CO129-597-2 Estimates 1949 1-3-1948 - 14-7-1949 — Page 221

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21. In addition to this, loan funds are earmarked for the reconstruction of King's College and for the construction of a new Kowloon Junior School and a vernacular primary school in Hong Kong which will replace similar institutions destroyed during the war. Owing to the greatly increased attendance it has become necessary to construct additional classrooms at the Central British School, which is open to children of all races who have a sufficient knowledge of the English language, and this is provided for under Public Works Extraordinary.

22. The re-appearance of the Head Public Works Extraordinary as one of the principal Heads of the Estimates, marks the completion of a stage in the progress of the Colony towards complete restoration. Up to the present, practically all capital expenditure, having been in the nature of rehabilitation, can properly be charged against loan funds. The period of extensive repair work has now ended, and although much remains to be done in the way of rehabilitation, particularly as regards the replacement of Government quarters, Police stations and schools which were completely destroyed, it has become possible to consider new schemes which were not in operation in the pre-war period.

23. The various works provided for under the Public Works Extraordinary Head have been adequately dealt with in the Estimates Memorandum, and I therefore propose only to deal with the variations which were made under this Head as a result of consideration in Select Committee after the Estimates Memorandum had been prepared. But before doing so, I should like to amplify the remarks contained in the Estimates Memorandum in regard to the new Tuberculosis clinic at Kowloon, for which the sum of $100,000 has been provided. Originally, it was hoped to provide two such clinics, but, in addition to the capital cost of the buildings and equipment, it was necessary to consider the operating cost in staff and consumable drugs and stores after the clinics had been built. It is necessary in any case to maintain a staff on Hong Kong Island for anti-epidemic work. When the Colony is fortunate enough to be free from any large scale epidemic, this staff is available for other duties. It is now proposed to utilise this staff in their spare time for anti-tuberculosis work which will be operated from the Harcourt Health Centre on the Hong Kong side of the harbour.

In this way, it will be possible with a minimum increase in staff to institute a campaign on both sides of the harbour against this disease which is such a scourge in this Colony. One of the features of the campaign will be the provision of supplementary diets for out-patients suffering from tuberculosis, and it will be noted that a sum of $365,000 has been included under the Medical Department Head for this purpose.

24. The original provision under Public Works Extraordinary was $9,628,500 but, on the recommendation of Select Committee, this was raised to $10,638,500. As has been explained in the Estimates Memorandum, when the Estimates were undergoing preliminary examination by the Estimates Committee, that body agreed tentatively to the inclusion of the two Fisheries Department schemes for a reclamation at Aberdeen and for the improvement of landing facilities at the Kennedy Town Wholesale Fish Market, but they were doubtful whether this provision could be finally retained in the Estimates in view of the heavy commitment in respect of a new market for the Vegetable Marketing Scheme which it was known would require consideration at the last moment. Receipt of your telegram No. 385 of the 22nd March, informing me of the approval of a grant from Colonial Development and Welfare funds to meet the cost of these two Fisheries Department schemes settled the question