Revised Estimate 1948-
49
240,000
Head 21. Medical
Approved Estimate 1948-
Department
: 49
262,029
Actual Expenditure 1947-
48
Estimate 1949-50.
136,888
institutions.
mostly offset
the 26
24
The total expenditure on the Head shows a reduction of $3,- 173,313, $12,601,935
by the transfer of $2,625,000 to the Sub- $2,625,000 under Subventions. Revised Estimate
ventions Head.
The opportunity has been taken to bring the title of this depart 1948-49.
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
1047-48.
ment into line with other depart-Approved Estimate ments and it has been altered from Labour Office to Labour De partment. There has been one the establishment, namely, a Woman Labour Inspec-
increase in
tor.
Minor changes under Other Charges cancel each other out and the provision is the same as in 1948-49. Expenditure on the Head has risen by $24,306.
Head 18. Legal
Department
Estimates 1949-50 Revised Estimate 1948-
$370,874
49 Approved Estimate 1948-
49 Actual expenditure 1947-
48
Head 19.
In the course
$13,000,000
15,775,248
7,023,423
of the year, a
and
review of the staff requirements for-permanent institutions under the control of the Medical De- partment was carried out with the result that a number of posts under tem- previously shown porary staff have been trans- ferred to the pensionable non-pensionable establishments. The provision for temporary staff has accordingly been reduced from $806,508 to $272,717. 560,000
The Salaries Commission re- commended the creation of a 548,140 greater number of specialist posts and provision is made for a 308,814 Merlical Specialist, Gynaecologi-
cal and Magistracies
Obstetrical Specialist, Senior Port Health Officer, Senior Dental Surgeon and Senior Radiologist. These new posts re- present no increase in the estab- lishment as a corresponding re- duction has been made in Medical and Health Officers, Dental Surgeons and Radiolo- gists. One new specialist post has been created, a Tuberculosis Specialist and one new post of Medical Officer for Industrial closely related to Health, whose activities will be the work of the Labour Department.
Estimate 1949-50
Revised Estimate
1948-49.
Approved Estimate
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
$242,881
220,000
215,647
156,148
new
For ease of reference both the Hong Kong and Kowloon Magis- tracies are shown under a Head of expenditure. Only minor changes have occurred in the temporary staff and in both sub- departments expenditure in the coming year is only slightly higher than in 1948-49.
Head 20. Marine
Department
Estimate 1949-50.
Revised Estimate
1948-49.
Approved Estimate
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
$4,802,137
3,700,000
4,622,802
3,368,156
he
Further expansion in mass radiographic work requires an increase of four Radiographic Assistants. There is also an in- crease of four posts of Labora- tory Assistants and six Health Inspectors have been regraded as Senior Health Inspectors. On the other hand two posts Women Interpreters and Assis- tants have been abolished two Disinfecting Station
of
and En- with thirteen Cleansing Chargemen and 168 Cleansing Coolies have been transferred to the Sanitary De- partment.
Head 22. Miscellaneous
Services
Estimate 1949-50.
Revised Estimate
1948-49.
Approved Estimate
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
$37,832,100
59,400,000
29,766,560
60,763,921 as sub- removed
All items classified ventions have been from this Head in accordance with a request made in last year's Budget Debate, but ex- penditure has increased by $8,- 065,540. The chief item in this increase is an additional $5,500,-. 000 for the new cost of living allowances which were intro- duced on January 1, 1949. In
addition non-recurrent items to-
talling $3,550,000 are included. Of this sum $2,400,000 is re- quired to meet various charges and claims rising out of the period immediately following the occupation of the Colony. The sum of $750,000 is needed to con- tinue the reinstatement of pre- war deposits which has been taking place during the last few months. The sum of $400,- 000 provided for occupation period salaries and ex-gratia re- wards represents a re-vote of part of the supplementary pro- vision of $9,000,000 voted during 1948 for this purpose but which cannot be disbursed for various.. reasons before the end of the current financial year. Provision of $1,250,000 for currency ex- penses is made to meet the cost of minting the new coins. One new sub-head entitled Public Services Commission's Expenses 600 is made. The Salaries Com- appears, and provision for $39,-
mission recommended the estab- lishment of such a Commission. and preliminary steps are being being taken to establish it.
