19
HEAD 12. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OFFICE.
SUB-HEADS 21 AND 22.-Owing to Japanese activities in South China there has been a shortage of illicit opium in the Colony during 1940 with the result that the sales of Government opium have increased very considerably. Assuming that this demand for Government opium will continue it is necessary to increase the provision (Sub-head 21) for the preparation of opium in Singapore and its transportation to Hong Kong. The stocks of opium held in Singapore on behalf of Hong Kong are, moreover, getting dangerously low because they are not being supplemented by seizures of illicit opium and because no raw opium has been purchased since 1937. Arrangements are now in hand for the purchase of more raw opium and a sum of $1,000,000 is provided for this purpose (Sub-head 22).
Special Expenditure.
SUB-HEAD 32.-Funds are provided to meet the salaries of additional temporary Revenue Officers and other expenses incurred in connexion with measures taken to prevent the smuggling of goods out of the Colony into China.
HEAD 14. KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY.
The increases of recurrent expenditure under this Head arise out of the higher cost of coal (Sub-head 6) and lubricants and oil fuel (Sub-head 14).
Special Expenditure.
SUB-HEAD 35.-In connexion with the scheme for the formation of a large Chinese Cemetery at Wo Hop Shek, near Fanling, in the New Territories, it is necessary to provide a railway siding at Hung Hom, a branch line at Fanling, booking offices and other accommodation. The estimated cost of these railway works is $191,000, of which $108,000 was provided by supplementary vote in Finance Message No. 9 of 1940-41 and the balance, $83,000, is provided in the 1941-42 Estimates under this sub-head.
HEAD 16. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
Other Charges.
In comparing the amounts provided under the various sub-heads for 1940-41 (fifteen months) and 1941-42 (twelve months) the following points should be borne. in mind :-
(a) There has been a transfer of a large number of Health Staff from the Sanitary Department (Head 26) to the Medical Department. This is reflected in Sub-heads 2, 12, 14, 18, 34, 35 and 36.
(b) The ever-increasing number of patients dealt with in the Hospitals, Dis- pensaries, Clinics and Health Centres and the increased cost of food, stores, medi- cines and instruments. These are reflected in Sub-heads 3, 6, 11, 16, 19, 22, 26, 27, 28, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 53 and 58.
Special Expenditure.
SUB-HEAD 64. To minimize the danger of the loss of valuable records in the various offices where births and deaths are registered it is proposed to store the registers in asbestos-lined cases.
SUB-HEAD 65.--This provision is made in case it is found possible to proceed with the erection of tuberculosis wards on the roof of the Queen Mary Hospital. Funds for this purpose have been deleted from Head 30, Public Works Extra- ordinary, but the matter will be reconsidered during the course of the year in the light of the financial position.
407