317
The overall reduction under Other Charges Annually Recurrent for 1969-70 is due mainly to reduced provision which has been found possible for the maintenance of furniture (reduced by $50,000) and transport of stores (reduced by $20,000). These reductions arise partly through the exercise of more stringent control and an improved use of existing facilities. Although the activities of the department will be greatly expanded when the responsibility for all Marine Department allocated stores (23,000 items estimated at $5 million in value) is accepted early in the year, increased provision for various Other Charges items is minimal and is restricted mainly to increased administration costs almost wholly attributable to the expansion of activities.
Under Special Expenditure, provision is made to cover the supply of additional requirements of furniture and office equipment for existing premises and for new buildings costing up to $150,000; for new buildings costing more than $150,000, provision is included in the appropriate Public Works Non- recurrent subhead. The item Storage Equipment covers the requirements of all departments.
Annually Recurrent Special Expenditure
Total
HEAD 73- SUBVENTIONS: MEDICAL
Actual
Approved
Revised
Estimate
expenditure
estimate
estimate
1969-70
1967-68
1968-69
1968-69
$
$
$
$
45,799,721
52,245,800
51,497,000
58,562,500
541,590
2,363,000
1,292,000
3,523,100
46,341,311
54,608,800
52,789,000
62,085,600
Total recurrent subventions increased by $7,065,500 over the revised estimate and by $6,316,700 over the approved expenditure for 1968-69.
The subheads which account for the bulk of the increase over the approved estimates for the previous year are shown below, together with brief explanations for the increase.
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital—
$781,400, salary increases for all staff and revision of salary scales for certain grades.
Caritas Medical Centre-
$400,000, increase in ceiling of bed-cost due to revision of staff salaries and higher cost of medical supplies.
Family Planning Association of Hong Kong—
$240,000, revision of salary scales.
Grantham Hospital
$289,300, higher patient-day rates mainly as a result of revision of salary scales and high cost of maintaining cardiac beds.
Haven of Hope Tuberculosis Sanatorium—
$200,000, increase in the number of Government subvented beds from 220 to 270.
Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society—
$218,000, subvention of the Society's Nam Long Hospital is on a two-thirds cost basis and the operation costs have increased, previous costs being based on an arbitrary figure which was chosen until the actual costs became known.
Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association—
$228,600, revision of salary scales and increase in cost of operations.
Hong Kong Red Cross, Blood Bank and John F. Kennedy Centre-
$222,600, now shown under composite subhead, Hong Kong Red Cross; revision of salary scales and expansion of activities.
Leprosy Mission, Hong Kong Auxiliary—
$45,000, increase in salaries.
Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital-
$80,500, increase in costs as the Hospital's new wing becomes fully operational.
Pok Oi Hospital-
$44,000, slight increase in staff salaries.
Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts—
$1,265,800, expansion programme designed to meet increased number of addicts from 220 to 500 is well under way, also increase in staff salaries.
Society for the Relief of Disabled Children—
$260,000, increase in staff strength as new facilities become fully operational.
The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation—
$100,000, increase in staff salaries.
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