166
The new posts of Senior Assistant Forestry Officer (Research) and Laboratory Technician are provided for silvicultural research. One additional Assistant Agricultural Officer is included for the animal husbandry research unit which will then have two such officers engaged on pig and poultry research work respectively. Of the eight additional Agricultural Supervisors Class II, five are for extension and educational activities and to take charge of new agricultural stations, and three are for pig and poultry research and the artificial insemination unit of the pig breeding scheme. Owing to a general expansion in forestry activities, one additional Senior Forestry Supervisor is included to manage the Forestry Lots Scheme, and the establishment of Forestry Supervisors Class II is increased by four posts to provide technical assistance to the Supervisors in charge of forestry districts. One additional post of Assistant Fisheries Officer was approved by Special Warrant during 1958 to replace one post of Fisheries Supervisor Class II for pearl culture control work. A new post of Draughtsman Class III is included to assist the Craft Technician on improved design of local types of fishing vessels. The three additional posts of Overseers will enable the livestock quarantine staff to operate on a 24 hours shift duty system. The large increase in Caretakers provides for minimum security for all agricultural and forestry stations and district offices. Included in the increase of 52 Farm Labourers Class II are fourteen Sanitary Coolies transferred from the New Territories Administration for compost production, labourers for new agricultural stations at Lamma Island, Chek Keng and Tung Chung, and additional staff for the maintenance of an increased number of Government grounds and gardens in the New Territories. The increase in permanent Forest Labourers is offset by a reduction in casual labourers provided for under the Afforestation Subhead. One supernumerary Agricultural Super- visor Class II is included to relieve a Supervisor of the Animal Industry Division who will undergo training in livestock supervision.
Under Other Charges Annually Recurrent, increases in the Afforestation, Forestry Lots and the Maintenance of Forest Areas Subheads are for an expanded planting programme. Increased pig pro- duction under the livestock improvement scheme has necessitated an increase in the provision for feed for livestock. Increased provision for the maintenance of agricultural stations and Government grounds in the New Territories is necessary to meet additional commitments. Increased provision for plant pest control measures is for insecticide spraying from aircraft. The programme for the training of young farmers has been planned for double the previous number of trainees and provision is made accordingly. The increase in travelling expenses results from increased activities requiring more travelling by staff on duty.
Under Special Expenditure, provision is included for the purchase of aerial spraying equip- ment for plant pest control work ($20,000); to complete the afforestation of the Hung Shui Hang and Lo Fu Hang catchment areas ($38,600); for the establishment of new agricultural stations on Lamma Island, at Chek Keng on the Sai Kung peninsula and at Tung Chung on Lantau Island to provide better supervision of extension, disease control and agricultural development work in these districts; for agronomical experiments and fertilizer trials on different soil types over a period of 6 years at $15,000 a year for rent of experimental plots, labour and fertilizer; to continue with the construction of forest roads to open up to afforestation and to facilitate fire control of the more remote and inaccessible areas ($100,000); to finalize the supply of electricity to outstations and outposts started three years ago ($15,000); to purchase experi- mental fishing gear ($5,000); for the purchase of additional motor transport of one lorry, three Land Rovers and ten motor cycles, and replacements ($101,000); to establish a new pearl culture control station for work in connexion with the Pearl Culture (Control) Ordinance, 1958 ($50,000); to replace worn photo- graphic equipment ($5,000); for more boar centres and for an artificial insemination laboratory for the Pig Breeding Scheme ($30,000); for the purchase of a spectrophotometer and a theodolite for soils survey and land utilization work ($20,000); to continue with the Soils Survey ($30,000); and for additional staff quarters at various stations ($60,000).
HEAD 3 AUDIT DEPARTMENT
Estimate 1959/60
Revised estimate 1958/59
Approved estimate 1958/59
Actual expenditure 1957/58
Permanent staff
Supernumerary staff
Net increase
$856,200
767,000
792,200
693,449
1958/59 1959/60
Difference
70
75
+ 5
1
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