CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7] — Page 477

CONFIDENTIAL(2)

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39463

10 AUC

467

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 12th July, 1924.

for

18934

gir,

With reference to paragraph 2 of my

Confidential despatch of the 14th March, I have the honour

to submit proposels which I hope will have the effect of relieving the Director of Public Works of much detail and routine work connected with the sub-departments of the Public Works Department.

2.

Since my despatch under reference was written it has become probable that for the first time for some years past the whole amount allotted for Public Works in the Estimates will be spent. The failure to spend the large sums provided in the Estimates of the last three years has been the subject of some comment, but it was due to reasons over which the Director had no control. His staff was insufficient, plans could not be prepared in time, and in many cases it was impossible to level sites and open up communications to admit of the letting of contracts. The steady work of those years and the increase in statt have now made it possible to make faster progress, and it is evident that the department will during the next few years have to expend very large sums of money, while a greatly increased responsibility will rest on those officers who are in actual charge of the different sub-departments.

3.

The Director of Public Works is the adviser

of the Government generally and in Executive Council, and

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

J. H. THOMAS, M.P.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

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