387
12
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3. The General Charities Organization has now been merged with the Hong Kong Benevolent Society and the votes have accordingly been combined. The smali grant in previous years to the Victoria Home and Orphanage, now defunct, is provided in 1938 for the Rural Orphanage, Taipo.
Head 30-Charge on Account of Public Debt.
A decrease is shown under this Head due to the progressive redemption of outstanding bonds.
Head 32-Public Works Department.
1. The control of the wireless services is now vested in the Postmaster General and many Sub-heads of expenditure accordingly disappear from under this Head.
2. Under City Hall Library (and Museum) an additional sum of $250 has been provided for the making of copies of the more important "finds" made during the recent excavations at Lamma and other islands. Under Electric Fans, Light and Gas, additional provision of $1,000 has been necessitated by the fact that the new lighting contract with the Electric Company does not provide for the illumination of piers. The vote for Maintenance and Supply of Furniture has been increased as provision for previous years has proved insufficient.
3. There are few changes under Personal Emoluments. One new post appears on page 97. This post in the Crown Lands and Survey Office was filled by a Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff clerk in 1936. This year the post was left vacant, and it is now proposed to fill the vacancy with a Class III (Local Section) clerk. One Class VIB clerk has been transferred from the Colonial Secretary's Office in connection with the transfer to the Public Works Department of all indents on the Crown Agents. The forthcoming retirement of Mr. L. H. King, Chief Electrical Engineer, necessitates the recruitment of an Electrical Engineer and it has been considered desirable to make the appointment before the retirement takes effect to avoid slowing-up the work of the Sub-department. One draughts- man has been replaced by a computor on a lower scale. Motor Drivers and Lorry Drivers have been amalgamated into one class and one new post has been added as the number is insufficient for the 33 motor vehicles unless considerable overtime is worked.
4. Under Special Expenditure a number of replacements has been considered essential. A Recording Voltmeter is necessary for checking the supply of current to Government buildings, and more efficient working in Government quarries will be secured by the provision of an up to date Granulator which will do the work of two existing machines.
Head 33-Public Works Recurrent,
Provision under this Head has been substantially increased this year. The heavy reductions made in the totals allotted during 1936 and 1937 have meant that upkeep and repairs could not be carried out and deterioration has resulted. It is felt that it is essential to make an effort to catch up with the arrears in 1938.
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