Hongkong, Nov. 22.
Visitors to Hongkong are usually advised to take a drive round the island and not to miss a run_ by car from Kowloon to Castle Peak ud back by way of Fanling. We are justifiably proud of our roads. We have grown accustomed to the chorus of praise showered upon the Public Works Departnient for the enterprise and ability displayed in the development of the higher levels, and are glad now to draw attention to the more recent improvements in order to show the "globe-trotters" how thorough-cly up-to-date we are and to what 'a go-ahead community we have the honour to belong. A conversation does not have to proceed for many minutes before the fact is elicited that a few years ago there was not a motor car to be seen on the Island: that now there are hundreds, with a properly organized Automobile Association to look after the interests of the owners, and that in the next decade—good gracious, who can possibly estimate the numbers that will be in use? It is, of course, quite obvious to anyone that flies are not allowed to rest for any indefinite period upon us and we purr with pleasure and self-satisfaction when the admiring stranger gives us pride -of place in the Orient.
That is all very well in its way. It is pleasant to have an attractively dressed shop window towards which to direct outside attention, but, judging from the opinions expressed upon the recent Budget debate, some few of tthe residents are beginning to feel that the cult of the motorcar has gone far enough for the moment and that it is likely to prove unnecessarily expense the tax-payer and possibly a nuisance to the family man if carried much further. Motors are now to have access to the Peak and a special road is to be provided for them, whilst the tramway which was to have passed from Happy Valley over the Wongneichang Gap to Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay and, incidentally, been up many building sites en route, is to be abandoned or, at any rate delayed, on account of expense.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.