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The expenditure in connexion with the urgent programme for the construction of tunnels, concrete pens, etc., for the protection of the civil population against air attack will be charged to Head 32, War Expenditure, B., Extraordinary Local Defence, Item 3, Civil. $4,000,000 has already been voted by the Finance Com- mittee for this purpose during the current financial year and it is estimated that a further sum of $4,000,000 will be required to complete the programme in 1941-42.
HEAD 9. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Many of the increases shown in the sub-heads of Other Charges are due to the fact that the expenditure on the Teachers' Training College, which has been completed during the current financial year, is amalgamated with other votes instead of being shown separately as in 1940-41.
SUB-HEAD 12.—Provision is made for the purchase of films and slides so that libraries may be gradually built up and thus ensure that full use be made of the visual aid apparatus now possessed by the Department and by schools.
SUB-HEAD 24.-Includes provision for transport at the Teachers' Training Col- lege and for transport of the cinema projector for visual education and propaganda work; there is also an increase in the amount required for the staff at the Head Office which has been transferred to the old Victoria Hospital building on the Peak
SUB-HEAD 26.—Provision has been made for fifteen months so that the grant
year can be adjusted to coincide with the Government financial year: payments are made annually in arrears and unless this adjustment is made payment will be de- layed three months and will involve the schools in a certain amount of difficulty.
SUB-HEADS 27 and 28.-These estimates are based on the new Subsidy Code for Vernacular Schools which has been approved by the Executive Council and forward- ed to the Secretary of State. This code makes more generous provision for an- nually recurrent subsidies towards the schools' approved expenditure on salaries of teachers and rent of school buildings. It is estimated that on an average the amount of subsidy payable under the new code will be about 60% more than the subsidy at present paid. It is also expected that there will be some further increase in the amount of subsidies paid in 1941-42 on account of (i) increased enrolment and consequently additional staff in schools already on the subsidy list (ii) a number of additional schools qualifying for inclusion in the subsidy list. It is not possible to foresee exactly what the response from schools will be, but some provision has been included in the estimates for the purpose of meeting increases under (i) and (ii) above.
SUB-HEAD 32.-The following building grants are expected to be made :- $18,000 to the Heep Yunn School (instead of in the current financial year), $19,000 to the Chinese Methodist Church School; $8,000 is provided to meet possible further applications.
SUB-HEAD 34.-Provision is included to meet grants to Maryknoll Convent School ($1,175) towards preparation of a playground, to St. Paul's Girls' School ($500), Diocesan Girls' School ($2,000) and Wah Yan College ($585) towards laboratory equipment and to all Grant Schools ($5,740) towards essential gymnastic apparatus.
SUB-HEAD 35.-This provision is made in anticipation, of applications from Sub- sidized Schools under the new Vernacular Subsidy Code.
SUB-HEAD 36.-Gymnastic apparatus is required at the two Government Girls' Schools for Chinese.
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