-20-
202
Government to provide other staff. In addition, in order to relieve the congestion at out-patients departments, additional Medical Officers and other staff have been engaged during the course of the current financial year.
Personal Emoluments show a reduction of $629,356, but the cost of the staff transferred is $907,716 so actually there has been an increase of $278,360.
Recurrent Expenditure is higher by $753,110. This is almost wholly accounted for by the extra $750,000 required for provisions arising out of the increased cost of food. An extra $200,000 is required for medicines and instruments and $25,000 for washing, but economics undor a number of other sub-heads largely off-set those.
The sum of $50,000 under Special Expenditure, represeitng a reduction of $202,000 on last year's figure, consists almost entirely of re-votes.
The net reduction in total expenditure for the Medical Department is $78,246 but this is only an apparent decrease.
Head 22. Miscellaneous Services.
Estimate 1950/51
Revised Estimate 1949/50
Approved Estimate 1949/50
Actual Expenditure 1948/49
$37,521,500
41,858,849
37,832,100
57,386,656
The main increase is $3,000,000 under cost
of living allowances due to an increase in the rates following a rise in the retail price index. There is also an increase of $250,000 under transport of Government officers which is necessary on the basis of disbursements made during the current year. The existing vote of $1,000,000 for rent etc., for Government accommodation has been split into three parts, rent of non-departmental accommodation costing $650,000, rent and compensation for premises leased to the public costing $35,500, and rent for Government hostels cas ting $64,460 which is provided for under the new Head of expenditure for the Quartering Authority. There is therefore a saving of $250,040 on this expenditure. Increased provisions are required for New Year bonuses to Chinese employees, $50,000 Public Services Commission expenses, $11,400, Hong Kong Government Office in London, $10,000, Interest, $7,000, and Conferences and Committees etc., $4,000. Reductions are made for Commission, Remittances, etc., $40,000, Telegrams, $40,000, Other Miscellaneous Services, $10,000, Compensation, $10,000, and Film Censorship, $8,500. The sum of $10,000 for Stores Losses and Deficiencies is no longer required. Provision for the Quartering Authority is made under a separate Head. Recurrent expenditure is greater by $2,729,400.
Special Expenditure is considerably reduced by $3,040,000 as the result of a reduction of commitments. A token sum of $100,000 is included for general security
measures.
The total provision for Miscellaneous Services shows a net reduction of $310,600.