380
134
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Volunteer Defence Corps
Public Works Department Public Works Department,
Special Expenditure Public Works, Recurrent Public Works, Extraordinary
Post Office
32,794
For next year the Revenue is estimated 800.330 to amount to $17,276,260. The principal increases over the estimated revenue for 1.350 this year are as follows: 699,550
6,611,300
Assessed taxes
159,800
381,422
Kowloon-Canton Railway
Liquor duties
279,400
530,421
Kowloon-Canton Railway,
Stamp duties
100,000
Tobacco duties
444,500
Special Expenditure
265.345
Pensions
Postage
95,000
393.111
Charitable Services
67.484
Railway--net
77,500
Rents-net
52,400
Interest
40,000
Total
$16.450,131
Conservancy Contracts..
48,100
1,334,000
Land sales
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. The last item includes the balance of the
H.E. THE GOVERNOR said—Honourable Members of the Legislative Council,
M
col-
large sum realised by the recent sale of the site of the old Post Office and Supreme Court, which is not due till early next year. Stamp duties are fully realising our expectations while the amount In submitting for your consideration lected for Tobacco duties is now actually the Estimates of Revenue and Expendi-more than the revenue from opium before ture for the year 1922, I feel that you the commcement of the Monopoly. will concur with me in regarding our financial position as quite satisfactory.
The year 1920 finished with a balance of revenue over expenditure of $200,078.41 and a balance of assets over liabilities of $4.490,266.31.
It is now estimated that the revenue for the current year will amount to $16,590,519 or $1,254,169 more than the original estimate. This change is due to the large sums realised recently by the sale of Crown Lands which more than balance a prospective deficit in the esti- mated revenue from the sale of opium, and in the estimated revenue from stamp duties owing to the Ordinance increasing the duties not having been passed until May.
The expenditure, for the current year is now estimated at $16,111,990 or $1,237,160 less than the original estimate. Owing to various causes it was impossible to begin several of the larger public works until the year was well advanced with the result that the sum that will probably be expended is $3,307,500 instead of $4.967,400.
The balance of Assets over Liabilities at the end of this year is now estimated at $4,968,795.
|
Passing now to the principal decreases in the revenue, the figures for the opium Monopoly have been further reduced by $500,000, and again I would remark that though unfortunate from a financial aspect, this decrease is gratifying from a wider point of view. Other large de-
creases are
China Companies Fees..... $56,270 Engagement and Discharge
of Seamen Sunday Cargo Working
Permits
20,500
25,000
The expenditure for next year is esti mated to amount to $20,207,980, being $2,858,830 more than the original estimate and $4,095,990 more than the revised esti mate for the current year. The increases and decreases under each department are set out in the sessional paper which has been laid on the table. In order to make Revenue and Expenditure balance it will be necessary to draw upon our balanceS to the extent of $2,931,720 if the large sums provided for Public Works Extra- ordinary are expended.*
* See Debate of November 14th.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
135
MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES Under Miscellaneous Services on page following changes of importance.
It will be observed that the amount required for personal emolumenta ig considerably larger than before. This is 30, honourable members will find the due both to increases of salaries in several departments, and to all sterling salaries being reckoned at twelve dollars to the pound under the sliding scale authorised last year. There will be say- ings on all sterling salaries so long as the exchange value of the dollar is above 28. 6d.
TREASURY
The staff at the Treasury has been slightly increased to cope with the addi- tional work, and there is a considerable increase in the clerical salaries owing to the revision.
HARBOUR MASTER'S DEPARTMENT
$1,700 has been added to the bathing beaches vote to provide for the additional beach at Stonecutters. The vote for the University is made up of the annual grant of 850,000, $36,000 interest at 6 per cent, on the outstanding balance of $600,000 of the Government contribution and a further instalment of $100,000 to of $5,000 has been inserted for the first be paid at the end of the year. A sum time for the running expenses of Govern. ment motor-cars. The $100,000 provided in 1921 as special allowance on salaries disappears with the revision of salaries provided for elsewhere.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
It
In the Harbour Master's Department, a few additional posts have been found Emoluments and other charges in the The large increase both in Personal necessary, and it is anticipated that the Police Department is mainly due to the revenue will be increased thereby: In fall in exchange, there being a large this department, the votes under other establishment of European officers on charges for coal repairs and stores for sterling salaries. The only other increase launches have been increased by the of importance is due to the provision of transfer to the vote of amounts previous- an additional harbour launch, and the ly paid by the Medical and Prison De-transfer of a steam launch from the Im- partments in connection with their laun- ports and Exports Department in ex- ches. The Harbour Department will for change for a motor boat. These changes the future take charge of the running of bave necessitated these launches. and it is expected that personal emoluments and in the items an increase both in greater efficiency will result. Provision of coal, repairs, etc., for launches. has further been made under special ex- has also been necessary to replace a worn- penditure for the purchase of new launch out launch by a new launch. for the Department to replace H.D.2"
Hence the and for making certain changes in the special expenditure. Provision has also provision for two new launches under lights at Green Island, Gap Rock and been made in special expenditure for Waglan.
two additional search lights. These are intended for two of the four large cruis- ing launches of which one has already In the Imports and Exports Depart intended to provide the cost of a search been provided with a search light. It is ment provision has been made for ad-light for the remaining launch in the ditional staff, including four additional estimates for 1923. Revenue Officers and ten Chinese Revenue Officers. The steam launch attached to this Department is, by an exchange with the In connection with the re-organisation Police Department, being replaced by a of the Fire Brigade as recommended in motor launch, which will cost the De sessional paper No. 7 of 1921, it has been partment less to run. Purchase of Raw thought advisable to separate the Police Opium is estimated at $150,000 less than Department and Fire Brigade entirely in 1921. Under other charges a sum of in the Estimates for 1922. The large in- $4,000 hais been included for liquor crease in the latter is due entirely to labels. The Superintendent expects by provision being made to carry into effect this system to simplify the detection of the recommendations made by the Captain persons who evade the the liquor duties. Superintendent of Police.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OFFICE
FIRE BRIGADE
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