A (2) 13 -
Special Warrants.
74. The number of Special Warrants issued in respect of the year 1938 was 385, as compared with 213 for the previous year. The large increase of 172 may to a great extent be attributed to abnormal conditions which prevailed in South China during the latter part of the year, which, among other things, were responsible for the creation of a Refugee problem. It does not therefore appear to be due to deterioration of financial control or to faulty estimating.
75. Fifty-seven of the 1938 Special Warrants issued concerned additions to the rates of personal emoluments and the number of posts authorised in the Estimates, which affected "Personal Emolument" Sub-heads only, and did not necessitate the obtaining of additional funds.
Awards of Pensions and Gratuities etc.
76. The calculations of awards of Civil and Police Pensions, Gratuities, and Allowances, made under the laws of the Colony, and also Pensions payable under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Ordinance (No. 15 of 1908) were verified by Audit.
Emergency Expenditure.
77. The Japanese invasion of South China resulted in the sudden influx into the Colony of large numbers of refugees, which required immediate action by Government to provide food and accommodation for them. Owing to the urgency of the situation it became necessary in the first instance to purchase stores and to incur other expenditure, without following the procedure laid down in General Orders Nos. 406 to 408 and certain other regulations. After the expiry of the periods of urgency however the normal procedure was reverted to.
Grants-in-aid to Tung Wah and other allied non-Government Hospitals.
78. Grants-in-aid, from funds of the Colonial Government, were made from time to time to cover deficits incurred by the Tung Wah and other associated Hospitals in respect of repatriation expenses and other relief afforded to Chinese Refugees. The amount paid over by Government for this purpose during the year amounted to $149,960. It has previously been ruled that the Audit Department was not to be responsible for a detailed audit of the actual payments made by these hospitals from money received from Government sources. Acquittances received for grants made by Government to these Institutions have therefore been accepted as sufficient discharge.
J.
79. Owing to the requests for greater financial relief made to Government on behalf of these Hospitals, the question of the efficiency of the financial control over them was raised by Government, and certain steps to improve it were agreed to.
80. On the financial side one of the most important stipulations made was that the Committee should prepare and adhere to a proper annual budget, and should submit annual accounts audited by an Auditor approved by Government.
A (2) 13 -
P
Special Warrants.
74. The number of Special Warrants issued in respect of the year 1938 was 385, as compared with 213 for the previous year. The large increase of 172 may to a great extent be attributed to abnormal conditions which prevailed in South China during the latter part of the year, which, among other things, were respon- sible for the creation of a Refugee problem. It does not therefore appear to be due to deterioration of financial control or to faulty estimating.
75. Fifty seven of the 1938 Special Warrants issued concerned additions to the rates of personal emoluments and the number of posts authorised in the Estimates, which affected "Personal Emolument" Sub-heads only, and did not necessitate the obtaining of additional funds.
Awards of Pensions and Gratuities etc.
76. The calculations of awards of Civil and Police Pensions, Gratuities, and Allowances, made under the laws of the Colony, and also Pensions payable under the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Ordinance (No. 15 of 1908) were verified by Audit.
Emergency Expenditure.
77. The Japanese invasion of South China resulted in the sudden influx into the Colony of large numbers of refugees, which required immediate action by Government to provide food and accommodation for them. Owing to the urgency of the situation it became necessary in the first instance to purchase stores and to incur other expenditure, without following the procedure laid down in General Orders Nos. 406 to 408 and certain other regulations. After the expiry of the periods. of urgency however the normal procedure was reverted to.
Grants-in-aid to Tung Wah and other allied non-Government Hospitals.
78. Grants-in-aid, from funds of the Colonial Government, were made from time to time to cover deficits incurred by the Tung Wah and other associated Hospitals in respect of repatriation expenses and other relief afforded to Chinese Refugees. The amount paid over by Government for this purpose during the year amounted to $149,960. It has previously been ruled that the Audit Department was not to be responsible for a detailed audit of the actual payments made by these hospitals from money received from Government sources. Acquittances received for grants made by Government to these Institutions have therefore been accepted as sufficient discharge.
J.
79. Owing to the requests for greater financial relief made to Government on behalf of these Hospitals, the question of the efficiency of the financial control over them was raised by Government, and certain steps to improve it were agreed to.
80.
On the financial side one of the most important stipulations made was that the Committee should prepare and adhere to a proper annual budget, and should submit annual accounts audited by an Auditor approved by Government.
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