CO129-572-13 Proposed reorganisation of control over purchase and maintenance of Government stores 4-3-1938 - 28-4-1938 — Page 7

:

No. 189.

Sir,

VED

3

C. O. RECY

1.7

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

4th March, 1938.

I have the honour to submit for your approval

the following proposals for the reorganization of the

control over the purchase and maintenance of all Government (other than Railway) stores in the Colony.

2.

In 1923 Sir R. E. Stubbs approved in principle the establishment of a Central Store and, following a report made by the then Assistant Superintendent of Accounts and Stores in the Public Works Department, he approved in the following year the setting up of an entirely distinct stores department. The change was, however, deferred until a building had been provided to serve as a Central Store and for a number of reasons which are not now material the erection of such a store was postponed year after year.

The general policy of establishing a distinct stores department and centralizing the purchase of stores was confirmed by Sir Cecil Clementi in 1929 but definite action was again postponed owing to the change of Governors which took place shortly afterwards and owing to the need for economy which led the Retrenchment Commission in 1931

to recommend that no action should be taken.

3.

More recently, however, two steps have been taken to give effect to the policy approved in principle THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

W.G.A. ORMSBY-GORE, P.C., M.P.,

&

&C.,

&C.

&C.