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3. GOVERNMENT ANALYTICAL LABORATORY.
(1) The work of the Hong Kong Government Analytical Laboratory differs from that usually associated with a sub-department of this type, in that a very considerable amount of work usually done by consulting analysts, is carried out here, and for which fees are paid into the Treasury. This non-government work comes under two heads.
(a) Analyses of stores etc. for the Naval, Military, and Air Force Authorities, described below as semi-official work and for which, in the majority of cases, full fees are now charged.
(b) Analyses carried out for local firms and individuals in the Colony; the majority of which are the testing of exports of China produce, e.g., tin and oils, and for which full fees are charged.
The bills issued for this non-government work amounted in 1937 to $39,953.50 and this sum represents about of the cost of running the laboratory for the year.
The total value of the work done during the year both Government and non-government, amounted to $100,478.50. This was the highest ever recorded, despite the total cessation of lard samples towards the end of the year.
(2) The following tables show the nature of the work under the various heads.
Table I.
OFFICIAL WORK.
(3) Official work-i.e. Government work.
1936. 1937. Chemico-legal samples from the Police & Medical Departments 333 351 Food & drug samples under the Ordinance from the Sanitary Department 196 337 Water samples from public supplies 2,104 1,884 Dangerous goods under the Ordinance, from the Police Department & Fire Brigade 58 3 Bio-chemical examinations, from the Medical Department & University 222 287 Carried forward 2,913 2,812