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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
As the St. John Ambulance Brigade has a very large membership and such splendid records of past services to the community, I have no hesitation in heartily recommending the Government to enlist its services in this respect.
In conclusion, I may add that under the present emergency the fullest understanding and closest co-operation should continue not only between Government and the community, but between all sections of the community. (Applause).
HON. MR. H. T. JOHNSON. Your Excellency,-Honourable Unofficial Members of Council who have spoken before me have dealt so exhaustively with the Budget and other subjects that I may be mercifully brief, but there are one or two points to which I desire to call attention.
Under Head 8, Post Office (C), I observe that the transfer of the Wireless sub-department from Public Works Department to the Post Office involves an increase in the estimate for personnel of $21,830 of which apparently about $7,600 is due to additional technicians to cope with additional work resulting from the establishment of Kai Tak Station. I appreciate that the Post Office is the proper head under which this sub-department should appear, as I understand it is already under Post Office control, but it is disappointing that the transfer not only effects no economy but entails a further addition to the constantly increasing charges on revenue of personal emoluments and pensions.
Head 22, Medical Department, I note the explanations given of the increase of nearly $70,000 in personal emoluments but quite apart from the Queen Mary Hospital there is still an increase of over $50,000 in the rest of the medical establishment. The total of personal emoluments of this department grows steadily year by year and it is sincerely to be hoped that the new Director of Medical Services will find it possible at least to call a halt or, more desirable still, effect some economies.
Under Head 23, Sanitary Department, there is an increase in the Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff of one Class II and one Class III Officers. The footnotes state that the former is to replace an Officer on leave and the latter temporarily replacing a Cadet Officer. I do not understand the word replace as no such Officers appear to have been attached to the Department in 1937 and the proposed appointments will result in adding a further $16,000 to cost of the Sanitary Depart- ment establishment for the year 1938.
Head 24, Botanical & Forestry Department. I would like to have seen something more than the paltry sum of $2,000 budgeted for under this Head for the planting of flowering shrubs, particularly in view of the considerable damage wrought by the typhoon of the 2nd
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