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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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hoped that the scheme will meet with the same success here that has been achieved clsewhere.
Linder Other Charges the vote "Provisions for Patients Ire been increased by $1,000, due to the high r coal
Linder the head Institutes, Pirsonal Emoluments," a sum of $2,160 has been inserted as the allowance to the offic
The sum of acting as Bacteriologist. $10 provided this year will laps as the Bacteriologis has not taken leave, hat as he proposes to take commuted stead of half-pay leaw next year it has been necessary to provide a larger suni.
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ernment and the Community owe . debt | qualifying examinations, and it is to be of gratitude to the members of this Force, which may retuind you is compu od of British subjects of British, Indian, Portuguese and Chinese races. The Force at the prest time Lumbers 415.
Cuder Oder harges
of $1,50 as been provided for ammunition ¦ of food. for the Speci: Police Reserve. The sub- bead Clothing and Accoulis ments shows an increase of $5,000, who is due to the higher eve; of material A sum of $3,000 has been entered to cover the ca. of clothing and accoutrements for recruits of the Special Polic Reserve. nu renewal of uniforms. The amount required for the equalisation of exchange on Indian Police remittances has been increased by $6,000. a largez sum being required owing to the fill in exchange and to correct & previous under-stimate, The role for Pasauges, and bonuses in lieu of passAGES
shows an increase of $8.050. This increase is due to the fact that more members of the European con- timgest are expected to take leave in the future owing to a new scheme by which members of the contingent on nine months' leave will draw full pay during six months of the leave, and also to the grant of free passages to the wives and families of Indian Police. and to men of the Indian contingent retiring on pensions The honourable member who represents the Chamber of Commerce, in October last, drew attention in Firamer Commit bee to the comparatively large number of met in the European contingente who drew 器 bonus instead going on leave.
The Improvement in the pay while on leave is expected, as I have already stated, to remedy this in some degree.
Prison
The staff of European Warders has been reduced by three, thereby effecting immediate saving of $3.290. This reduc tion has permitted of the re-organization of the Indian staff, involving an increag of $3,630.
Medical Department
It has been found possible to replace Two Nursing Sisters at the Government Civil Hospital by six Probationer Dressers Not only is a small saving effected by this change, but the system of employing Dressers, which is in force in uther Colonics, is now for the first time introduced here. Dressers will only obtein promotion on passing certain
A new sub-head has been inserted under Special Expenditure for Dental Instruments and Furniture," for which the equivalent of £150 has been provided. Certain dental surgeons have generously offered their services at the Government Civil Hospital free of cost, and the above sum will provide the necessary equipment.
Sanitary Department
taken over by the Sanitary Department, The scavenging of Shaukiwan has been and it is anticipated that the work will cost a sum of $3,314, while it is estimated that a sum of $4,000 will be received bourhood. for the conservancy of the same neigh
Under Special Expenditure" the amount provided for the removal of ceilings has been reduced from $10,000 tu $4,000. This sum is considered sufficient as the work has proved lesa expensive than was anticipated.
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Education
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Under Personal Emoluments of $1,000 has been provided for hand teacher at Queen's College, to meet the increasing demand for shorthand. It is expected that the fees received for tuition will cover his salary.
Owing to the pour attendance the Eug- lish School for Indians at Kowloon will be closed at the end of this year.
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Under Other Charges the provided for Capitation Grants hus been increased by $5,833 owing to the increase in the numbers at the English Schools.
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Under Special Expenditure of $1,250 has been entered as half the Building Grant of $2,500 to St. Joseph's College towards the cost of additional class rooms.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Military Expenditure The amount provided for the Con.ribu- tion to the Imperial Government is $205,630 less than that provided this year.
This decrease is mainly due to the fact that the estimated arrea18 account of the Contribution for 1915 are $79,000, as against arrears of $295,154 respect of the contribution for 1914. In place of the Staff Officer of the Volunteers, whose post is tanporarily vacant, provision has been made for allowances to an Inspecting Officer and two Adjutants. Under "Other Charges the Capitation Grant of the Voluntee] Reserve has been increased from $1.050 to $15,750, that is to say, from the small grant carmed before the Reserve was embodied, on the outbreak of war, u the Volunteer Corps and a grant equivalent, to that which the Volunteer Corps can
earn.
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filtration; of $1,000 for meters in Kowloon (item 36) also due to a previons under- estinate; of $2,500 for maintenance of buildings in the New Territories (item 39) due to a large increase in the contract ate; and of $2.000 for maintenace of roads and bridges in the New Territories (item 41) due to a great length of roads. It has been possible to make reductions in other items with the result that the estimate for next year under this head only $100 Estimaton.
more
than in this year's
Public Works Extraordinary
The sum available under this head has to be regulated each year by the amount of money available from the estimated revenuo. The position with which I was faced this year was as follows: The esti- mated revenue is $11,409,010, while the estimated expenditure exclusive of Public Works Extraordinary is $10,603,374, leav It is with peculiar satisfaction that Iing a balance of $805,638 available for have to record the extremely satisfactory Public Works Extraordinary if the Bud- condition of the Volunteer Force both in: numerical strength and in efficiency. get is to balance. Now the two large works The Force has rendered, and is stall which are under construction, namely, the Tytan Tuk Scheme, second section, and rendering, very valuable service, and can justly elaim an important, although the additional Service Reservoir at West Point, require between them a sum of no indirect share, in the tremendous battle the Empire is fighting in different parts less than $900.000, and it will be clear. of the world, for which so large a pro therefore, to honourable members that portion of the regular garrison has been only by the most ruthless elimination of released. I can repeat that to this body, many desirable, but not indispensable. as to the Special Police Reserve, the public works has it been posible to reduce Government and the Community owe a the estimated deficit to a comparatively
moderate sum, very deep debt of gratitude,
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Public Works Department
Under "Personal Emoluments the Assist- of
Grade poet
be ant Engineer will
filled
one
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With regard to Hongkong under si heading "Buildings,* the sums provod for items 1, 2 and 3 are required to say the retention money on works already com- pleted.
at present, and no provision has, Under item 4 a sum of $46.000 is 10- therefore, been made for it. Owing vided for the erection of quarters for S to existing conditions the programme of
ordinate Officers, Happy Valley. 1 sum public works hus been considerably
of $50,000 was entered in the estimates reduced, and it is desirable to take advant
of the current year for this purpose, but age of an opportunity which has arisen to
the work has not been proceeded with up reduce the staff.
to date. It is, in my opinion, very desir- able that these quarters should be erected as soon as possible, and tenders for the work have now been called for.
Public Works Recurrency There is an increase of $2,000 in the cost of Gas Lighting (item 10) due to exten- sions of Lighting; of 82,500 for metera (item 23) due to a previous under estimate; of $1,000 for maintenance of waterworks in Kowloon (item 35) due to increase of
A sum of $30,000 has been entered under item 5, as it is possible that a start may be made with the extension of the Central the Negotiations for Police Station. resumption of the buildings on the site
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.