77
-9-
10
33.
Under the Police Force Head provision has been made for an increase in the establishment of Assistant Superintendents by 14 and of Constables by 557. The establishment of Inspector s has been temporarily increased by 19 supernumerary posts, and there has been some reorganisation of the Water Police. Female Searchers have been regraded as Women Constables and a post of Woman Sub-Inspector has been created in charge of them. The strength of the Police Force has gradually been increased from 2,220 at the fall of Hong Kong to an establishment of 4,129 to-day.
34.
The sum of approximately $900,000 has also been included for new equipment of various sorts, and the total increase in expenditure under the Police Force Head is of the order of $2,250,000. This increase is necessary as the Colony cannot afford to be caught unprepared, and new recruits cannot be trained over night.
35.
The sum of $1,000,000 is provided under sub-head 11, Public Works Extraordinary 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. A sum of approximately $6,500,000 has also been made available from Loan funds for the completion of the divisional headquarters at Kowloon City, for Police stations at Bay View, Hung Hom and Shaukiwan, and for Police blockhouses in the New Territories. It did not prove possible to carry out mich of this work during last year but the work will be pushed forward during 1949-50.
36.
The various works provided for under the Public Works Extraordinary Head have been fully explained in the estimates' memorandum, and I do not wish to over-burden this despatch by further comment. I consider it desirable, however, to invite attention to the fact that sub-head 14 also has a security aspect, as such a hutted camp would be extremely useful should a state of emergency arise. Indeed it was primarily for this reason that this work was included in this year's Public Works' programme. In addition to sub-head 14 a number of other items in the programme are connected with internal security. These Include sub-heads I, 4, (vide paragraph 26 of this despatch), 7, 11, 12 and a portion of the provision under sub-head 16.
37.
A new head of the estimates has been created entitled Registrar General's Department. This results from the reorganisation of the Legal Department. The new department will take over the registration of Companies, Trade Marks, Patents and Marriages now under the control of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and will thus free the latter officer for administrative work connected with the Courts and for duties normally discharged by the Master of the Supreme Court in England. The new post of Registrar General absorbs the former post of Land Officer, and he will continue to be responsible for the work of the Land Office.
38.
The process which was started last year of collecting together under a head entitled Subventions all grants made by Government to institutions, both local and outside the Colony, has been carried a stage further, and it is believed that the list appearing in the present estimates gives a complete picture of the position. In the case of certain institutions the practice had grown up in the past of supplementing the
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