CO129-584-2 Estimates 1941-2 21-2-1941 - 11-6-1941 — Page 361

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during the coming financial year.

Under Charitable Services

provision has been made for a grant of $10,000 to the British Fund for the Relief of Distress in China and under Miscellaneous Services, in response to pressing representations from the University Authorities, the annual grant to the University of Hong Kong has been increased by the sum of 100,000. The Select

Committee also brought under review the matter of the institution, at a cost of over four lakhs, of a system of nightsoil removal by

labour directly employed by the Sanitary Department. As it is

impossible, in present circumstances, to proceed with the complete

scheme as recommended by the Health Authorities considerable

doubt was expressed as to whether the benefits to be gained by the substitution of coolies employed by Government for the existing free-lance coolics would be commensurate with the expenditure

involved: it was decided, however, that the provision for the

emoluments of the 2,000 coolies should be allowed to stand in

the draft estimates on the understanding that no actual expenditure

will be incurred without the specific approval of the Finance

Committee after further consideration of the whole matter.

There was insufficient time, when this item came for consideration,

to reach a final decision on this important question and the

Finance Committee desires an early opportunity of a full discussion

with the Health Authorities, upon which will depend the question

of authorizing actual expenditure.

The following are the items which have been added:-

Head 5, Charitable Services.

Sub-head 23, Grant to British Fund for

the Relief of Distress in China

p10,000

Head 17, Miscellaneous Services.

Sub-head 24, University of Hong Kong. (Increased from $355,000 to $455,000)

.$100,000

$110,000