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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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for receiving Time Signals by Wireless! In the Attorney-General's Office the 2nd Telegraphy.
1st Grade Clerk has been promoted to Grade for the reasons set out in Appendix
II.
Under Miscellaneous Services there is: an increase of $1,000 in Coal for Offices due to increase in cost. Various small decreases occur due to higher exchange and the sum of £30 formerly given to the Department of "Chinese in London Uni- versity has been transferred to the recent- ly founded School of Oriental Studies,; London Institution. The vote for Loss on Subsidiary Coins, which stood ยา $300,000 for the current year, has been omitted for 1918 as withdrawals from circulation have now ceased. Economies have been made in Electric Fans and Light and the vote has been reduced by $1.000. The vote of $2,200 for a New Edition of General Orders has been omit ted, as under the pressure of war condi- tions it is uncertain when a new edition will be produced. The vote for Rent Allow ancer has been increased by $27,000 to provide House Allowances to the Senior Service pending the erection of quarters. A reduction of $7,000 is made in Tele- grams, due to the arrangement whereby the public are now charged for telegrams sent on their behalf. Savings of 81,600, ቢድ shown under War Expendituro Prisoners of War, while the votes for Cable and Postal Censorships have been increased for the reasons given in Ap pendix I. Under Imports and Exports Department. I have explained the need for the vote for Special Expenses of the Imports and Exports Department, The vote for Special Expenses of the Pass Office, Police Department, is intended to cover the travelling and overtime allow anges of the Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge, his salary being pro- vided under an acting appointment.
In the Supreme Court the 2nd Grade Assistant Interpreter and the 3rd Grade Clerk and Translator having both passed their 1st Grade Interpreter's examination have been promoted to 1st Grade. A reduction of $2,000 has been made in the vote for travelling expenses of watch men and the temporary engagement of extra watchmen.
In the Magistracy, a new appointment to the office of 1st Police Magistrate pro- duces a slight reduction In Personal Emoluments.
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Under District Officer an increase in Personal Emoluments arises from the appointment as District Officer of officer on a sterling salary. The votes for Transport for both districts have been increased by a total sum of $600, which is chiefly due to the increase 111 cost of Jaunch hire.
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The salary of the Assistant Crown Solicitor shows a decrease due to a new appointment, while the Duty Pay of the Official Receiver and Registrar of Trade Marks has been reduced from £150 £100, the usual duty pay attached to a Class III post.
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In the Police Department under Per sonal Emoluments provision is agai made for only 79 European Constables and a saving of 877,179 is shown. No less than 59 members of the Police Force have gone to the front, of whom I regret to say ten are reported to have been killed in action, while two Police Officers have been seconded for service under the Government of India for the duration of the war.
increase
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Since I addressed you last year the members of the Police Reserve under Deputy Superintendent Jenkin have con- tinued to perform their duties in exemplary manner. Both the discipline and morale of the Force are excellent, and I feel that the community is greatly indebted to these men for the valuable and gratuitous services that they render,
Under Other Charges an shown of 82,000 for the Clothing and Accoutrements of the Police Reserve, the Government having undertaken to supply the uniform and equipment of the Chinese Section, hitherto borne by voluntary con tributors. The votes for Coal for Barracks and Coal and Oil Fuel for Launches and Bouts have been increased by 829,825 due to the higher cost. Grants of $1,500 and $1.800 are included for the Police Reserve Band and for the Rent of Police Reserve Headquarters. Decreases of $1,000 each are shown under Ammuni. tion and Arms, while the vote for Equali sation of Exchange on Indian Police Remittances has been reduced by $6,000. Since the installation of the Police at Castle Peak, the services of eight scouts have been dispensed with and the vote in aid of the Village Scout Scheme is accordingly reduced by $480, The vote Passages and Bonuses in lieu of passages has also been reduced by $4,000. Fire Brigade the increase in the cost of Coal and Oil Fuel has necessitated increase of $1,410 in Other Charges.
