402
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Provision for the grants in aid to (a) the Alice Memorial and Affiliated Hospitals, (b) the War Memorial Nursing Home, and (c) the Tung Wah and Asso- ciated Hospitals is now made under Head 16, Medical Department, instead of under this Head. The amounts remain unchanged except in the case of the Tung Wah and Associated Hospitals.
HEAD 6A. DEFENCE, VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS.
The increased strength of the Corps resulting from the war and the Compulsory Service Ordinance and the intensified training which is now being undergone have necessitated many supplementary votes under this Head of Expenditure during the current financial year. In estimating for 1941-42 it is assumed that these factors will continue to operate and the large increases shown under Personal Emoluments and various other sub-heads (e.g. Sub-heads 6, 9, 13, 17, 18 and 19) as compared with 1940-41 need no further explanation. Other small increases are accounted for by the increased accommodation now being provided at St. John's Place and existing Headquarters. The items shown under Special Expenditure are either re- placements or additional equipment required on account of the increased strength and training.
Since this abnormally large expenditure is a more or less direct result of the war it is proposed to debit, at the end of the financial year 1941-42, the amount of actual expenditure in excess of $150,000 to Head 32, War Expenditure, B., Ex- traordinary Local Defence, Sub-head 2, Military. The amount which it is provi- sionally estimated will be so debited is $494,091. $150,000 represents the approximate average annual actual expenditure on the Volunteer Defence Corps for the years 1934-38, i.e. for the five years preceding the war.
HEAD 6B. DEFENCE, HONG KONG NAVAL VOLUNTEER FORCE.
As in the case of the Volunteer Defence Corps the additional expenditure under this Head is attributable to the expansion of the Force and increased activities arising out of the war. The pay and allowances of the mobilized members of the Force are of course a direct charge to Head 32, War Expenditure, B., Extra- ordinary Local Defence, Sub-head 1, Naval. It is also proposed to debit to this Sub-head, at the end of the financial year 1941-42, the amount of actual expendi- ture under Head 6B in excess of $40,000. The latter sum represents the ap- proximate average annual actual expenditure on the Naval Volunteer Force.for the years 1935-38, i.e. for the four years preceding the war. The Force was first established in 1935.
HEAD 6C. DEFENCE, AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS.
Numerous supplementary votes have been taken under this Head during the current financial year on account of the increased strength of the Corps of Air Raid Wardens and more public demand for instruction in Air Raid Precautions measures, and the provision made under Other Charges for 1941-42 is based on the assumption that these conditions will continue.
Special Expenditure.
A programme for civilian defence was explained to the Finance Committee at the time of the consideration of Finance Message No. 6 of 1939. That programme has been speeded up in 1940-41 and will be continued in 1941-42. For convenience of administration the provision for "Fire Appliances" has been transferred in 1941-42 to Head 10, Fire Brigade, the provision for "Medical Stores' and "Equipment for St. John Ambulance Brigade Reserve" to Head 16, Medical De- partment, and the provision for "Lighting devices for Government Buildings" and "Fire Protection for Government Buildings" to Head 30, Public Works Extra- ordinary.
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