periodical intervals. There has been some reduction in the num- ber of civilian Water Police but there are a number of posts which are supernumerary to the establishment. 'These quired because personnel #eeded to man launches trainees
are
which it is proposed to purchase a number of Cantonese records, and an additional $2,000 for copyright fees and royalties. The effect of these increases re-
additional sults in an
$84,106 for recurrent expenditure.
"Under Special Expenditure provision is made for the pur- chase of a new piano, the present one having been in use since re- months' duration. The establish-upation of the Colony. ment of Water Police will be 'stabilised when the process of conversion, which will continue into 1950-51 is complete.
courses
undergoing are
re-
are while their five
which
of are
Apart from the detailing of staff formerly shown under tem- porary staff, there is an increase of two posts of Telephone Operator and a reduction of one post of Gardener who has been transferred to the Gardens De- partment.
But for an increase of $320,- 000 for upkeep of vehicles. Other Charges would have been reduced from the previous year's total. The figure of $80,000 pro- vided in 1948 for the upkeep of vehicles was under-estimated as the result of a misunderstanding regarding the allocation of ex- penditure and a supplementary provision of $282,000 was au- thorsied during the year.
Considerable
expenditure amounting to $899,270 is provid- ed under Special Expenditure. It will be seen from the items de- tailed in the text of the estimates that this expenditure is almost exclusively devoted to measures connected with internal security.
Total expenditure on the d is $12,633,722 compared with $10,428,681 in 1948-49.
Head 25. Post Office,
Broadcasting And Telecommunications
A.-Post Office
$3,664,958
Estimate 1949-50.
Revised Estimate
1948-49.
2,740,000
Approved Estimate
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
2,914,829
1,668,270
Apart from an increase of one Launch Officer which was au- thorised in the course of 1948-49, changes in the establishment represent transfers to an from other departments. Certain Tele- communications staff which are concerned solely with wire- less licensing have been taken over by the Post Office and lar- gely account for the increase of $105,397 in personal emoluments.
increase of The large $500,000 for recurrent expen- ditture is explained by the in- crease of $500,000 in expenditure for conveyance of mails and $50,000 for the purchase of stamps.
over
for
Under Special Expenditure $23,800 is required for replacing motor transport, $19,532 miscellaneous postal equipment and $16,500 to provide more post office boxes for which there is a considerable unsatisfied de- mand.
B. Broadcasting
Estimate 1949-50. Revised Estimate 1948-49
Approved Estimate
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
1947-48
$352,509
220,000
The
sum of $2,000 is also required to furnish the library of this de- partment with special reference books.
Expenditure on Broadcasting will therefore be increased by $119,455 compared with 1948-49. C-Telecommunications
Estimate 1949-50. Revised Estimate
1948-49. Approved Estimate
1948-49. Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
A
Relations Office
Etimate 1949-50, Revised Estimate
$160,988
247
60,000
Estimate
78,464
3.8948-49. Approved
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
+947-48.
56,023 The only
in increases
the establishment are an additional Assistant Public Relations Of- fieer who was engaged on con- tract in the course of the cur- rent financial year and six Mes- sengers. These are required for the issue of a Government bul- letin in Chinese.
Other Charges are consider- ably higher by $52,160. More than half of this is $ 979,314
accounted for by the new sub-head for rent of office. 1,000,000
In the course of next year it is intended to move the Public Relations Office from its present quarters to more spaci-
1,077,393
615,615 Apart from staff transferred to other departments and the re- tirement of a few officers, pro- vision made under Telecommuni- cations is of a tentative nature, pending a final settlement with Cable & Wireless Limited re-
terms on garding the
which telecommuni- they will provide cation faculties for the Govern- ment.
Head 26. Prisons Department
us accommodation in the new Electra Kouse building. An ad- ditional $22,400 is also required for publications to cover the cost of the new Bulletin.
Expenditure at $160,988 is more than twice that of the pre- vious year.
Head 29. Public Works
Department
Estimate 1949-50.
