CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950 — Page 210

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prove possible to start construction. It is now proposed to erect these clinics, one on each side of the harbour, during the coming financial year, and this is provided for under sub-head 9.

The Marine Licensing Stations provided for under sub-head 10 will be constructed to a lower standard than was originally contemplated. At present considerable revenue is lost owing to lack of control, as numbers of junks plying in and out of the outlying harbours escape registration. The establishment of these Marine Licensing Stations will provide the necessary measure of control.

The sum of $1,000,000 is provided under sub-head 11, to enable a start to be made on Police quarters for the rank and file. The provision of Police quarters both married and single is not only an important factor from the point of view of morale, but it means that in times of emergency an adequate concentration of Police can rapidly be made.

and

As regards sub-head 13, arrangements have been made with Cable & Wireless Ltd., to lease a portion of two floors in the new Electra House for the broadcasting studios which will be moved there from their present situation in Glocuester Building. It has been necessary to modify the design of the new building in certain respects in order to fit in these studios, the additional cost resulting from these changes in design, and the actual cost of fitting up the studios will be met from Government funds. This schome has received the approval of Finance Committee and the cost is at present estimated at $150,000, but this figure may require revision when the plans are more advanced.

Under sub-head 14 a sum of $1,000,000 is provided for the construction of a hutted labour camp in the New Territories. There is at present serious overcrowding in Stanley Prison, and it is difficult in

that locality to find useful work which is suitable for hard labour prisoners. The new camp will not only relieve this overcrowding, but it will enable useful schomes such as reclamation work to be carried out by petty offenders with short hard labour sentences.

In regard to sub-head 16, until last October the Works Department of the R.A.F. undertook the maintenance of the runways at Kai Tak, though a portion of the cost was recovered from this Government. The responsibility of the Air Ministry in this connection has now coased, and it has been found that in order to keep the Airport open some major reconstruction work must be carried out in the near futuro. This is estimated to cost $875,000 and the balance of $95,000 represents the cost of fencing in the Aerodrome, which is considered necessary for security reasons.

Sub-head 17 is entitled Works Contingent on Land Sales. $1,500,000 of the sum included is to meet commitments resulting from the conditions of sale for the provision of roads and drainage in new areas to be opened up for building purposes. The balance of $2,185,000 is in respect of work to be carried out on reclaimed land at Kun Tong purchased by the Asiatic Petroleum Co.

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