CO129-576-10 Estimates 1940 6-10-1939 - 22-10-1940 — Page 378

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SUB-HEAD 14.-The increased cost of stamps is due to provision for a special Centenary Issue, and it should be balanced by extra revenue.

Personal Emoluments.

Owing to increased public demands particularly in the Registration and Parcels Branch and to the opening of two new offices at Tsun Wan and Shaukiwan twelve more Class VI Clerks and fifteen more Class III postmen are required.

HEAD 20B. WIRELESS.

SUB-HEADS 13, 16 AND 17.—These are replacements of worn out and obsolete apparatus. The short wave transmitter will also give protection against piracy to a degree not formerly possible. The expenditure is productive of a rapidly growing revenue receipts from wireless receiving licences alone increased from $100,000 to $135,000 from 1938 to 1939 and the increase is expected to continue.

SUB-HEAD 14.-Emergency petrol electric equipment for Air Raid Precau- tions purposes is required at four stations.

SUB-HEAD 15.-The provision of a separate transmitter for distress and safety calls is necessary to comply with the International Radiocommunication Regulations.

Personal Emoluments.

Two new posts of Technician Class III and two of Mechanician Class III are required to staff the new short wave marine transmitter (Sub-head 17). One new post of Rigger, one of Carpenter and one of Night Watchman are required for the new Station at Hunghom.

HEAD 20C.

BROADCASTING.

The reasons for the proposed increases are as follows:-

The rapid increase in wireless receiving licences (Head 20B, Sub-

head 13 etc. supra) calls for improved programmes.

2. Two years' Royalties and Reuter fees are payable during the fifteen

months involved.

HEAD 21.-PRISONS DEPARTMENT.

SUB-HEAD 24. The provision of 44 additional sewing machines, making a total of 100 in use, will enable the Prisons Department to supply most of the uniforms required for Subordinate Government Officers.

Personal Emoluments.

1. In accordance with the recommendations of a Colonial Office Committee

the title of Officer replaces that of European Warder.

2. No increase in the staff of senior officers was made when the Stanley Prison was opened as the main prison of the Colony. It has now been found that owing to the extent of the latter two senior officers are insufficient. A third with title Assistant Superintendent on a scale of £500 to £820 IS accordingly proposed. At the same time the scale of salary of the Superintendent has been raised from £600 rising to £850 to £820 rising to £940. For the same reason it is considered necessary to increase the staff of Officers by four in order to exercise effective control.

3. The opening of the Victoria Remand Prison entails one additional Principal

Officer and four additional Officers.

4. Owing to the great increase in the productive work of the department without an accompanying increase in the number of skilled prisoners it is considered necessary to promote the Principal Officer in charge of this work to a new post of Principal Industrial Officer (replacing his former post) on a slightly higher salary and to create under the Indian Staff three new posts of tailor, carpenter and smith on the scale of $1,000 to $1,300.

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