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Head 39. Subventions.
Estimate 1950/51
Revised Estimate 1949/50
Approved Estimate 1949/50 Actual Expenditure 1948/49
$14,172,300 15,162,545 13,245,721 878,547
The order of the sub-heads is arranged to
show the funds controlled by various officers.
In the first group controlled by the Accountant- General, four changes have taken place. On the suggestion of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a Subvention to the Imperial Agricultural Bureaux has been reduced from $6,416 to 5,744. On the other hand, an additional $6,000 is provided for the Hong Kong War Memorial Fund in order to cover the cost of employing a full time Social Worker. It has been decided to make a grant of $19,200 to the International Telecommunications Union. Finally, a new item costing $4,000 is added to provide a recurrent grant towards a cemetery laid out by the Imperial War Graves Commission in Hong Kong. Under Special Expenditure a capital grant of $68,183 is provided in addition for the same cemetery.
In the second group of sub-heads certain minor changes have occurred all of which have the approval of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee.
In
The third group of sub-heads refers to Educational grants. Although the number of former members of the local forces studying at the University of Hong Kong has decreased as a result of graduation, it is necessary to increase the provision from $60,765 to $83,000 in order to cover an increase in university fees at the beginning of the 1949 scholastic year. the ordinary course, it would have been necessary to increase miscellaneous grants to Grant-in-Aid Schools to cover the rise in cost of living allowances, but this increase has been more than off-set by a reduction which has become possible owing to an increase in the fees which has the effect of reducing the deficit met by Government. The net result is a reduction of $308,000 in the grant. The University of Hong Kong proposes to establish an Institute of Chinese Studies and Chinese Language School. In return for the right to send Government officers to this Institute it has been agreed that an increased Subvention of $50,000 should be made annually.
The only other sub-heads which show an appreciable change are the grants to Vernacular Schools, which is increased by $500,000, and to the Tung Wah and Associated Hospitals which is increased by $534,000. The Subvention for the St. Johns Ambulance Brigade is now shown under the Medical Department Head.
As a result of all these changes the total Recurrent Expenditure under Subventions is greater by
177,198.
Under Special Expenditure a grant of $500,000 is made to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief's