114
4
279
12234
There have
43
As will be seen from the explanatory notes at the foot of each page in the Estimates most of the additional posts and the increased allowances for special work have already received your action. These increases are urgently necessary if we are to avoid hampering the development of the Colony. You will see from the report of the debate that these are entirely approved by the unofficial members of the Council,
5.
I have to submit one small increase for your approval. Mr. E. L. Agassiz, whose appointment to be Office Assistant in the Public Works Department was approved in Colonial Office Despatch No.80 of the 21st March, 1921, has shown himself to be a hard working and efficient officer who
is qualified to perform more responsible duties than it was
originally proposed to entrust to him. I propose therefore
that as from 1st January, 1925, the title of his post should
be altered to "Secretary to the Director of Public Works" and
that commencing at £700 per annum his salary should rise by
annual increments of £25 to £900.
6.
I have referred in my address to the
remodelling of the Estimates of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. "I enclose, in explanation of what I said then, two copies of the hand book issued by the Ministry of Communications which deals with the Classification of Operating Expenses on all
Chinese railways.
In M
7.
LIN
I dwelt at some length at the end of my address on the financial position as a whole and future financial policy and I would invite reference to that passage. As I informed the Council I consider it unlikely that the deficits either for this year or for 1925 will be as large as has been assumed in framing the Estimates. Expenditure on public works, even with the largely increased staff, is not likely to reach the high total provided for, and it is
practically