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The
expenditure would have been higher. There has also been 'some adjustment of provisions between some of the sub-heads and consequently it is difficult to make simple comparisons. only real change of major importance is the reduction in expenditure on works executed on private account, which is lower by $576,000, but, as this sub-head is off-set by a corresponding sub-head under revenue, the effect is counter- balanced.
Head 30. Public Works Non-Recurrent.
Estimate 1951/52.
Revised Estimate 1950/51. Approved Estimate 1950/51. Actual Expenditure 1949/50.
$34,478,887
22,207,687
29,184,563
17,625,355
The Head Public Works Non-Recurrent provides for a programme estimated to cost $34,478,887 which is 354 million more than the figure for the current year. A number of re-votes are necessary as it was not possible, bocause of difficulties over the selection of sites and for various other reasons, to complete the programine for the previous year. Among the re-votes are provisions for a weather station on Waglan Island, a new revenue station and quarters at Sheung Shui, the completion of the wiring of the frontier, a new fire station in Kowloon, a block house at Sha Tau Kok, the bridge at Au Tau, and a block of new Government flats on the Albany site which has been redesigned to provide rather more apartments than was originally contemplated.
When the sub-committee of Finance Committee was drawing up the five-year programme of capital works, the development plans of the Education Department had not been completed, so provision was made in the capital works programme for a sum of $1 million a year for new school buildings. The Director considers that the first priority should be the erection of a teachers' training college, and the bulk of the funds allocated for the coming year will be devoted to this purpose..
Work on additional wards at the Kowloon Hospital has just been commenced, and a sum of just under $300,000 is provided under sub-head 7 for its completion. It is also proposed to erect a further tuberculosis clinic on the Hong Kong side during the coming year, at a cost of $230,000.
Among the new works are a new branch post office for the Sham Shui Po district and extension to Blue Pool Road and Boundary Strect to open up new building areas. It has also been necessary to provide for the deviation of Clear Water Bay Road consequent on the extension of the runways at Kai Tak. If the road were left on its present alignment, it would be necessary to stop traffic while the runway is in use, and this might mean very long hold-ups in certain circumstances. It has therefore been decided to deviate the road round the end of the runway at a cost of $1 million. Another road work for which a sum of $2 million has been provided is the improvement of Kennedy Road. The sub-committee considering the capital works programme felt that this road could as a result of the widening and reconstruction of certain sections draw off a considerable volume of traffic which now proceeds along Queens Road East. The full scheme is estimated to cost $1,800,000 and the work will be spread over several years. A sum of $1 million has also been included for the reconstruction of side streets, many of which are in a
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