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Under Special Expenditure a sum of has been provided for the $1,500 equipments necessary for the examination of cassia and anise oils. This work, which has been undertaken at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, will be carried on in a room built specially for the purpose. It is expected that the expenditure incurred will be recovered from the fees paid for the examinations.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
proved a success so far, and I therefore propose to increase the number of the scouts as opportunity offers. The sum paid to each scout is $60 a year, and the provision made is therefore sufficient for twenty, of whom eight are already being employed. The votes for Incidental Expenses, Secret Service, and Transport have been increased by $1,600, $3,000, and $3,000 respectively, the amounts inserted this year having been under-estimated. The vote for coal and oil-fuel for launches has been increased by $6,300, to meet the rise in price and to provide for the motor launch. Under Light and Electric Fans an increase of $1,015 has been estimated for. Of this sum $165 is for the lighting of Shaukiwan and Tsat-tsz mui Stations.
Under Special Expenditure provision has been made for a new steam-launch at a cost of $37,500. This launch is to replace No. 2 launch, which has been condemned as unseaworthy and sold. A sum of $1,800 has been provided for the hire of a launch pending the completion
of the new launch. The motor launch to which I have already referred is estimated to cost $5,000.
F
iro Brigade
use
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Provision has been made for a new motor fire engine and pump at a cost of $13,364. This is for use in the City of Victoria. Experience of the motor tender
in
has shown the great present advantage of motor propelled fire appliances. It has been found possible to get the engine to all parts of the City On where there are Chinese buildings. the upper levels in many places there is not sufficient water pressure and volume to throw more than one jet to the top of a building. The use of a motor pump will remedy this defect.
Prison
Under Special Expenditure a sum of $3,840 has been entered for the purchase of machines and tools for the printing shop in order to cope with the increasing work and to secure greater efficiency.
Medical Department Provision has been made for three additional sisters at a total cost of $3,737. This increase to the staff has been rendered necessary by the separation of the Maternity Hospital nursing staff from that of the Government Civil Hospital.
Sanitary Department
Four Inspectors have been added to the establishment on the recommendation of the Sanitary Board at a cost of $7,474. These Inspectors are required for the purpose of carrying out the periodical cleansing of Chinese tenement houses every quarter instead of half-yearly as hitherto, In consequence of these new posts it has been necessary to provide for four 5th Grade Interpreters costing $1,920. In order to cope with the extra cleansing work 32 coolies are required at
In
a cost of $4,224. Provision has also been made for 25 scavenging coolies at a cost of $2,700. Of these, 15 are for the Eastern half of the City and the Peak, and 10 for the Western half of the City. The steady growth of new houses and streets has made it impossible for the present staff to cover the ground properly, November, 1913, a departmental haulage system was instituted for pulling the scavenging carts in place of the
which had contract system,
proved unsatisfactory. Sixty men were required for this work, and the trial during the current year has been so successful that it has been decided to adopt the system permanently. Provision has, therefore, been made for this number of men (being half the contract number) during next year at a cost of $6,480. By this change a saving of $90 has been effected with a great gain in efficiency.
Under Other Charges a sum of $3,110 has been provided for lighting smaller markets. There is an increase of $1,300 in the vote "Uniform for Staff" due to the additions to the staff mentioned above.
Under Special Expenditure a sum of $10,000 has again been entered for the removal of ceilings in order to permit of a continuance of the plague-preventive measures. Two four-wheeled water-carts have been provided for a cost of $1,250, to replace two of the old two-wheeled carts, which are very hard on the bullocks, and are continually in need of repairs.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Botanical and Forestry Department
Under Special Expenditure a sum of $1,530 has been provided for making a new lawn at Mountain Lodge in place of the present chunam court.
Education
The most important item under this head is the provision for the transfer of the Ellis Kadoorie School to the Govern- ment. In the month of April last, Mr. Ellis Kadoorie offered to hand over to the Government the splendid buildings of the school, which bears his name, and land on which it stands, completely equipped and entirely free of charge. The approval of the Secretary of State was obtained for the transfer, and the Government has therefore become possessed through the great generosity of Mr. Ellis Kadoorie of a valuable addition to its scholastic institutions. A sum of $28,700 has been entered under Personal Emoluments to provide for the necessary staff, and a sum of $945 under Other Charges to meet the cost of electric fans, books, prizes, and incidental expenses. At the Belilios Public School provision has been made for an Assistant Mistress as the existing staff is inadequate to deal with the increased attendance. The staff of the Indian School has been increased at a cost of $2,880, as it is expected that the school will be transferred to a permanent building on a new site in July, 1915. This building, which is estimated to cost $40,000, is the gift of a generous donor, who wishes for the present to remain anonymous.
CC
Under the heading "Grants a new sub-head University Examination Grants, $6,880" has been inserted. These grants will take the place of the existing grants for the Oxford Local Examina- tions, which were estimated to cost
$4,715 in 1914.
Under Special Expenditure a sum of $1,994 has been inserted for furniture for the quarters attached to the Kowloon British School, Victoria British School and the Peak School, as it has been | decided to provide necessary heavy furniture for these quarters.
Military Expenditure
The Defence Contribution shows an increase of $542,325. The calculation of this item is shown in Appendix II. It
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will be seen that of the total amount of $2,241,305, a sum of $298,154 is in respect of arrears during the current year. These arrears are much larger than usual, but this is naturally due to the increase in
revenue.
Volunteers
There is an increase of $8,850 in the vote Capitation Grant due to the increase in the strength of the corps. Under "Volunteer Reserves a sum of $1,050 has been entered for "Capitation Grant." This is a new sub-head and provides for a grant of $3 a head for 350 efficients, which has been approved by the Secretary of State. Under Special Expenditure & further sum of $13,222 has been entered for the purchase of rifles and ammunition.
Public Works
Under Personal Emoluments a sum of $3,360 has been entered to provide for six additional foremen and one clerk at $480 each in connection with the Tytamtuk Scheme, Second Section. Provision has been made for three additional Land Surveyors at a cost of $11,211. Two of these surveyors are required in connection with the Praya East Reclamation Scheme, and the third is for adjusting arrears in the survey work in the New Territories. Under Water Works two 3rd Grade House Service Inspectors have been provided for at a cost of $1,920. At the present time there is no systematic method of carrying out these inspections, which are designed for the detection of unauthorised connections, and the repair of leaks and defective fittings. This will tend to prevent waste of water, and to ensure that the provisions of the law are more effectively enforced.
JJ
Under Other Charges the following items have been increased :—
Conveyance Allowance by $1,440 for the three new surveyors, and for the two apprentice surveyors in the Crown Lands and Surveys Department, for whom no allowances have hitherto been provided.
Drawing Materials and Mount-
ing Plans
.$1,800 Land Survey Contingencies 1,000
Under Special Expenditure a sum of $1,000 has been provided for furniture for the offices consisting of plan cases, book-cases and filing-cabinets.
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