A (1) 15
Charge on account of Public Debts.
Savings of $118,226 and $33,617 for interest and sinking fund respectively, were made owing to higher exchange. The sum of $335,000 provided for the sinking fund of the Public Works 6% Loan 192 was not required as this loan was converted on 1st August to 4% by the issue of conversion bonds running for 20 years, the first provision for amortization only being required in 1934.
Pensions.
Out of $1,894,000 provided only $1,876,565 was spent, the saving of $17,435 was due to higher exchange.
Public Works Department.
Owing to less work being accomplished than anticipated $4,745 was saved on Harbour Surveying. $204,596 on Additional Transmitting Equipment, $68,578 on Additional Receiving Equipment were saved due to non-arrival of Equipment from England and $10,888 on Steam Roller due to Account being outstanding at the close of the year.
Public Works Recurrent.
This Head, showed a decrease of $138,893 on the estimate, in spite of the fact that by a resolution of Council dated 31st August a further $60,000 above the original estimate was provided for maintenance works. Two sub-heads however showed comparatively large increases over the original appropriations, Hong Kong-"Buildings" by $33,184 and Kowloon-"Maintenance of Waterworks" by $16,233.
Public Works Extraordinary.
The net decrease amounted to $375,474 and was spread over the subheads generally, the explanation being that less work was done than anticipated or the work commenced late in the year. There were however a few subheads which showed increases over the original provision notably Water meters by $57,704 owing to the increased demand for metered supplies; Kowloon Hospital additions by $73,886 as better progress was made with the work than anticipated; Distribution Circuit from New Reservoir by $46,825 to enable the earlier completion of the circuit; Government Bungalow at Fanling by $29,211 due to increased accommodation. The following are some of the more important items which were not estimated for originally but provided by supplementary votes or resolutions during the year. Remand Home for Juvenile Offenders $49,492. Purchase of house No. 407, The Peak, $40,000. Purchase of Sailors' Home and Soldiers' Institute and cost of adaptation as offices $196,812. Free connections in Rural Main Areas $19,258 and Resurfacing Shatin Causeway and Taipo Road $62,791.
Naval Arsenal Yard and Kellet Island.
The amount of $500,000 was not paid during the year.