% under agement and un- ruitment
r supple- 5, against
% under year and ormation ›r 71.9%
ys in the payment % under
: amount
stimates. 2,319,000 he largest
16,886 or uccessful ers result-
'Pay and se refugee 3% under
or 23.9% a number
$604,000.
⚫luments'. rent sub- $961,622
(11.1%) respectively because of under provision in the amounts voted and the recurrent subhead 'Scholarships, bursaries and maintenance grants' showed a saving of $708,255 (16.6%) mainly due to the fact that there was no first year intake of the Inducement Grant student in the Hong Kong Technical Teachers' College in Septem- ber 1975.
Head 37-Fire Services Department
The 'Stores and equipment' subhead recorded a saving of $667,843 (15.4%) due to delays in the delivery of fire fighting equipment that had been ordered and "Transport and travelling' also recorded a saving of $290,922 or 14.5% because of economies effected in travelling expenses and fuel consumption and delays in the delivery of vehicle spare parts. There was excess expenditure of $1,424,858 (44.9%) under 'Pump escapes/rescue escapes' because of unforeseen price increases and because of delay in delivery of three appliances which were received and paid for during the year instead of in 1974/75 as previously anticipated; and $820,261 (158%) under 'Turn- table ladders' because a deposit payment scheduled to be made in 1974/75 was postponed until this year.
Head 38-Government Supplies Department
The subhead 'Unallocated stores' recorded issues as being greater than purchases by approximately $18.4 million compared with the net expenditure of $2 million estimated, which envisaged that purchase, freight and other charges would amount to $100 million and be offset by issues of $98 million. In the event only about $73.5 million was spent on purchases and the decrease was mainly due to the following factors: reduced demand by some user departments particularly expensive Waterworks items which were over-ordered in previous years and required no replenishment; very large project items required by Waterworks office were ordered under allocated stores contracts; more staggered deliveries particularly for time drugs and high value items; reduced purchase prices of pharmaceutical items which dropped in price as compared with the previous year; many items ordered from the United Kingdom or paid for in sterling became cheaper; more direct orders were placed with manufacturers overseas, thus reducing agency charges; and the introduction of tighter and more effective controls over purchases. Considering the value of purchases made, issues at some $92 million (instead of the $98 million originally estimated) were relatively high due to departments being encouraged to make more use of standard stocks available under the unallocated stores range. The only other significant variations under this Head were savings of $1,090,921 (31.2%) under 'Furniture and equipment for Government offices, buildings and quarters' because of the stringent controls introduced and the co-operation of departments in cutting down requirements and $389,421 (26%) under ‘Maintenance' because outside repair costs were slightly decreased as compared with the preceding year, strict economy was exercised as regards departmental requests, school furni- ture repairs decreased with a reduction in the number of Government Primary schools, some repairs were carried out by Prisons Department and the requirement for maintenance was reduced following the removal of certain punch card equipment.
Head 39-Home Affairs Department
One subhead 'City District Office services' showed a substantial saving of $555,875 or 28.2% because strict economy was exercised and expenditure on some projects which would otherwise have been charged to this subhead was met from public donations and because staff efforts were diverted to other important issues resulting in reduced expenditure.
Head 40 Housing Department
Two of the subheads recorded significant savings: in the case of 'Management of estates and cottage areas' where the amount underspent was $11,351,250 or 21.3%, difficulties in obtaining additional staff for the maintenance section led to a reduction in maintenance expenditure and in the case of 'Development of Class I, II and III areas', there was a saving of $5,293,140 or 35.3% primarily as a result of the temporary postponement of certain schemes, partly because of staffing and recruitment difficulties. There were two major excesses: $1,870,457 or 187% under 'Compensation' because the amount required for this purpose was under-estimated; and $5,230,000 or 19.2% under 'Payment of rates for Group B estates' because of the increased percentage charges which came into effect from 1st April, 1975. One new subhead with supplementary provision of $1,114,000 was approved and this amount was fully spent during the year.
Head 41-Immigration Department
There was only one noteworthy variation from the printed estimates, namely a saving of $749,607 (52.8%) under 'Stores and equipment' because payment, for passports received during the year, was not effected due to the late submission of the bill.
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