Expenditure.

(iii) The considerable saving under this head is due, in some cases, to the works for which substantial sums were allocated not being proceeded with during the year; in other cases, to less progress being made than was anticipated.

The former include:--

Saiyingpun School-possession of the site for which could not be obtained.

Eastern District Filter Beds.

Fire Brigade Station.

Taitam Tuk Pumping Scheme. Hill District-Extensions of Pumping Plant at Pokfulam Road.

The latter category include :-

Officers' Quarters, the preparation of the drawings for which were not sufficiently advanced to invite tenders.

The details of which could not be settled by the end of the year.

Quarters for Coolies, Belchers Street, &c., &c.

Comparison of Expenditure, 1920 and 1921.

2. The following is a statement of the expenditure in 1921 as compared with that of the previous year:-

(i) Personal Emoluments and Other Charges, (14) Special Expenditure; Typewriters, etc.,

1920 1921 Increase Decrease $ 468,371.82 650,900.00 182,528.18 G. 699.00 83.04 (ii) Annually Recurrent Works, 825,493.70 938,582.38 113,088.68 (iii) Extraordinary Works,... 2,555,877.69 3,053,525.11 497,647.42 Total, .... $3,850,359.17 4,643,706.49 793,347.32

Item (i). The increase is due to the increase of clerical salaries under the revised scales and increase of staff. The average rate of exchange for 1921 was 2/8 as compared with 4/54 during 1920.

Item (ii). The increase is due to

(a.) an excess of $46,000.00 in the cost of the Maintenance and Improvement of Roads and Bridges, the result of the increased cost of labour, materials, and additional mileage.

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