corruption measures, courtesy to the public, and general efficiency were discussed.
135. Mr. David McLean NICOLL, B.L. (Edin.), a Scottish Solicitor, joined the Department as Legal Assistant on 20th June 1961. Mr. C. M. STEVENS, Senior Legal Assistant, was on leave from 6th May to 2nd November 1961, during which period Mr. J. A. H. TILLEY acted in his place. Mr. Ho Ka-chun, who had been chief clerk of the Companies Registry since its re-opening after the war retired on 29th October 1961 after 37 years and 9 months service with Government. Mr. Ho, who at his retirement headed the list of Special Class clerks, received as a parting gift from his colleagues a handsome portable typewriter.
136. During the year Mr. WONG Sik-ham, G.C.S. Class I, was appointed as Assistant Registrar Class II on trial. This is the second time a G.C.S. clerk has been appointed to act as an Assistant Registrar Class II, and the fact that clerks have prospects of promotion to Assistant Registrars has had a good effect on the morale of the Department.
Photostat Section
137. The Department has a Photostat Section equipped with a Photostat machine Model 4 Type P, capable of copying plans, docu- ments, registers, etc., up to four feet by three feet in size, and a Verifax copier capable of taking up to six foolscap copies from one matrix. During the year 4,765 photostat and 3,472 Verifax copies of documents, etc., were made, the latter requiring 4,804 matrices and 12,992 sheets of copying paper. Most of the copies were made for the use of the Department and other Government Departments, but the substantial sum of $16,721.30 was collected in respect of copies of public records supplied to the public. These fees are included in the figures for the fees of the branches supplying the copies.
Revenue
138. Table XXXVII gives details of the total revenue of the Depart- ment for 1916-62 amounting to $3,566,719, $743,000 over the original Estimate. The total expenditure was $1,974,000 as against the approved Estimate of $2,111,000, but of course the cost of running the Depart- ment was much higher than that when the cost of pensions, passages, etc. and of accommodation and air-conditioning in Government build- ings, is taken into account. The figures for revenue and expenditure exceed the previous year's figures by $599,000 and $245,000 respectively.
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