CO129-505-12 Estimates of expenditure 1928 1-9-1927 - 12-1-1928 — Page 82

-7.

of the Kai Tak Aerodrome and the remaining $500,000 is

unallocated. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has

proposed that the Imperial Government shall bear three

quarters of the cost of the Aerodrome and the Colony one

quarter, but the matter has not yet been finally decided

by His Majesty's Government. If that proportion should be

adopted the cost to the Colony according to the latest

figures available would be $602,700 for Dredging and $594,500

for Kai Tak Aerodrome, and it will be necessary to draw on

the unallocated funds of the loan to the extent of $197,200.

It is proposed to raise $3,000,000 of the total loan in

November next. While dealing with loan works I would observe

that it had been intended to issue in time for to-day's

meeting sessional papers on the proposed Aberdeen Reservoir,

on the Vehicular Ferry Scheme and on the New General Civil

Hospital Scheme, but our Engineers were very fully occupied

earlier in the year with work for the Military in connection

with the arrival of that part of the Shanghai Defence Force

which is stationed here, and it has not been found possible

to complete the investigations in time. The sessional

papers will be issued at a later date.

I would invite the attention of Honourable Members

to Appendix V in the Draft Estimates, which gives a statement

of the position of the 1925 Trade Loan. This of course has

nothing to do with the budget, but it is published for

inform.tion in what is considered a convenient place.

$22,183,045.

93

Turning now to expenditure, the total estimate is

There is a decrease in Public Works Extraordinary

This however is offset by an increase of

$130,638 for Military Contribution and $158,076 for Pensions,

noither of which can we regulate at will. Other large

of $1,239,100.

increases