36
65
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Department. The European Sanitary Inspectors have therefore been increased by one Senior and four 2nd Class Inspectors while one Inspector has been transferred to the clerical staff leaving a net increase of four.
more motor refuse
Under Special Expenditure provision is made for two lorries. Motor lorries have proved cheaper and more efficient than bullock carts for the transport of refuse and the policy of replacing the antiquated bul- lock cart by the motor lorry is being pursued.
The cost of the refuse barge provided in the last Estimates will fall to be paid in 1927 and a revote is therefore provided.
BOTANICAL AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
The only items calling for special comment are first that it is proposed to fill the post of Assistant Superintendent which has been left vacant for some time as a measure of retrenchment, and second- ly that provision has been made for ex- tending the Forestry Reserve at Tai Po.
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Under Other Charges the principal in- crease is in Capitation Grants. These were reduced from $117,930 in 1925 to $100,000 in 1926 and it is necessary to increase them to $116,560 with the return to more normal conditions in 1927. vision has been made for increased sub-
Pro-
sidies to encourage education in the New Territories. Under Special Expenditure the vote for Building Grants which had stood at $150,000 in each of the years 1924 and 1925 was omitted entirely in 1926.
It is considered essential to restore it in the 1927 Estimates and a sum of $100,000 is provided. The increase in the equipment vote is chiefly required to com- plete the equipment of the new King's College.
The total increase in the amount pro- vided for education amounts to no less than $235,438. The total vote is however only $15,569 more than the amount pro- vided for 1925 and even in these days of retrenchment I do not think that Hon- ourable Members will grudge the restora- tion of the votes for this matter of vital importance to the future well-being of the Colony.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
With the curtailment of the amount of work for which the Government finds itself able to make provision next year it has been possible to make a small reduction in the Personal Emoluments vote for the Public Works Department.. The amount provided may appear exces- sive for the work to be done but it must be remembered that the staff of a large Department cannot be expanded and con- tracted in a moment. The staff has only recently been increased at great trouble and expense to deal with a very large expenditure amounting in 1924 to nearly $10,000,000 and in 1925 to nearly $11,000,000. At the moment we find our- selves compelled to reduce this expendi- ture to something just over $6,000,000 but the Government is optimistic enough to think that the time is not far distant when it will be possible to proceed with some of the postponed works, and that it
trained staff we have so laboriously col- lected together. Considerable savings are however anticipated on the Personal Emoluments Vote as it is intended so
The subject of Education is one to which Your Excellency has devoted much personal attention since your return to the Colony last year, and the importance which the Government attaches to it is reflected in the increased provision made in the Estimates for next year. It will be remembered that drastic reductions were made last year in anticipation of reduced attendance. This anticipation has happily not been realized and the De- partment consequently finds itself seri- ously understaffed. The whole of the teaching staff as regards its numbers, its classification and its salaries has been passed under review with resultant changes too numerous and detailed for recapitulation here. I shall be happy to deal in Committee with any points which may be raised. The net result is an increase in the Personal Emoluments vote of just over one lakh, which pro-would be false economy to disperse the videa for a total increase of 30 in the staff of whom 13 temporary mistresses were formerly paid for from savings and were not shown in the Estimates.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
ment on Police Launches and at Police Stations.
PUBLIC WORKS RECURRENT
66
This head has been recast in what is
hoped will prove a more convenient form and is summarised on page 75.
These are mainly estimates for main- tenance and minor improvements, and re- current expenditure such as rainstorm and typhoon damages. It is the con-
ance
far as possible to leave unfilled such vacancies as may occur during the year. Opportunity has been taken to re-organise the wireless staff in the light of our grow. ing experience of this subject and at the same time to group under the Electrical Department the wireless staff working under the Electrical Engineer but lent to other Departments. The new posts under staff lent to Police Department are to provide operators for new wireless equip-sidered opinion of the Government that
even when economy
and retrenchment are necessary it is of the utmost import- to maintain existing roads and buildings in a state of complete repair The Port Development Department has and it has been observed that the sums been re-absorbed into the Public Works voted under this Head bave very fre- Department under the supervision of the quently been exceeded in the past. The Director of Public Works and the separamount expended in 1924 was $1,793,968, ate post of Port Engineer has been in 1925 $1,574,431. The Estimates for abolished, the holder now on leave being 1926 was $1,199,700 and the actual ex- transferred to the post of Manager, Rail penditure will probably be $1,880.000- way, which will shortly fall vacant. This $748,985 of which represents expenditure change has been made after the fullest due to the great storm on July 19th last. consideration by His Excellency who is While it is not possible to provide for satisfied not only that in the present state such exceptional catastrophes it is con- of the Colony's finances the continuance sidered a wise precaution to provide for of a separate Port Development Depart the full normal expenditure. The votes ment would be unjustifiable, but also that have therefore been generally increased the Port Development works are in this and the total has been carried out at Colony so closely interconnected
$1,540,000. works falling under the Public Works Department as to make it necessary in the interests of efficiency to bring them all under the same control. Provision has been made under Port Development for one new temporary Engineer to carry out the survey of the Harbour, the neces- sity for which was recently represented to the Finance Committee.
with
The Resumption Office has been shown as a separate branch of the Public Works Departament.
Reductions amounting to $26,559 have been found possible under Other Charges owing to the reduction in the amount of the work to be undertaken.
Provision has been made under Special Expenditure for equipping Government Garages and Workshops ($3,000) with a view to economy in the cost of repairs and for three new motor-cars, one for Kowloon and two for Victoria. Rapidity of transport is a modern necessity and it is cheaper to provide Government cars than to pay the cost of hiring.
PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY
This is the one Head of Expenditure on which it is possible to curtail expendi- ture in times of difficulty without seri- ously impairing the general efficiency of the administration or the health and comfort of the people. The works are of a special and extraordinary nature and however desirable such works may be they can only be undertaken if money is available to pay for them. The policy of the Government in view of the financial situation is to continue and so far as
possible to complete the large works to which the Colony, in its very proper policy of development, found itself com- mitted when the crisis of last year arose. The Government is fully aware of the many works which in the opinion of the Public are desirable and even necessary and among these the Government places high on the list the rebuilding of the Government Civil Hospital but these works could only be undertaken by an increase of taxation or by borrowing. After full consideration the Government
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