Sir,
Gentlemen,
closure No.2.
72
I rise to propose the motion standing in my name. On 16th January, 1941, by a Resolution of this Council the draft estimates of expenditure for 1941-42 were referred to a Select Committee consisting of myself, the Financial Secretary and all unofficial members of this Council. We now present our report in the form of the amended print
bearing today's date.
As foreshadowed in the speech of the Honourable Financial Secretary on 16th January the provision for the
construction of a new Lighthouse Tender has been excised.
It has also been decided not to proceed during the coming
financial year with the building of the proposed new block of
offices and quarters at the Central Police Station, though a
token vote of $50,000 remains in the draft estimates to cover
any expenditure that may have been incurred in the preparatory
work of drawing up plans, etc. Similarly the Select Committee
felt that the times are not sufficiently propitious and the
plans not sufficiently matured to permit the building of the proposed new Infectious Diseases Hospital at the Kowloon Medical Centre. The Budget Committee realises that this hospital is
recommended in the Technical Hospitalization Committee's report,
1938-1939, as the first major item in a long-term programme
but it feels that, apart from difficulties of providing the necessary building materials, this is not the time or place to embark immediately on this hospital. The sum of $100,000 has
coming year to make a
equipment of this
however been provided which is larger than the usual "token
vote" in case it may be possible in the
start. The provision of funds for the hospital has been omitted as it is felt that, apart from the uncertainty which surrounds the hospital itself, there are at least hopes of considerable emergency stores being available