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HEAD 10. FIRE BRIGADE.
Other Charges.
47. It is proposed to equip and maintain a volunteer Fire Brigade of 100 men $12,000 is included to cover cost of
as a reserve for use in time of emergency.
uniforms and equipment.
Personal Emoluments.
48. Fire Brigade Telephone Clerks have been transferred from the Junior
No increase in staff is involved. Clerical Service to the general establishment.
HEAD 11. HARBOUR DEPARTMENT AND AIR SERVICES.
1.
HARBOUR DEPARTMENT.
Other Charges.
49. As it is not proposed to make any provision in 1939 for the replacement of the Government Tender Kau Sing, provision is made for expenditure on the hire of tugs for relief of Lighthouses at Gap Rock and Waglan, which was authorised for 1938 by item 7 in Finance Message No. 1 of 1938.
Special Expenditure. SUB-HEAD 26.
50. The three ton crane is necessary to facilitate the handling of heavy parts of diesel engines and stores such as heavy drums of oil.
SUB-HEADS 29, 30 AND 31.
51. These are all replacements. H.D. 4 has been condemned as unfit for further service. The general condition of the Post Office launch is poor and heavy running costs make it uneconomical to retain her in service. The Police Launch is She again requires new engines 23 years old and has already been re-engined once. but her general condition is such as to render complete replacement preferable.
Personal Emoluments.
52. Provision has been made for a spare relief crew for Post Office Launches owing to the extra work involved by the extension of hours at the General Post Office.
B.
AIR SERVICES.
Other Charges.
53. SUB-HEAD 4.-The amount provided allows for full flying by each of the Assistant Superintendents in order to enable them to retain their Pilots Licences
"B" Licences. and to be able to test candidates for commercial pilots
54. SUB-HEAD 10.—Additional marine equipment with comparatively rapid deterioration of its ropes, pontoons, etc., renders additional provision necessary,
Special Expenditure.
55. SUB-HEAD 12.--In view of the growing importance of Hong Kong as an air port it is considered essential to provide a suitable high speed launch to direct and control the landing of sea planes and to act in a police capacity in keeping the With the approval of the Finance Committee landing area clear of other craft. supplementary provision was made in 1938 for tests to be carried out in the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, to determine the most suitable design. The result of these experiments has now been received and provision for $90.000
is made to enable the launch to be built locally. $20,000 was provided in 1938 for an auxiliary control launch but on reconsideration it has been decided to sub- stitute a different type of craft from that originally contemplated the cost of which will not exceed $10,000.
56. SUB-HEAD 13. The present system of wind indication is frequently mis- leading and a centrally placed sincke wind indicator is considered necessary.
HEAD 12. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS,
57. Personal Emoluments show an apparent decrease owing to the transfer of attached officers from departmental estimates to Head 2, Colonial Secretary's Office.
58. There has been a very considerable increase in the work of this depart- ment, partly owing to abnormal conditions and partly to more permanent factors such as the exigencies of Imperial Preference and the opening of road communica- tion with China. One temporary Lady Stenographer and three additional temporary Revenue Officers have had to be engaged during the year and are now shown in estimates.
59. With the approval of the Secretary of State a revised scale of salary has been adopted for the Assistant Monopoly Analyst and for the Chief Preventive Officer, the maximum of whose salary scale has been increased by £100.
60. In accordance with the policy of raising the standard of the Chinese Revenue Staff, which was foreshadowed in the Memorandum accompanying the 1938 Estimates, provision has been made with the approval of the Secretary of State for a new grade of Special Class Revenue Officers on a superior scale of salary. Up to date only five appointments have been made to this grade and it is not proposed to make fresh appointments unless a vacancy occurs in one of the other classes or unless it is found possible to promote one of the ordinary Chinese Revenue Officers. Thus there will be no increase in authorised establishment of Chinese Revenue Staff though there will temporarily be a surplus in the lower grades. The special detec- tive allowances provided in 1938 for the first recruits under this scheme have been abolished.
81.
HEAD 13.
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.
Other Charges.
Increases under Other Charges are almost entirely directly attributable to increased running costs, the inevitable corollary of increased traffic.
Special Expenditure.
62. SUB-HEAD 34.—The line is at present very heavily taxed and, though the position has been slightly eased by cancellation of certain through passenger trains, the provision of an additional crossing station will be essential for the efficient running of trains if there is a return to normal conditions.
63. SUB-HEAD 47.-Some of the rails in Kowloon Station Yard have been worn down to dangerous limits having been on the track for over 23 years.
It is pro- posed to renew 100 lengths of rails.
64. SUB-HEAD 18.--This is the only big bridge which has no sidewalk and there have been several casualties including one in May, 1937. The provision of a sidewalk is considered essential to protect employees working on the bridge.
65. SUB-DEAD 50.-Work in the Accounts Office has increased over 200% - It is hoped that these machines will obviate the need for further clerical staff.
Personal Emoluments.
66. The new posts inserted are the estimated staff requirements necessary efficiently to work through traffic to Canton and Ilankow. Estimates are based on
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