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Head 82-Subventions: Education
There were no noteworthy excesses either under the 'Annually recurrent' or under the 'Special expenditure' classification, however there were a number of substantial savings. Under ‘Annually recurrent-Primary and Special Education', these were $854,617 (36.4%) in the case of 'English Schools Foundation' because although provision was made in the estimates for 17 classes at the two new junior English schools by September 1975 only 9 classes had actually opened by that time leading to a reduction in the expenditure required and $1,928,611 (20.8%) in the case of 'Special schools (Subsidy Code)' also due to the fact that fewer additional classes than anticipated opened in September 1975. Under ‘Annually recurrent-Secondary education' the main savings were $20,270,887 (13.5%) on ‘Grammar and technical schools (Code of Aid for Secondary Schools)' principally because fewer additional classes than anticipated were opened during the year and fewer teachers than anticipated were eligible to fill vacancies and $1,236,178 (10.4%) on 'Pre-vocational and secondary modern schools (Code of Aid for Secondary Schools)' because fewer additional classes than anticipated were opened during the year. Under 'Special expenditure-Primary and Special Education' there was one substantial saving of $1,761,579 (80.7%) on 'Special schools (Subsidy Code)' mainly because of deferment of one building project, the Canossian School for the Blind, and delay in a number of smaller projects involving furniture and equipment grants. Under 'Special expenditure-Secondary education' there were major savings of $4,470,880 (12.8%) on 'Grammar and technical Schools (Code of Aid for Secondary Schools)' because of delays in the commencement and completion of certain projects and difficulties in connection with land grants and refinancing, $3,070,890 (37.7%) on 'Pre-vocational and secondary modern schools (Code of Aid for Secondary Schools)' where there was reduced expenditure due to delay in the commencement of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association Pre- vocational School project and $18,476,646 (90.6%) on 'Private asymmetrical schools' due to delay or deferment of 15 of the 16 asymmetrical schools provided for under this subhead.
Head 83-Subventions: Medical
There were no significant excesses under this Head but among the subheads providing for annually recurrent subventions there were three which were significantly underspent. These were: $428,396 (11.2%) under 'Hong Kong Buddist Hospital' and $4,710,828 (21%) under 'United Christian Hospital' because the original estimates were provisional, pending finalisation of the budgets of the bodies concerned, and the savings reflected a reduced requirement to meet expenses and the approved salary award, with, in the case of the United Christian Hospital, a further reduction due to a 1974/75 surplus and staff vacancies and $9,379,687 (10.6%) under ‘Tung Wah Group of Hospitals' because the subvention was reduced by the amount of the Hospitals' 1974/75 surplus and because of staff vacancies. Among the subheads providing for 'Special expenditure' almost all were underspent, in some cases by significant amounts, notably the following: $1,393,074 (47.9%) under 'Centenary Block, Tung Wah Hospital', $617,390 (93.5%) under 'Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association', $253,000 (the whole provision) under 'Nam Long Cancer Hospital extension', and $2,502,658 (81.5%) under 'United Christian Hospital' because progress on these works was slower than anticipated and it was not possible to settle outstanding amounts due to the contractors before the end of the year.
Head 86-Transport Department
The only notable variation from the estimates was a saving of $2,149,792 (97.7%) under the subhead 'Parking meters' partly because of delay in delivery of some meters ordered from overseas and partly because those meters which had been delivered were still being checked and could not be paid for by the end of the year.
Head 88—Universities and Polytechnic
Significant excesses occurred under two subheads in the 'Special expenditure' category. The larger, $7,991,000 (13.8%), occurred under 'Non-recurrent grant: Polytechnic main building programme (1974/75 to 1977/78)' because construction work on the programme progressed faster than anticipated during the year and the other, $4,710,461 (210.3%), under 'Non-recurrent grant: Universities main building programme (1974/75 to 1977/78)' due to the reinstatement of a number of deferred projects, including in the case of the Hong Kong University Day Facilities Centre and Students Hostel and in the case of the Chinese University alterations to Chung Chi Buildings. The whole amount of $702,000 provided under the subhead for 'Non-recurrent grant: Chinese University external works' remained unspent because for reasons of financial stringency and in order to close the accounts for external works it was decided not to release further funds for the extension of these projects during the year. The whole amount of $292,000 provided under the subhead for 'Non-recurrent grant: Universities main building programme (1968/69 to 1972/73)' also remained unspent because the allotment of further funds was deferred pending the submission of final statements of expenditure relating to the various capital projects covered by the programme. There was a substantial saving of $569,786 (78.7%) under 'Non-recurrent grant: Universities senior staff housing programme (1972/73 to 1975/76)' because progress on the programme was slower than anticipated.
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