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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
As I have said above it has been con- sidered advisable to revise certain items of Revenue owing to the outbreak of war. The following are the original and revised Estimates—
Class I.
Light Dues
As originally Revised
estimated. Estimated. $ 104,000 $ 94.000
Light Dues, Special
Assessment
Arms Licences
Opium Monopoly
105,000 4,820 4,000,000
115,000 8,420 4,250,000
Class II
Medical Examination
of Emigrants
95,000
60,000
Sunday Cargo Working
Permits
70,000
Survey of Steamships...
31,000
60,000 28,000
Class V.
206.000 260,000 Premia on New Leases.
The revenue which has been been derived from the Opium Monopoly has been much large than was anticipated owing to the fact that the price of the drug in China and Macao reached a high figure, and in order to prevent smuggling it was neces- sary to raise the retail price in Hongkong; His Majesty's Government has approved of certain deductions being made from the gross revenue derived from the Opium Monopoly with a view to arriving at the amount to be assessed for Military Con- tribution. These deductions are shown in detail in Appendix II. of the Estimates.
ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE, 1915.
The Estimates of Expenditure for next year show an increase of $1,890,915 over those approved for the current year. The principal items of increase to which I
draw your would
attention are as follows:
Governor
Under Special Expenditure a piano costing $1,500 is provided for, and a reduction has been made of $500 in the amount provided for furniture.
Colonial Secretary's Department
Two additional Unpassed Cadets are provided for, and also the cost of one Cadet for the Federated Malay States. This latter charge has been incurred owing to Mr. Dyer Ball having been transferred to the Hongkong Service as from the end of this year.
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Secretariat for Chinese Affairs
A sum of $3,397 has been provided for commuted leave salary, as it is expected that the Secretary for Chinese Affairs will take leave next year. A sum of $1,416 is also inserted for duty allowance in case a sterling paid officer should be appointed to act in the post. A supernumerary 2nd Grade Writer on a salary of $1,440 has also been provided. When an opportunity occurs the post of 3rd Grade Writer will be abolished.
Audit Department
A 3rd Grade Clerk on a salary of $960 rising to $1,200 has been added to the staff, whose duties consist of auditing the accounts of the Opium Monopoly.
Harbour Master's Department
Under Other Charges, "Harbour Office," a sum of $10,000 has been provided for the raising, repair and renewal of moorings; and under Special Expenditure a sum of $250,000 for the acquisition and re-arrangement of moorings in Victoria Harbour. A statement of the scheme which necessitates the provision of these sums will be found in Sessional Paper No. 17 of 1914. The scheme is expected to produce an annual revenue of about $30,000 a year in normal times, which will cover the interest on capital expenditure Under Other and working expenses. Charges, "Steam-Launches," the vote for coal has been increased by $1,775 owing to the increase in price. The vote for repairs has also been increased by $1,000, more repairs being necessary as the launches become older.
Imports and Exports Department
There is an increase of $13,873 under Personal Emoluments, as the experience gained during the working of the Opium Monopoly has shown that a larger staff is required than was originally considered sufficient. The above-mentioned increase includes a sum of $3,480 for the staff engaged in dealing with Dross Opium, and a sum of $4,476 for the staff of the Taipo branch office, for which provision was not made in the estimates of the current year. A sum of $1,000 has been "the added to the vote "Fuel, Factory,' estimate for 1914 having been for eleven
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL months only. A new sub-head "Repairs and Renewals, Factory, $2,000" has been entered on the recommendation of the Superintendent.
Royal Observatory Under Special Expenditure a sum of $2,500 has been provided for apparatus for the distribution of Time Signals by Wireless Telegraphy. As this Colony has adhered to the Radio-Telegraphic Conven- tion it has been necessary to provide the means of distributing the time signals. The apparatus for doing this is somewhat elaborate and intricate, and is in addition to the receiving apparatus, for which $800 has been provided under Public Works Extraordinary."
2
Miscellaneous Services
A sum of $1,575 has been entered for Bonuses for Interpreters and Translators, who, under a scheme approved by the the Secretary of State, can earn bonuses on passing certain prescribed examina- tions.
"
Under the head "Loss on Subsidiary Coinage a sum of $768,000 has been entered as against an estimated loss in 1914 of $136,000. Since the beginning of this year
the Government, with the approval of the Secretary of State, has sold a much larger amount of subsidiary coin to be converted into bullion than in former years, and it is proposed to continue this policy during next year. The sum entered represents the estimated loss at the rate of 16 per cent. on subsidiary coin of the nominal value of $4,800,000.
A grant of $2,182 being the equivalent of £200 has been provided for as a con- tribution to the Royal Society towards the cost of an enquiry into the diagnosis of yellow fever. It is proposed to continue this contribution for three years.
The vote for "Electric Fans and Lights,' New
Government Offices, has been increased by $4,000, of which $3,500 is due to a previous under-estimate, and $500 is to cover the cost of replacing worn-out and damaged electric light bulbs hitherto charged to "
Maintenance of Buildings," Public Works Recurrent.
A sum of $4,000 has been provided for a new edition of the Regulations of Hong- kong, which will bring the revision of that work up to the end of the current year.
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A sum of $4,000 has been entered for Rent Allowances to Married Officers. A scheme has been approved by the Secretary of State, to which I will allude under "Public Works Extraordinary," for providing quarters to be rented for certain married officers in the lower ranks of the Service, who are not among those entitled to free quarters. Pending the completion of the quarters it is proposed to make allowances in certain cases towards the very high rents which these officers have
to pay.
Judicial and Legal Departments- Supreme Court
Under Other Charges a sum of $1,000 has been entered for Travelling Expenses of Watchmen, and Temporary Engagement of Extra Watchmen. This expenditure has hitherto been charged to Possession Fees, which are now paid into Revenue.
District Officer
Under Other Charges, Southern Dis increased from $100 to $1,540. The work trict," the vote for transport has been
of the Assistant District Officer has been launch for his regular visits to the islands, much hampered by the want of a suitable and the additional sum provided is for the hire of a launch.
Police
The following increased staff has been rendered necessary by the institution of a motor launch for work in shallow waters and in connection with the prevention of piracy:
1 Lance Sergeant
Detective Allowance
1 Chinese Sergeant, 2nd Class
House Allowance
.$1,472
240
240
60
3 Chinese Constables, 1st Class
540
2 Chinese Constables, 2nd Class
300
1 Female Searcher
150
2 Coxswains, 2nd Class 2 Seamen
432
264
432
2 Engineers, 2nd Class
Under Other Charges the vote coal for barracks has been increased by $1,000 owing to the rise in price. A sum of $1,200 has been inserted for grants to villages in the New Territories in aid of the Village Scout Scheme. These scouts were instituted early in the present year with a view to assisting the Police in the detection of criminals. The scheme has
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