14
A
REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE
PROGRAMME OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE 1951/52
1956/57.
We were appointed as a sub-committee of Finance Committee to consider the revision and extension of the existing five-year programme of capital expenditure, and have met on three occasions. Mr. Lawrence Kadoorie ceased to be a member of the Legislative Council after our first meeting, but he participated in all our discussions and agrees with our recommendations, although he has not signed this report.
We considered it would be of value to divide the programme under separate headings. We have accordingly done so, and attach a revised programme covering the financial years 1951/52 to 1956/57 inclusive. In drafting this programme we had in mind primarily the capacity of the Public Works Department to undertake the programme, and secondly the availability of finance. It will be observed that the cost for the financial year 1952/53 is approximately $46 millions and we consider that this sum is about as much as can or should be expended in any financial year. The programme should constitute by far the great majority of the works which will be listed under Public Works Non-Recurrent, although we foresee that there will be a number of what might well be termed "Opportunity" projects under that head which could not properly be regarded as belonging to a long term programme. Our comments on the programme are as follows :
Education.
The total to be spent over the five years, namely $7 millions, has been increased to $7,530,000 by reason of the $7글 donation received towards Aberdeen Primary School. It is possible that a further donation of $200,000 may be received. for another school, and in such an event we recommend that the total programme should be increased by that amount. We considered allocating a larger sum for the education programme, but the Director of Public Works advised that so far as he could foresee, there was no possibility of his department being able to undertake any further work. Indeed, it is the case that both Kings College Secondary School and Taipo Primary School will have to be carried out by private architects. The programme is in the order of priority chosen by the Director of Education. We recommend that a possible increase in the allocation for education might be considered after the next twelve months.
Harbour.
The first two of the items under this head appear in the existing programme and must be regarded as of primary importance. There are two new items, namely the Kowloon City pier and the new Vehicular Ferry piers which are included in accordance with the recommendations of the Harbour Ferry Services Advisory Committee. The Director of Public Works advises that because of the volume of work he see prospect of the Kowloon City pier being commenced before 1953/54 and the Vehicular Ferry piers before 1955/56.
Medical and Health.
no
We understand that a general hospital is required in Kowloon apart from any question of removal of the existing hospital because of possible development of Kai Tak. Under the circumstances we think that this work is of great importance and we have recommended that a start be made in 1953/54 if