CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941 — Page 348

416

28

HEAD 29. TREASURY, ETC.

Personal Emoluments.

The post of Accountant in the Accountant-General's Department has been filled since the beginning of 1940 by a professionally qualified officer transferred from another Colony. This officer has fully justified his appointment on a new salary scale of £800 to £1,050 by 5 of £30 and 2 of £50 in place of the old scale £700 to £825 by £25 annually.

In his Report for the year 1939 the Auditor pointed out that he has to spend a considerable amount of time in instructing Government officers in proper methods of accounting and storekeeping. This instruction and the general supervision of the staffing of Government departments would be part of the duties of a new post of Treasury Inspector which it is proposed to create. The salary scale suggested is the same as that of the recently appointed Accountant mentioned above.

For convenience of administration the provision for the salaries of certain officers on leave and in training has been made under the Accountant-General's Department instead of under the Colonial Secretary's Office (Head 2).

HEAD 30, PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.

HEAD 31.

See separate memorandum.

FISHERIES RESEARCH STATION,

Following an application from this Government in December, 1938, to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, a grant of £10,000 from the Colonial Development Fund to cover the capital cost of the Station was approved. Although it is now improbable that the grant will actually be made during the war part of the staff of the Station has been recruited with the approval of the Finance Com- mittee and the work is being carried on from the Biological Laboratory of the University. As it is felt that the promotion of the local fishing industry is important enough to justify the building of the Station from Hong Kong Government funds if a grant is not forthcoming from the Colonial Development Fund provision to the extent of $160,000 has been made in the 1941-42 Estimates for this purpose.

HEAD 32. WAR EXPENDITURE.

For details of estimated War Expenditure in 1941-42 see Table VI in Part I of this memorandum.

HEAD 33.

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

In view of the fact that the Immigration Department has recently been established and that the Immigration Control Ordinance has not yet been brought into effect the estimates of expenditure given under this Head are to be regarded as provisional only.