A (2) 12
64.
Awards of Pensions and Gratuities, etc.
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.
65. Military Contribution.
The amount payable as Military Contribution by the Government of Hong Kong has, for an experimental period of five years, been fixed by Ordinance No. 8 of 1939 - Defence Contribution Ordinance 1939 - at $6,000,000 per annum, the enactment to take effect as from the 1st of January, 1939. The Defence Contribution Ordinance 1901, (Ordinance No. 1 of 1901) and the Defence Contribution Amendment Ordinance (No. 43 of 1935) have been repealed. The total sum charged against Head 6D Military Contribution in the 1939 accounts is $6,051,926.07, the excess over the $6,000,000 being, as stated in paragraph 1 of the 1938 Audit Report, the unpaid balance in respect of the contribution for that year.
66. Harbour Department - Coal and Oil Fuel purchases.
The amount charged against Head 11, Sub-head 2 - "Coal and Oil Fuel for launches" viz. $211,259.67 does not represent the total cost of this service for the year under review. The cost of fuel supplied to the Harbour Department for the period October to December, 1939, viz. $40,780 is being charged to the 1940 accounts under Harbour Department Special Expenditure. A further sum of $2,000, being the value of the coal supplied to Government Offices during the same period, chargeable to 1939 expenditure Head 11, Harbour Department, Sub-head 3, was debited to the accounts of the following year. The non-inclusion of the above expenditure in the 1939 accounts was due to failure on the part of the Contractor to render his claims for payment, at Contract rates, before the accounts of that year were closed, although repeated requests had been made to obtain them.
67. As a result, the amount unpaid for coal supplied during the last quarter of 1939, was $123,185.28.
68. Head 31 - Public Works Extraordinary - Buildings for camp for Chinese interned soldiers $118,205.40.
The expenditure under this item was partly offset by a donation of H.K.$86,956.52 ($200,000 Chinese National Currency) by the Chinese National Relief Commission, and this sum was credited to Revenue Head 9 - Miscellaneous Services.
69. Fruitless Expenditure.
An oversight on the part of a Government Official, or Officials, who erroneously allowed certain stores to be disposed of which formed part of the equipment of a Government tug, resulted in a loss to Government of $859.50. The tug was sold to a private firm on the understanding that the purchase price included all spare parts and equipment. The firm purchased the stores from the original buyer and Government was obliged to refund the amount paid less certain expenses. In compliance with Colonial Regulation No. 345, the matter was referred to the Secretary of State who approved of the loss being met from Public funds.
70. An error made in indenting for surgical instruments resulted in Government having to make good a loss of £4-10/-. As the officer responsible for the mistake had left the Colony, no action was taken against him.
A (2) 12
64.
Awards of Pensions and Gratuities, etc.
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.
65. Military Contribution.
The amount payable as Military Contribution by the Government of Hong Kong has, for an experimental period of five years, been fixed by Ordinance No. 8 of 1939 -Defence Contribution Ordinance 1939-at $6,000,000 per annum, the enactment to take effect as from the 1st of January, 1939. The Defence Contribution Ordinance 1901, (Ordinance No. 1 of 1901) and the Defence Contribution Amendment Ordinance (No. 43 of 1935) have been repealed. The total sum charged against Head 6D Military Contribution in the 1939 accounts is $6,051,926.07 the excess over the $6,000,000 being, as stated in paragraph $1 of the 1938 Audit Report, the unpaid balance in respect of the contribution for that year.
66. Harbour Department-Coal and Oil Fuel purchases.
The amount charged against Head 11, Sub-head 2-"Coal and Oil Fuel for launches" viz. $211,259.67 does not represent the total cost of this service for the year under review. The cost of fuel supplied to the Harbour Department for the period October to December, 1939, viz. $40,780 is being charged to the 1940 accounts under Harbour Department Special Expenditure. A further sum of $2,000, being the value of the coal supplied to Government Offices during the same period, chargeable to 1939 expenditure Head 11, Harbour Department, Sub-head 3, was debited to the accounts of the following year. The non-inclusion of the above expenditure in the 1939 accounts was due to failure on the part of the Contractor to render his claims for payment, at Contract rates, before the accounts of that year were closed, although repeated requests had been made to obtain them.
67. As a result, the amount unpaid for coal supplied during the last quarter of 1939, was $123,185.28.
68. Head 31-Public Works Extraordinary-Buildings for camp for Chinese
interned soldiers $118,205.40.
The expenditure under this item was partly offset by a donation of H.K.$ 86,956.52 ($200,000 Chinese National Currency) by the Chinese National Relief Commission, and this sum was credited to Revenue Head 9- Miscellaneous Services.
69. Fruitless Expenditure.
An oversight on the part of a Government Official, or Officials, who erroneously allowed certain stores to be disposed of which formed part of the equipment of a Government tug, resulted in a loss to Government of $859.50. The tug was sold to a private firm on the understanding that the purchase price included all spare parts and equipment. The firm purchased the stores from the original buyer and Govern- ment was obliged to refund the amount paid less certain expenses. In compliance with Colonial Regulation No. 345 the matter was referred to the Secretary of State who approved of the loss being met from Public funds.
70. An error made in indenting for surgical instruments resulted in Government having to made good a loss of £4-10/-. As the officer responsible for the mistake had left the Colony no action was taken against him.
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