A (1) 2 –
3. The principal sub-heads showing deficits compared with the estimates were as follows:-
DEFICITS.
(a) Liquor Duties $310,195
(b) Stamp Duties 383,088
(c) Tobacco Duties 73,988
(d) K.C.R. Passengers Service, Passengers, Home Line ... 97,982
(e) Buildings, Rent of 20,478
(f) Land Sales 156,317
The new liquor duties failed to bring in the revenue anticipated and stamp duties proved to be overestimated. The deficit in (d) is more than off-set by the increases in other sub-heads of railway revenue. Land Sales proved to be considerably less than was expected.
EXPENDITURE.
4. The total expenditure brought to account amounted to $20,845,065 being $1,469,637 less than the estimate and $2,679,651 less than the expenditure in 1926.
The principal heads showing savings were as follows:-
SAVINGS.
Junior Clerical Service $27,307
Post Office 20,738
Harbour Department 105,025
Fire Brigade 40,449
Police Force 67,460
Medical Department 64,459
Sanitary Department 107,208
Education Department 72,520
Public Works Department 183,164
Public Works Extraordinary 739,873
Military Contribution 31,112
Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 40,000
Charge On Account of Public Debt.. 259,557
The savings in the Harbour Department were chiefly due to overestimating the coal and oil fuel requirements, the actual expenditure on this item being over $61,000 below the estimate. Only one instalment was paid on the new launch to replace the "Victoria" and in consequence a sum of $23,350 lapsed on this item.