistics :-

In 1921 the Yaumati Junk Office was taken over by the Harbour Office from the Police. The revenue collected by this office rose from $3,048 in 1920 to $18,000 in 1921. On 1st August, 1923, the Shaukiwan Junk Office was taken over. The revenue rose from $16,886 in 1922 to $22,945 in 1924, (the first full year under the Harbour. Office). In 1926 Aberdeen was taken over with the result that the revenue rose from $13,671 in 1925 to $16,513 in 1926. The initial salary of an Assistant Junk Inspector is $2,000. In face of these facts Government feels that to adopt the recommendation of the Commission would only result in an equal, if not greater, falling off in the revenue. They are prepared however to meet the views of the Commissioners to the extent that the post of Assistant Chief Junk Inspector will be left vacant experimentally on a vacancy occurring. Confiscation of a junk or boat, usually the sole means of liveli- hood of the owner, for failure to pay a licence fee of a few dollars, would be regarded as excessively harsh treatment.

Paragraphs 6-9.-It has been decided that, on the retirement next year of the Government Marine Surveyor, there is to be no recruitment to fill the vacancy that will result. The question of further reductions is still under consideration. Singapore, which has recently followed the example of Hong Kong in seeking world wide recog- nition for its class IA passenger certificates, has been asked for information as to the details of the staff of its Marine Surveyor's Office and of the work done. It must however be remembered that it was at the special request of this Government that the Board of Trade sent out a representative to report on the staffing of the Government Marine Surveyor's Department, with a view to the recognition by the Board of Trade of the Hong Kong class IA passenger certificate, and that if the Government is not prepared to accept the recommendations of the Board of Trade's representative, a not unnatural result would be for the Board of Trade to withdraw its recognition from the Hong Kong certificate. That is a contingency which this Government would not be prepared

to accept.

Paragraph 10.-The Hong Kong Regulations will be published as soon as the draft has been revised to bring them into line with the recommendations and agreements reached at the Simla Conference. It would have been useless to publish them before the findings of the Conference were ready.

Paragraph 11.-In 1929 there were inspected only twenty-five non-passenger-carry- ing launches; and of these twenty-five only those built of wood were surveyed twice yearly. It would hardly be worth while to hand over to private surveyors the inspection of twenty-five launches out of a total of over 400. Government does not feel able to accept the certificates of private surveyors in respect of passenger-carrying launches.

15

Paragraph 12.-The cost of the Government Marine Surveyor's Department roughly $250,000 per annum. The estimated revenue of the department for 1932 on the present scale of fees is $78,500. If all fees were trebled there would still be an appreciable gap between revenue and expenditure. Government, however, considers that any attempt at the present juncture to make the Government Marine Surveyor's Depart ment self supporting by increased survey fees would be a grave mistake. The position will be further considered when the state of the shipping industry improves. The question of reducing the personnel is, as stated under paragraphs 6-9, still being con- sidered.

Paragraph 13. This matter has been referred to the Treasurer, who is not yet in a position to report. Detailed examination of accounts is involved and will necessarily take some time.