2
431
during the coming financial year.
Under Charitable Services
provision has been made for a grant of $10,000 to the British Fund for the Relief of Distress in China and under Miscellaneous Services, in response to pressing representations from the University Authorities, the annual grant to the University of Hong Kong has been increased by the sum of 100,000. The Select
Committee also brought under review the matter of the institution, at a cost of over four lakhs, of a system of nightsoil removal by
labour directly employed by the Sanitary Department. As it is
impossible, in present circumstances, to proceed with the complete
scheme as recommended by the Health Authorities considerable
doubt was expressed as to whether the benefits to be gained by the substitution of coolies employed by Government for the existing free-lance coolics would be commensurate with the expenditure
involved: it was decided, however, that the provision for the
emoluments of the 2,000 coolies should be allowed to stand in
the draft estimates on the understanding that no actual expenditure
will be incurred without the specific approval of the Finance
Committee after further consideration of the whole matter.
There was insufficient time, when this item came for consideration,
to reach a final decision on this important question and the
Finance Committee desires an early opportunity of a full discussion
with the Health Authorities, upon which will depend the question
of authorizing actual expenditure.
The following are the items which have been added:-
Head 5, Charitable Services.
Sub-head 23, Grant to British Fund for
the Relief of Distress in China
p10,000
Head 17, Miscellaneous Services.
Sub-head 24, University of Hong Kong. (Increased from $355,000 to $455,000)
.$100,000
$110,000