CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 426

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The total expenditure brought to account though not incurred solely on account of the year under review amounted to $15,149,268, being $2,662,407 over the estimate, and $4,393,043 more than the expenditure in 1914. Compared with the estimates there were decreases under 20 heads as against 5 heade where there were increases. The excess, amounting to $812,732, under Miscellaneous Services, was largely due to loss on subsidiary coins, of which coins to the face value of $5,900,000 were demonetized during the year (causing an excess over the estimate of $488,057); and to expenditure on account of the war which was not estimated for ($253,030). It was decided to charge further expenditure on Railway Construction to General Account and subsequently also to abandon the raising of a Loan of £250,000 under Ordinance No. 8 of 1913 which together account for an excess of $3,062,388 under Special Expenditure Railway Department not estimated for, while the Charge on account of Public Debt was exceeded by $55,152 on account of Interest on Advances for Railway Construction. Military Expenditure was less than the estimate by $167,230. The Imports and Exports Depart- ment decreased $200,583 on account of less opium purchased while the Harbour Department saved $160,705 on Special Expenditure by partial postponement of the scheme for acquisition of buoys in the Harbour. Other decreases were mostly due to savings on Personal Emoluments.

Governor

EXPENDITURE.

ह

82,351.63

Colonial Secretary's Department and Legislature 85,380.82 Secretariat for Chinese Affairs

53,188.73

Audit Department

31,058.99

Treasury

07,093.25

Harbour Master's Department

257,325.24

Imports & Exports Department

777,035.52

Royal Observatory

23,233.12

Miscellaneous Services-

1,724,993.78

Judicial and Legal Departments

268,147.94

Police and Prison Departments

940,214.29

Medical Departments -

228,200.17

Sanitary Department

343,903.19

49,404.56

328,072.09

2,151,388.70

399,700.76

Education

-

Do.

Do.

Recurrent

Extraordinary

Botanical and Forestry Department

Military Expenditure

Public Works Department

Post Office

Kowloon-Canton Railway

Railway Special Expenditure,

C'onstruction

Charge on account of Public Debt

Pensions

Charitable Services

TOTAL,

558.448.03

1,839,882,01

407,721.09

207,265.07

K.C.R.

3,062,388.50 794,002,86 339,049.40

38,296.81

$15,149,267,54

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The deficit on the year's working was $3,363,161, and the balance of nasets and liabilities showed on the 31st December a debit balance of $132,086.

The following is a statement of the revenue and expenditure of the Colony for the five years 1911-1915:-

1911

1912

1913

1914

1915

Revenue.

Expenditure.

$

7,497,231

7,077,177

8,180,694

7,202,553

8,512,308

8,658,012

11,007,273

10,756,225

11,780,106 15,119,207

The capital expenditure on the British Section of the Kowloon- Canton Railway during 1015 was $506,346, chiefly in connection with the erection of a terminal station. The total expenditure on this account amounted at the end of the year to a sum of $14,602,007, of which $11,539,018 was obtained from the Wuchang Loan and the balance $3,002,380 charged to the general expenditure of the Colony.

The amount of the consolidated loan stands at £1,485,732. Against this there is at credit of the Sinking Fund a sum of £210,855.

No new taxation was imposed during the year.

For the year commenting 1st July, 1915, the existing valuation was adopted, the difference in rateable value being the result of interim-assessments and appeals.

Increuace.

The Hill District, $3,160 or 0'97%.

Shaukiwan, Saiwanho, and Quarry Bay. $4.459 or 1·18%

Hongkong Villages, $11,102 or 673%.

Yaumati, $4,855 or 149%.

Mongkoktsui, $14,040 or 7.13%.

Hung Hom and Hok Un, $1,780 or 0'59%

Kowloon Point, $24,705 or 421%. -

New Kowloon, $1,821 or 1-78%.

Kowloon Villages, $385 or 042%.

Decreases.

The City of Victoria. $171,040 or 143%.

The rateable value of the whole Colony amounted to $14,305,370 being a decrease of $104,733 or 0-72%.

There were 299 appeals against the adopted assessments of 1,516 tenements, and reductions aggregating $355,796 in rateable value were made by order of the Court.

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