In the Prison Department two addi tional temporary Indian Warders have been appointed" to replace European Warders who have proceeded on active service. Under Other Charges the vote for Incidental Expenses has been sub-
In the
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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divided and to the vote for Furniture construction of an additional steam barge. are now debited articles made by pri- The net increase under the head is $6,955. somers for the Gaol. The votes for Cloth-
Under Special Expenditure provision ing and Shoes for Staff and Clothing for
is made for Special Repairs to the Steam Prisoners have been increased owing to Barges. the higher cost of materials. A reduc- tion of $860 has, however, been made in other votes.
In the Medical Department, it has been decided to leave in abeyance for the pre- sent the post of Superintendent of the Civil Hospital, and one additional Medical Officer has therefore been includ- d. It is unlikely, however, that the post will be filled in 1918. The salaries of all Nurses and Probationers have now been transferred from the heading Hos. pitals and Asylums and placed under Staff. In Other Charges, Staff, provision is made for the Rent of a new Dispensary for the Medical Officer, Kowloon.
In the Botanical and Forestry Depart- ment a sum of $1,000 has been provided for Improvements to Fanling Golf Course. This is for the purpose of top-dressing the fairways and improving the turf. The good effect of this policy is already apparent. The work of planting the hills in the neighbourhood of the Golf Course has made good progress during the past
year.
of Education it will be noticed that six Under the Department of the Director Student Teachers are inserted.
It is intended to send three Student Teachers to the University each year; three have Owing to the employment of Japanese already entered and three more will enter next session. They will pass through the nurses the Interpreter formerly employed regular course at the University and at in interpreting for Japanese patients the same time receive training as teachers no longer required. One Chinese, Ward- from the Normal Master. It is hoped master has been added to the Lunatic thereby to improve considerably the teach- Asylum owing to the absence of Europeaning of English by Chinese Masters. Wardmasters on active service. A net Votes for their Fees and Maintenance at herease of $8,050 is included in Other the University appear under Other Charges, Hospitals and Asylum, to meet Charges. In Queen's College one Assist- the increased cost of commodities. New
ant Mistress has been appointed to re place an Assistant Master, while two other fadies are at present employed in place of a master on active service, and are being paid out of lapsing salaries. Two Chinese Masters have been appointed to Kowloon British School and Victoria British School for the reasons shown in Appendix III. In Victoria British Schoul provision is made for one Assist aut Mistress in place of one 3rd Grade Assistant Mistress. Under Other Charges small increases are shown under Kowloon British School and Victoria British School for University Examination Fees, as these schools now present pupils for the Entrance Examinations for the Hong- kong University The Capitation Grants and University Examination Grants have been increased owing to an increase in the number of pupils at the various Schools. The scheme of subsidies to schools in the New Territories having proved successful, the vote has been increased by 8000.
votes of 8750 and $1,550 are inserted for the Upkeep of the Dental Clinic, and for the Ventilation of the Operating Theatre. The vote for the Upkeep of the X Ray Apparatus has also been increased by $260. An increase of $180 is inserted for the Rent of New Quarters and Dispensary for the Medical Officer, New Territories. The vote for Coal for the launch of the Health Officer of the Port has been in creased by $1.100 to meet the rise in price. Small increases appear in Other Charges for Institutes and for the Government Laboratory, due to the general rise in the enst of commodities.
In the Sanitary Department a new ap pointment to the post of Secretary causes a slight reduction in Personal Emolu; ments, Half salary is again provided for the Assistant Medical Officer of Health as the post will not be filled in 1918. The establishment of the Sanitary In- Spectors, at a salary of £165 rising to C225 by £15 biennially has now been com- pleted by two new appointments. Pro- ision for twelve only was made last year. Additions made to the Sanitary Staff owing to the increase in the duties to be performed are shown in Appendix
III.
Under Other Charges it has been neces ary to raise the amount provided for Coal owing to the increase in cost and the
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With a view to carrying out the recom niendations of the recent, Committee on the Teaching of English in the Hongkong Schools a vote of $1,350 is inserted under Special Expenditure in order to improve the equipment of the District Schools.
Under Military Expenditure the con tribution to the Imperial Government is estimated to amount to $2,721,412.
De-