CO129-506-4 Public Works Loan Ordinance- 1927 23-9-1927 - 28-2-1928 — Page 46

1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

77

Works Department it should be remembered that to the $2,467,164 provided for expenditure under Public Works Extraordinary must be added a sum estimated at over $2,000,000 to be expended next year from Loan Funds and funds provided by His Majesty's Government on the Water Schemes, the Harbour Dredging and the Aerodrome, all of which are being carried out under the supervision of the existing Public Works Staff.

"}

Under other charges "Conveyance Allowances show a decrease with the reduction in staff. Subhead, 3" Drawing Materials and Mounting Plans" has been reduced by $2,000. Sub-head 4-" Electric Fans and Light" has been increased to $28,000. The whole of the lighting of the new Fire Station building is to be paid for by the Public Works Department. Subhead 5-" Incidental Expenses

has been reduced by $3,000, and subhead 6-"Lifts Maintenance " has been reduced to $4,000. The Fire Brigade which provides the operators will in future also pay for the maintenance of the lifts in the Fire Station Building. More surveying instruments will be required next year, and the vote has been increased accordingly. With the purchase of more Government cars not so much will be required for the "Trans- port and Travelling vote, and a reduction of $2,000 has been made. Subhead 9- Uniforms " has been increased so as to provide the office staff, messengers, etc., with uniforms in accordance with the fixed scale. The motor and steam rollers will require more extensive repairs next year, and the vote has been increased to $8,000. A reduction of $2,000 has been made on subhead 13-"Upkeep of Quarry Plant." The Radio Telegraph Branch has been steadily expanding, and next year it is proposed to install a short wave transmitter and receiver which will enable commercial messages to and from the United King- dom and possibly other countries to be handled. It is anticipated that this will bring in a considerable amount of revenue, as well as effecting a saving on Government messages. Provision is made for the necessary apparatus under Special Expenditure, and with more apparatus it will be necessary to increase the subhead

"Repairs, Stores and Current." Provision has also been made for an additional receiver to improve the reception of Rugby press messages, which often cannot be received owing to atmospherics. With the new apparatus it is expected almost all will be clearly received. The equipment of the Government garages and workshops on which $3,000 is being spent this year is not yet complete, and it is necessary to provide a further $5,000 next year. This will enable all cars on this side of the harbour to be repaired here, instead of having to be sent over to the already overburdened Railway Workshops.

Head 30-Public Works Recurrent,

There is a nett increase on this head of $69,750 but of this amount $13,000 for upkeep of bathing places has been transferred from Head 34-Miscellaneous Services,

46