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Investigative Division,
84. There has been a great increase in the work of this division especially in connection with the preparation of sera and vaccines. A Chinese Assistant Bacterio- logist and a probationer Laboratory Assistant have been provided to help to meet
this increase.
Chemical Division.
85. Salaries of Assistant Analysts have been revised in accordance with a scale approved by the Secretary of State,
B. HOSPITALS.
Queen Mary Hospital.
85. It has been necessary to provide a Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff officer to take over the supervision of the ever increasing clerical work of this hospital.
Kowloon Hospital.
Infectious Diseases Block.
87. Supplementary provision has been made this year for the erection of a -mall infectious diseases block at Kowloon Hospital. The work will be finished by the end of the year and provision for staffing has been included accordingly.
Lai Chi Kok Temporary Chinese Hospital.
88. To relieve the gross overcrowding in Chinese hospitals the old prison quarters at Lai ('hi Kok have been converted into an overflow hospital for Chinese patients. Supplementary provision was made during 1938 and staff requirements are now included as there is no likelihood of this work being discontinued during the next year. A part of the Lai Chi Kok buildings has been used for a Cholera hospital and provision is made for a skeleton staff for this section which can be expanded should the need arise.
Almoner Service.
89. With the approval of the Secretary of State it has been decided to inaugurate an Almoner Service for Government hospitals. It is proposed to recruit a properly trained and qualified Lady Almoner from England and provision is also made It is not proposed to fill these posts for two Assistant Almoners on dollar salaries. until the Almoner has arrived and has had time to consider local problems.
HEAD 18. MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES,
Chinese at
90. SUB-HEAD 15.-Owing to lack of funds the Professorship the School of Oriental Studies, London, had to be discontinued. A sum of £700 per annum is necessary to restore this Professorship and in reply to an appeal from the University was decided that Hong Kong should offer to increase its annual contribution to £350 on condition that the remainder of the sum was forthcom- ing from other sources. The offer has been gratefully accepted and provision is inserted accordingly.
91. SUB-READ 28.-The sum of £30 is included as an annual grant in aid of the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association which is engaged in leprosy research. 92. SUL-HEAD 26. It was originally agreed that this Colony should stage at individual exhibit at the New York World Fair in 1939 and it was estimated that a It has now been decided that the Colonial sum of $20,000 would be needed.
Empire shall be represented by a composite exhibit to which all Colonies have been A sum of $3,500 invited to contribute on a basis of 1/100 per cent, of revenue. is included accordingly,
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93. SUB-HEAD 38.-Owing to the introduction of salary scales for newly appointed senior officers on a basis involving much lower rent allowances it has been found possible to reduce this Sub-head by $10,000.
94. SUB-HEAD 44.-Abnormal conditions obtaining in the Far East have very greatly increased the amount of Government telegraphic correspondence. The vote has had to be supplemented in 1938 and increased provision essential.
95. SUB-HEAD 46.-Advantage has been taken of presence in the Colony of a well qualified Chinese graduate to institute an investigation into the fishes and fishery methods of the Colony. A great deal of useful information has already been obtained.
HEAD 19. PENSIONS.
96. The increase of $470,000 over the approved estimate for 1938 makes allowance for the continuance of the steady growth of the Colony's pension bill due to past inevitable increases in staff and in emoluments. The following ligures shew the growth in recent years.
Total expenditure on pensions :-
January-June, 1936
**
JJ
1937
1938
"
HEAD 20. POLICE FORCE.
Other Charges.
$1,091,640 $1,806,959 $1,425,957
97. SUB-HEAD 2.—Since 1934, when no 303 ammunition was purchased, the Police Force has been without a reserve supply of ammunition. Attempts to create a reserve by reduction in training courses fired have proved unsatisfactory and provision is now included for the purchase of additional supplies.
98. SUB-HEAD 8.—In addition to the increased cest of coal and gas there has been an increase in consumption by the addition of the gaol clearing station and more married quarters.
99. SUB-HEAD 17. An increase of $1,000 to provide lighting for the new Passport Office housed in Chung Tin Building.
100. SUB-HEAD 18. With the institution of the new Colonial Police Medal extra provision is necessary for officers who will become eligible in 1939.
101. SUB-HEAD 28.—Provision is made for certain heavy repairs and over- hauls which must be carried out next year.
102. SUB-HEAD 30.-As the Safety First Campaign is now an annual event it has been transferred from Special Expenditure.
103. SÚB-HEAD 37. -Now that Victoria Gaol is closed the Police vans trans- port a number of prisoners daily from Kowloon to Hong Kong and additional fares on the Vehicular Ferry have to be paid.
Special Expenditure,
104. SUB-HEAD 40.--Reorganization of the correspondence office at Head- quarters is in progress and it is proposed to replace wooden filing cabinets by steel. The wooden cabinets will be transferred to other stations.
105. SUB-HEAD 13.-It is proposed to equip all station barrack rooms with locally made steel cupboards of approved standard design. The expenditure will he spread over three or four years.
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