CO129-505-12 Estimates of expenditure 1928 1-9-1927 - 12-1-1928 — Page 101

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for the amount now and thereby avoid, as we hope, any need for a supplementary voto next year.

Asiatic subordinate officers receiving a salary

of more than $450 per annum arc granted a rent allowance after 10 years service. More officers are qualifying for the allowance year by year, consequently the voto has had

to be increased.

The vote for telograms had to bo augmented by a supplementary vote of $11,000 in March of this year, owing to the great increase in telegraphic correspondence resultant on the disturbances in China. $12,000 has been inserted for next year. There will it is expected be a saving on this vote once the short wave wireless apparatus is installed, but it is too carly for any accurate reduction at present.

Subhoad 45

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'Transport of Government servants'

has been incrcased by $50,000 to meet the extra cost resultant on the reduction in the period qualifying for homo passages from 4 to 4 years.

Head 35 Charitable Services.

There are two now votes under this head. They are $10,000 for free burials for the Tung Wah Hospital and $7,000 for the Kwong Wah Hospital. These two hospitals have in

previous years paid for the cost of coffins ctc. for free

burials from the mortuary and General Civil Hospital, both Government institutions. The Tung Wah Hospital Committee

has appealed for a reimbursement of the cost and the Govern- ment fools that this is a proper charge on the Revonuc. The work could not be done so satisfactorily if undertaken departmentally. The amounts inserted in the Estimates arc based on the expenditure for this service by the two hospitals for the last five years.

A