CO129-525-3 Estimates 1931 and other financial papers 16-1-1930 - 1-9-1932 — Page 307

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KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY.........

(The new locomotives being fitted with super- heuters and feed water heaters and further

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better quality of coal resulted in a reduction of $38,722 in the amount estimated for coal. In addition general savings under "Other Charges amounted to $20,474. Post- ponement of works under "Special Expendi- ture including Sheung Shui Station exten- sion ($38.479) reduced the amount required under this head by $60,934. On the other hand the derailment at mile 94 and washout to the embankment in April cost $51,110).

PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY

$ 68,335

$125,068

(Many works provided for in the Estimates were curtailed or cut out in order to eco- nomise).

Increases.

CADET SERVICE

$ 69,857

(Due entirely to the fall in exchange).

TREASURY

$ 16,645

(Salaries accounted for $6,266 and $10,451 was spent more than estimated in the pur- chase of Revenue stamps owing to increased duty and the larger demand from the public).

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OFFICE

(The purchase of raw opium cost $156,071 more than anticipated owing to the fall in the dollar).

POLICE FORCE

(The following subheads were exceeded owing to exchange Personal Emoluments $82,370, Ammunition $6,635, Fassages $40,242. In addition a motor emergency unit was bought at a cost of $10,662. The principal savings were Clothing $11,886, Bedding $3,406, Con- veyance allowances $3,353, Rations for In- dian Police $7,808, and Expenses of Anti Piracy Guards $5,478).

PRISONS

(Of this increase $49,204 was due to a revised and improved scale of rations for prisoners and $6,445 to an increase in the price of gas).

$160,100

$ 57,199

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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

(Personal Emoluments cost $268,924 more than estimated. Economies. were effected in nearly all the subheads under "Other Charges" but these were counterbalanced by an excess of $22,938 on Radio stores owing to increased traffic and $78,098 in the purchase of a Broadcast transmitter).

PUBLIC WORKS RECURRENT

(Owing to economy requirements work was greatly curtailed on general maintenance re- sulting in savings amounting to $234,132. On the other hand the Typhoons during the year cost $90,833 more than provided in the estimates. $146,926 was spent in addition to the amount originally voted on water meters due to the large demand and the increase in the price of gas accounted for $34,057).

DEFENCE. Military Contribution

(Balance of contributions in respect of the year 1930 paid when the final figures for the year were known).

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES

$267,750

$ 45,776

$148,308

$720,170

cost

(Transport of Government Servants $189,742 more than estimated owing to the low rate of exchange and to the fact that the original vote was somewhat under-estimated. The rise in exchange towards the end of the year caused the dollar value of sterling se- curities and short term investments as at 31st December to require adjustment for the balance sheet costing $385,961. The actual market depreciation in sterling of sterling se- curities forming the investments on account of surplus balances amounted to £10,005— 9s.-11d, or $144,986 and this sum was also written off. Expenses in connection with the Currency Commission amounted to $35,201).

CHARITABLE SERVICES

$ 32,290

(A special grant of $20,000 was made to the Flood Relief Fund of China).

CHARGES ON ACCOUNT OF PUBLIC Debt

$256,060

$ 64,750

(The whole of this increase is due to the fall in exchange).

PENSIONS

$313,441

(For the most part this is due to the fall in exchange).

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