CO129-555-2 Estimates 1936 30-8-1935 - 29-1-1937 — Page 227

3.

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of Expenditure apart from Military Contribution.

But here it

is impossible suddenly to close down works now in hand, and at the moment, quite apart from Loan Works, there are a number of large schemes in process of completion, particularly the Queen Mary Hospital, the King's Road at Causeway Bay, the Central British School, the Kowloon Magistracy and the Wanchai Market. It is not proposed that any major works will be begun in 1936 and the programme of lesser works is considerably smaller than usual.

Apart from Public Works Extraordinary, expenditure can be reduced by economies in Social Services, in Recurrent Public Works and in the cost of general administration. Ilon Members will not, I think, desire any drastic cut in the Colony's Social Services, but so far as possible no new obligations in this direction will be assumed next year. Un Public Works

Recurrent the Estimates now before you show a reduction of nearly 10 on the 1935 approved figures which in themselves were considerably lower than those for 1934. As regards general administration the pruning has been severe as will be seen from the frequent occurrence of the footnote "Considered sufficient in the various "Other Charges" votes. "Special Expenditure" subheads also have been drastically reduced and show a total saving of more than a quarter of a million dollars. Retrenchment of staffs beyond what has already been accomplished in recent years has been considered, and while posts have not been abolished vacancies which have occurred or are expected to occur will not be filled if it is con-

sidered in any way possible to leave them unfilled without undue loss of efficiency. The effect of this however can only be gradual and could not greatly affect the present Budget.