Head 23. Pensions
Estimate 1949-50.
The number of vessels operat-gineers together ed by this department has in- creased considerably since fore the war. The salary of the Director of Marine was revised in the course of the current year, and in the 1949-50 Estimates the establishment of Senior Marine Officers has been increased from three to four and the number of Marine Officers reduced from eight to seven. In addition two supernumerary posts of Sur- veyor of Ships have been pro- vided for to cover the period of leave of two officers who are retiring. Certain reductions are made in Deck and Engine Room staff as a result of a decision to show in departmental estimates staff not properly connected with the Marine Department. Of the increase of $94,155 in personal emoluments $64,000 is required for overtime allowance.
The nett increase in personal Revised Estimate emoluments is $556,727.
Grants amounting to $2,625,- 000 to the Alice Memorial and Tung Wah Groups of Hospitals
1948-49. Approved Estimate
1948-49. Actual Expenditure
1947-48,
$6,720,000
6,000,000
6,013,000,
5,922,336
$707,000
Of the increase of under this Head $450,000
a
re-
now
Head 24. Police Force
$12,633,722
10,400,000
Estimate 1949-50. Revised Estimate
1948-49.
+
are now shown under Subven- tions. In addition there is a re- duction of over $1,000,000 for recurrent expenditure in spite of esents pensions, allowances and the introduction of four new
grants paid to members of the sub-heads. These are $200,000+ local volunteer forces under for the Maintenance which had previously been shown-head. Prior
of Lepers, Royal Warrants, This is a new under Subventions under Leper ttlement with
to the recent His Asylum at Shek Lung, $84,350
Majesty's Government all volunteer pen- for extra diets for staff of Anti- Tuberculosis institutions, and $6,-
sions were charged to a Sus- pense account. They are 750 for the training of dental
commitment students whom it is proposed to
on Hong Kong funds and adequate provision is send to Singapore As a result of economies in ex-
on a three made for them. year course. Considerable savings penditure on coal and fuel oil are shown under medicines and amounting to $100,000 and on instruments, bedding and cloth- the hire of tugs amounting to ing, stores and equipment, sup- $59,500 and the inclusion of $40,000 for typhoon damage which up to the present time has always been met by supplemen- tary provisions as and when typhoons occur, a saving of $15- 900 is made in Other Charges.
Provision is made under Special Expenditure for a pro- gramme of replacing launches and their equipment including, engines because some of the ves sels delivered for service in the Colony on its reoccupation are beginning to show signs of w Most of these vessels were not new and it will be necessary continue replacing them for the next few years.
The total increase under this Head amounts to $179.335.
of tuber
plementary feeding culosis patients, uniforms and unkeep of vehicles. On the other hand X-ray departmental penses, washing, and traveli expenses all of which shown in the estimates in current financial
year req additional provision.
The Special Expenditure itens amount to $46,970 less than in 1948-49. Apart from re-votes of money not expended
this year,
the main items are provision of $50,000 for air-conditioning planti for the operating room in Kodde loon Hospital and the Kowlong Mortuary, $75,000 for replacing motor transport and $50,000 to cover the cost of providing sun blinds in various hospitals and
Approved Estimate
1948-49. Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
10,428,881
6,627 The former practice of showe ing the rank and file in separa! contigents has been disconti and the strength of the can now be seen at a gla Consequent on the increase the number of Constables, new posts of Sergeants and ei new posts of Corporals have be created. The establishment Constables is increased by new posts. In addition 156 new.. posts have been created to ab sorb the former civilian Water Police who are passing through the Police Training School at