CO129-597-1 Estimates 1948 15-11-1946 - 12-6-1948 — Page 7

an efficiency expert who would be able to suggest economies. The selection of such an officer is being pursued on 54281/47 but the prospects of obtaining the services of such an officer do not seem to be very hopeful.

(d) Paragraph 21

This refers to increased provision for 53 Assistant Teachers and increased subsidies to

vernacular schools of $510,000. In addition $1,320,000 is provided under Head 9 Item 23 for meals for school: children. This is obviously desirable expenditure on the present circumstances in Hong Kong.

(e) Paragraph 23 Head 20 Item 4

Provision is made for a contribution to the War Memorial Fund to enable the Government to contribute to the Fund in addition to and proportionately to private contributions. The relative Ordinance is registered on 54384/5/47. Doubtless this provision relieves the Government of direct responsibility for a personal injury scheme, and in these circumstances the provision of a contribution up to $250,000 is fully justified, but we shall have to ask Treasury specifically to approve this provision as they have not previously been told about the Fund. The fund will

in fact benefit by a contribution of $224,000 (£14,000/ from the Lord Mayor's Fund

(f) Paragraph 24 Head 19 Item 5.

$1,000,000 is provided for relief which is still found to be necessary as destitute Chinese will not take advantage of free transport back to their villages in China.

Questions relating to the loan which is to be raised, and the long term financial appreciation, including the request for a "Malta" grant, which are referred to by the Government, are being dealt with on separate files and need not be referred to in these minutes.

Subject to the comments of Mr. Boss generally and Mr. Harding on paragraph 34, I think we can submit these estimates to the Treasury commenting as above and say that subject to their comments we propose to approve the estimates subject to the reservations referred to.

Paragraph 34.

we

We have aheavy

12/

Cannot hold out

tols the Guremor

out lage hopes y

in A-k's development allocahin.

there is

any need to consider

that

Au

m'ceasṛ

I do not think this paragraph

seriously in Connection wits the Estimates.

H.A. Hawing

13/6

7. Hong Kong - Desp. 208

(Dift. on 54126/6/47)

14-6-47