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4.
EXPENDITURE.
The expenditure for the year amounted to $28,119,646 as against an estimate of $27,268,515, an increase of $851,181. The total sum of $28,119,646 is made up as follows:
Ordinary Expenditure
Extraordinary Expenditure, Public Works
.$25,269,148 2,850,498
Ordinary expenditure for the year was $25,269,148 against $19,957.252 in the preceeding year, showing an increase of $5,411,866.
The principal heads showing savings were as follows:-
Harbour Department (Air Services)
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The principal heads showing excesses were as follows:-
H.E. the Governor
Post Office
Police Force
Prisons Department
.$ 46,833
Cadet Service
155,220
Senior Clerical & Accounting Staff
81,679
Jumor Clerical Service
106,751
44,855
410,429
91,901
Sanitary Department
77,387
Education Department
312,478
Public Works Department
878,823
Auscellaneous Services
379,049
Charges. on account of Public Debt
224,042
Pensions
167,822
$107,183
Fire Brigade
65,133
Medical Department
23,361
Public Works Recurrent
223,532
Public Works Extraordinary
990,251
Kowloon Canton Railway
408,474
41,194
Defence
Harbour Department (Air Services). The subsidy of $100,000 for Commercial Aviation was not required.
Fire Brigade. The fire float estimated to be paid for iu 1930 was not delivered, only part payment being made and consequent savings were effected in coal and oil fuel.
Medical Department.-It was decided not to proceed with the dispensary launch for which $50,000 was provided,
Public Works Recurrent.-Work was reduced considerably in accordance with the general policy of economy and with four exceptions savings were effected throughout all the sub-heads.
Public Works Extraordinary-Many works provided for in the Estimates were not put in hand until late in the year. Others were curtailed and reduced in order to economise,
Kowloon Canton Railway.-The new passenger coaches for which a sum of $330,000 was provided were not ordered. Less coal was consumed than anticipated and lower contract prices obtained.
Defence. The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was not formed, the whole provision of $25,433 being saved.
The pur- chase of an armoured car estimated at $15,000 has been abandoned.
The excesses in the first ten heads in the above list were in Personal Emoluments almost wholly due to the increase consequent on the adoption of the Salaries Commission Report with effect from the 1st of January, 1980, coupled with the fall in the rate of exchange.
Miscellaneous Services.-Savings of $472,640 including $420,000 provided for High Cost of Living Allowance were offset by the following items :—
Special grant to the University of Hong Kong $300,000; contribution of $300,000 towards the construction of a vertical sea-wall; and an excess of $63,000 on passages for Government servants,
Charges on account of Public Debt.-The whole of this increase is due to the fall in exchange.
Pensions. For the most part this is due to the fall in exchange.
Personal Emoluments were estimated for the year at $8,511,207, whereas the actual expenditure amounted to $10,785,908, an excess of $2,274,701. The sum of $420,000 provided as a high cost of living allowance under "Miscellaneous Services" was saved. To arrive therefore at the actual increase this amount should be deducted leaving the net extra cost as $1,854,701 for 1930. Of this increase approximately $1,000,000 may be ascribed to the adoption of the Salaries Commission Report for both Dollar and Sterling salaries, the balance being due to the fall in the exchange.
Other Charges were estimated at $5,497,572 whereas the actual expenditure amounted to $4,517,780 a saving of $979,792. This is a considerable achievement the individual savings being spread generally throughout the "other charges" items of the Estimates.
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