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B.-AGRICULTURE.
It is proposed to establish an Experimental Agricultural Station in the New Territories with a view to improving local agriculture and animal husbandry and so help to make the Colony less dependant on outside sources for its food supplies. If times were normal it is possible that a grant from the Colonial Development Fund might be made available for this purpose; such a grant can hardly be expected in present circumstances but it is felt that the need for this Station is so pressing that funds should be provided from local sources if the financial position permits. Accordingly a sum of $150,000 is provided under Head 30, Public Works Extra- ordinary, for the erection and equipment of the Station buildings and since the Station will be under the general supervision of the Superintendent of the Botanical and Forestry Department, who has already been gazetted as Agricultural Adviser for the Colony, it is fitting that provision be made under Head 4 for the personnel and maintenance of the Station. The Station will be in the direct charge of a European Agricultural Officer who, it is proposed, will be recruited from another Colony; the salary scale suggested for this post is that obtaining for similar posts in the African Colonies. One of the most important problems of the moment is to what extent human nightsoil and other waste matters from the urban area can first be rendered harmless from the point of view of public health and then distributed to the farmers of the New Territories as fertilizer; the recent researches of Mr. G. S. Kennedy-Skipton have shown that this matter is worth pursuing and as a first step, on the recommendation of the Government's Agricultural Adviser, a sum of $60,000 is provided under Sub-head 14, Experimental Disposal of Nightsoil in New Territories, for further practical experiments in this direction.
HEAD 5. CHARITABLE SERVICES.
SUB-HEAD 3.—It is proposed to increase the grant to the Chinese Public Dis- pensaries from $30,000 to $40,000 per annum. These institutions continue to do excellent work in spite of falling subscriptions from the public; it is considered that they should be encouraged by an increased grant to carry on and so relieve the pressure on the Tung Wah and Government Hospitals.
SUB-HEAD 11.-The number of inmates of the Po Leung Kuk has greatly increased since the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese hostilities in 1937 and the influx of refugees, and the Committee finds that its income from subscriptions and other sources is, insufficient to meet expenditure. Since all women and children in the Kuk are sent there by the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs or the Police it is fitting that Government should increase its annual grant from $10,000 to $15,000.
SUB-HEAD 17.--Hitherto the monies confiscated by the Magistrates as a result of Police raids on gambling establishments, etc., have been paid into ȧ Poor Box Fund which has not been brought to account as Revenue but has remained for disposal at the discretion of the Magistrates to deserving cases. As a result of representations by the Auditor it is now proposed to regularize the position by crediting all receipts to Revenue and placing a sum of money, tentatively fixed at $5,000 per annum, at the disposal of the Magistrates for charitable disbursements. The discretion of the Magistrates will not, of course, be interfered with.
SUB-HEAD 18.-On the recommendation of the Commissioner of Prisons and the Director of Medical Services it is proposed to establish during the current financial year 1940-41 a Camp for Male Juvenile Offenders within the bounds of the Refugee Camp at Kam Tin in the New Territories. As an experiment certain boys who are not confirmed criminals will be sent to this Camp for a period of at least six months instead of to the Reformatory (Remand Home).
SUB-HEAD 22.-The amount provided is based on the actual expenditure for the first eight months of the current financial year.
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