$4,349,180
Revised Estimate
1948-49.
3,750,000
$3,934,617
Approved Estimate
· 1948-49.
4,248,217
3,000,000
2,487,870
Estimate
3,517,566
Estimate 1949-50 Revised Estimate
1948-49. Approved
1948-49. Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
2,514,370
In order to staff the new Pri- son Camp in the New Ter- ritories, for which provision is made under Public Works Extraordinary the following in- creases in establishment are pro- vided for one Chief Officer, two Principal Officers, four Prison Warders, Officers, six Principal and 120 Warders.
A Wardress employed in the Female Prison Hospital at Lai Chi Kok has been regraded as a Nurse and two posts of Cooks and three posts of Coolies have been abolished. As a result of these changes person emoluments show an increase of $160,051.
Most of the increases totalling $202,000 under Other Charges can be attributed to the est- ablishment of the new Prison Camp; $65,000 is required for stores and
equipment, $60,000 for uniforms of staff, $60,000 for clothing for prisoners and $2,000 for arms and ammunition. The practice of providing gratuities and travelling expenses for pris- oners who are encouraged to leave the Colony has been suc- cessful, but provision this year was under-estimated and an ex- tra $22,000 is required.
Under Special Expenditure $50,000 is requred to replace vehicles and $5,000 is provided for the purchase of hand looms. which will be be used by female prisoners.
The total increase On the Head amounts to $417,051.
Head 27. Public Debt. Estimate 1949-50. Revised Estimate 233,054 1948-49.
201,632
Approved
1948-49.
$5,486,841
4,000,000
Estimate
5,512,441
Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
The apparent large increase In the establishment is explained
1,862,285 by the transfer of temporary
Apart from reductions in the staff to the non-pensionable interest payable on the 1934 and establishment. Revised incre-
1940 loans arising out of further mental scales for these posts redemptions, there are no other were not settled until after the changes under commencement of the current vision for $1,500,000 is again financial year. A News and made for interest and redempe. Talks Editor was also engaged tion of possible on contract during 1948-49. The nett effect is an increase of $20 149 in personal emoluments.
There is an increase of $20,000 for fees to Artists and Annou cers. $4.000 for records, w
this Head. Pro
further issues under the Rehabilitation Loan
Ordnances 1947. Consequent expenditure has fallen by $25, 600,
Head 28. Public
Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
Considerable changes appear in the estimates, but these in the majority of cases represent the reorganisation of existing staff in the department.
For example, 13 posts of Architects have been divided into seven posts of Architects and six posts of Building Surve- yors and the grade of Draughts- man has been sub-divided into Architectural, Engineering and Map Draughtsmen. In addition a number of posts have been tranferred from the non-pension- able establishment to the pen- sionable establishment and from the temporary staff to the non- sionable establishment. Certain deck and engine crew staff en- gaged on vessels used exclusive- ly by this department are now
shown and provided for instead of under the Marine Depart- ment.
increase of
One new post of Town Plan- created ning Officer has been in order to implement the Aber- crombie Report.
The nett effect of all these sonal emoluments of $92,645. changes is an increase in per-
Apart from an $30,000 for travelling and $7,500 for fuel, power, all other recurrent char- ges are the same or less than in 1948-49. The nett increase in recurrent expenditure amounts to $8,318.
expenses light and
The total increase on the Head is a little over $100,000.
Head 30. Public Works Recurrent
Estimate 1949-50. Revised Estimate
1948-49. Approved Estimate
1948-49.
Actual Expenditure
1947-48.
من
$12,632,000
7,000,000 -
10,779,500
6,234,
accoun
The increase of nearly $2,0 000 in expenditure on this h is almost exclusively for by increased maintena costs and more buildings. period of rehabilitation is n almost over and a regular ma tenance
programme has be introduced.
for
Two new sub-heads are show
the the first time, mainf tenance of air conditioning plant and refrigerators, for which $10,-- 000 is provided, and survey
!
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