SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
54. On 1st April 1973, the approved establishment of the public service was 97,042 permanent posts and 7,854 supernumerary posts. This represented an increase of 6.54 percent over the approved per- manent and supernumerary establishment on 1st April 1972. There were an additional 4,599 supernumerary posts held against an equal number of permanent posts.
55. If the draft Estimates for 1974-75 are approved, on 1st April 1974 the approved establishment will be 105,383 permanent posts and 7,435 supernumerary posts. This represents a 7.55 percent increase in the total net establishment (permanent and supernumerary). There will be an additional 4,343 supernumerary posts held against permanent posts. The percentage increases in the total net establishment since 1962-63 are shown in Table II.
56. If the draft Estimates are approved, the departments with the largest establishments will be:
Total Establishment
Royal Hong Kong Police Force
19,144
Urban Services Department (including New Territories
Region)
Public Works Department
Medical and Health Department
Housing Department
...
Education Department
Fire Services Department
...
...
...
18,634
16,025
...
13,786
...
...
7,106
...
...
...
...
6,861
3,940
Total
85,496
The total of 85,496 posts for these departments is 75.78% of the public service. Table III shows the distribution of the total establishment of the public service for 1974-75.
COST OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
57. The estimated total expenditure on personal emoluments, excluding pensions, for 1973-74 was $1,370,739,000. We understand that the revised estimate is $1,538,996,000. Of the increase of roughly $168 millions, some $35 millions are the result of increases in establish- ments during the year, the balance being for salary revisions.
58. The estimated expenditure on personal emoluments for 1974- 75 is $1,676,204,000, but the notional cost of the total establishment of
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