CO129-534-3 Report of Retrenchment Commission 4-5-1931 - 19-2-1932 — Page 161

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question.

They feel strongly that a settled programme should

be prepared and definitely adhered to, so that there shall be no recurrence of the untoward happenings of that year.

7. The new Waterworks dopartment should be organizoi as at present into Construction and Maintenance, the latter under an executive engineer responsible to the head of the Waterworks Department, the former under the direct control of the head. The Commissioners do not recommend any Leduction in the stafls of these two sub departments. Hong Kong is behindhand with present requirements, instead of being 5 years ahead as is considered the minimum by water authorities elsewhole. There is a full ten years' programme in front of the department. 8. An indirect result of taking Waterworks out of the Public Works Department is to roliovo the Public Works Departmont Unallocated Storos of having to carry' the large amount of Waterworks storos. By Colonial Rogulations Unallocated Storos of the Public Works Department may not exceed 4 lakhs; of this 4 lakhs Watorworks takes up about 2 lakhs, which loavce a quito insufficient margin for the remaining sub departments.

9. Opportunity should be taken of the re-organization of the administration of the Watcorks office to put upon a proper basis the method by which paymont is mado fox water consumed. As from 1st January 1927 - the year of the first existing Public Works Loan the Colony's water should be price costed. A valuation should be put upon the value at that date of tho

zeservoirs, machinery, land etc. To the cost of interest and sinking fund charges in respect of the 1927 and subsequent loans for waterworks should be added all incidentai expenses that are incurred in delivering water to the individual, e.g. salaries, pensions, and passa¿os of stafi,

waterworks

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