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District Hospitals. For explanation of 5 items of expenditure under this head, see remarks on "Nurses, Doctors, Attendants, Coolies and Cooks for District Hos- pitals." The estimated rent includes $30 a month Rent Allowance for 4 months for the 8 doctors. The estimate for food as well as medicine has been provided as it is probable that most of the patients will have to be provided with food.
Observation Blocks, Rent. Plague Corpses, Cost of Burial.-The former votes under these two heads are found insufficient.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS.
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Crown Land and Surveys, Clerk, $360 to $480 by $60 biennially. This clerkship was formerly paid at the rate of $180 rising to $600. The last holder of the post at this rate was transferred to be a clerk under the Superintendent of Ac- counts, Correspondence and Stores at the same rate of salary; while the holder of that post was similarly transferred to the vacant clerkship under Crown Land and Surveys at his own former rate of salary-$360 to $480. The increase of expendi- ture in respect of the one clerkship is, therefore, exactly balanced by the decrease in respect of the other.
Accounts, Correspondence and Stures.—Clerk, $480 to 8600 by $60 bienuially. vide the above note.
Clerk, $480 to $600 by $60 biennially.-This clerkship was formerly paid at $360 to $480. (See Estimates for 1903.) On the resignation of the holder of the post in 1902 it was found impossible to secure a suitable successor at a smaller salary than $480 to $600, which was accordingly provisionally sanctioned, though it was too late to make the necessary alteration in the Estimates for 1903. The pre- sent holder of the post was appointed on October 3rd, 1902. He will be entitled to draw his first increment from October 4th, 1904.
Miscellaneous.—Office Coolie, at $90 per annum. This Coolie has been trans- ferred from Survey to Office work, As Survey Coolie he drew $84 per annum. The increase of his pay by 50 cents per annum was sanctioned in May, 1903. He is an addition to the establishment to meet increase of work and is necessary.
PUBLIC WORKS ANNUALLY RECURRENT.
Maintenance of Public Cemetery.-Owing to considerable extensions in the Cemetery this vote would have had to be increased to $4,000 had not the sum of $800 been transferred to the Botanical and Afforestation Department for the garden- ing and general care of the Cemetery.
Maintenance of Light-houses. -In this year's Estimates an extra $500 was pro- vided for Maintenance of Waglan Light-house. The buildings there are considerable and the addition has been found insufficient. This vote has, moreover, been under- estimated in the past.
Maintenance of Public Recreation Grounds,—The Queen's Recreation Ground has caused a considerable increase in the area to be maintained. The Happy Valley Recreation Ground also requires more attention than formerly owing to greater wear and tear.
Maintenance of Water Work-City and Hill District.--The increase of $10,000 is to provide for pumping of water from Tytam-tuk into the Tytam Con- duit pending construction of storage reservoir at Tytam-tuk.
Water Works, Miscellaneous.--The increase of $4,000 is to provide for minor additions and extensions in Hongkong and Kowloon.
PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.
Bacteriological Institute.-The estimated cost stated in the Estimates for 1902 was $30,000. That was merely an approximate estimate before plans were made.
The estimated cost is now ascertained to be $40,000. Plans of the proposed building are attached.