CO129-545-1 Estimates 1934 4-10-1933 - 17-4-1934 — Page 178

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casualty may upset a whole range of dispositions.

Coming now to the Departments it will be observed

that a new item "Unpassed Cadets in training has been

entered under the Colonial Secretary's Office. This as was explained at the introduction of the Budget for 1933

is to meet the cost of the new arrangement by which re-

cruits for the Colonial Administrative Service undergo a

year's preliminary training at home. As regards the pro- vision of two such allowances against anticipated require-

ments I may inform the Council that the Government has

just been notified that one of its junior Passed Cadets, now on leave, is medically unfit for further service in

Hong Kong. I have also to announce with deep regret,

both official and personal, that my Honourable friend the Secretary for Chinese Affairs has applied for and received His Excellency's permission to retire from the Service

next year.

Audit Department.

Under the Audit Department an increase of one

Class III Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff post is

considered essential. New forms of revenue and expendi-

ture have been steadily added to the accounts over which

that department must maintain a survey and it is no

longer possible for the work to be done with any margin

of safety without an increase of staff. For some years

to come the Auditor will have in addition to his ordinary

responsibilities to carry a special and heavy burden in

the shape of the Accounts and Stores of the Shing Mun

Gorge Dam.