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The only increases in the establishment are
an additional Assistant Public Relations Officer who was engaged on contract in the course of the current financial year and six Messengers. These are required for the issue of a Government bulletin in Chinese.
Other Charges are considerably higher by $52,160. More than half of this is accounted for by the new sub-head for rent of office. In the course of next year it is intended to move the Public Relations Office from its present quarters to more spacious accommodation in the new Electra House building. An additional $22,400 is also required for publications to cover the cost of the new Bulletin.
Expenditure at $160,988 is more than twice
that of the previous year.
Head 29. Public Works Department.
Estimate 1949-50.
Revised Estimate 1948-49. Approved Estimate 1948-49 Actual Expenditure 1947-48.
$4,349,180
3,750,000
4,248,217
2,487,870
Considerable changes appear in the estimates, but these in the majority of cases represent the reorganisation of existing staff in the department.
For example, thirteen posts of Architects have been divided into seven posts of Architects and six posts of Building Surveyors and the grade of Draughtsman has been sub-divided into Architectural, Engineering and Map Draughtsmen. In addition a number of posts have been transferred from the non-pensionable establishment to the pensionable establishment and from the temporary staff to the non-pensionable establishment. Certain deck and engine crew staff engaged on vessels used exclusively by this department are now shown and provided for instead of under the Marine Department.
One new post of Town Planning Officer has becn created in order to implement the Abercrombie Report.
The nett effect of all these changes is an increase in personal emoluments of $92,645.
Apart from an increase of $30,000 for
travelling expenses and $7,500 for fuel, light and power, all other recurrent charges are the same or less than in 1948-49. The nett increase in recurrent expenditure amounts to $8,318.
The total increase on the Head is a little
over $100,000.
Head 30. Public Works Recurrent.
Estimate 1949-50.
Revised Estimate 1948-49.
Approved Estimate 1948-49. Actual Expenditure 1947-48.
$12,632,000
7,000,000 10,779,500 6,234,522
The increase of nearly $2,000,000 in
expenditure on this head is almost exclusively accounted for by increased maintenance costs and more buildings. The period of rehabilitation is now