CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950 — Page 203

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In the course of the y car, a review of the staff requirements for permanent institutions under the control of the Medical Department was carried out with the result that a number of posts previously shown under temporary staff have been transferred to the pensionable and non-pensionable establishments. The provision for temporary staff has accordingly been reduced from 8806,508 to $272,717. The footnotes indicate the posts transferred from tomporary staff.

The Salarics Commission recommended the creation of a greater number of specialist posts and provision is made for a Medical Specialist, Gynaecological and Obstetrical Specialist, Senior Port Health Officer, Sonior Dontal Surgeon and Senior Radiologist. These new posts represent no increase in the establishment as a corresponding reduction has been made in Medical and Health Officers, Dental Surgeons and Radiologists. One now specialist post has been created, a Tuberculosis Specialist and ono new post of Medical Officer for Industrial Health, whose activities will be closely related to the work of the Labour Department.

Further expansion in mass radiographic work requires an increase of four Radiographic Assistants. There is also an increase of four posts of Laboratory Assistants and six Health Inspectors have been regraded as Senior Health Inspectors, On the other hand two posts of Women Interpreters and Assistants have been abolished and two Disinfecting Station Engineers together with thirteen Cleansing Chargemen and 168 Cleansing Coolies have been transferred to the Sanitary Department.

$556,727.

The nott increase in personal emoluments is

Grants amounting to $2,625,000 to the Alice Memorial and Tung Wah Groups of Hospitals are now shown under Subventions. In addition there is a reduction of over $1,000,000 for recurrent expenditure in spite of the introduction of four new sub-heads. These are $200,000 for the Maintenance of Lopers, which had previously been shown under Subventions under Leper Asylum at Shek Lung, $84,350 for extra dicts for staff of Anti-Tuberculosis institutions, and $6,750 for the training of dental students whom it is proposed to send to Singapore on a three year course. Considerable savings are shown under medicines and instruments, bedding and clothing, stores and equipment, supplementary feeding of tuberculosis patients, uniforms and upkeep of vehicles. On the other hand X-ray departmental expenses, washing, and travelling expenses all of which were shown in the estimates in the current financial year require additional provision.

The Special Expenditure items amount to $46,970 less than in 1948-49. Apart from re-votes of money not expended this year, the main items are provision of $50,000 for air-conditioning plant for the op rating room in Kowloon Hospital and the Kowloon Mortuary, $75,000 for replacing motor transport and $50,000 to cover the cost of providing sun blinds in various hospitals and institutions.