196
-21-
anticipated expenditure in 1951/52.
Provision of $350,000
is also made for a shallow draught vessel for the Police Force.
Delays in fulfilling indents for engines and
miscellaneous equipment and spare parts for launches and additional requirements in respect of existing vessels occasion the provisions of $804,000 and $599,488 for these items of which part represents re-votes. Similar reasons account for the provision of $582,434 for moorings, buoys and beacons, part of which represents a re-vote.
Expenditure in 1951/52 amounts to $11,819,481 compared with 6,169,258 in the previous year.
Head 19, Medical Department.
Estimate 1951/52.
Revised Estimate 1950/51. Approved Estimate 1950/51. Actual Expenditure 1949/50.
$13,607,516
12,802,486
12,668,351
11,675,099
A major change of policy in respect of the treatment of outpatients was made in the middle of 1950. influx from China, the number of patients seeking medical
Owing to theо attention was more than could be dealt with by the existing facilities and arrangements were made to open evening clinics. At the same time it was decided to charge a nominal fee of $1 for each time a patient was attended by a doctor, except in one group of hospitals where free treatment continued to be available. treatment were allowed free of charge.
Subsequent visits for other engage additional temporary staff to operate this scheme
It was necessary to which it was hoped would be largely self-supporting. The additional expenditure involved is partly reflected in the increase of 147,099 in the provision for temporary staff. Another commitment undertaken by the Government in the last few months was the running of the Shatin Maternity Home which was taken over for a period of five years from the St. Johns Ambulance Brigade. These new schemes account for the increase of $119,351 under personal emoluments of the Medical Department in 1950/51. Although the former provision of $45,878 for casual labour has been transferred to other Charges, a new item of $68,000 for medical fees payable to Government officers for non-Government work is included for the first time in conformity with Colonial Regulations. The previous accounting arrangements were to pay these fees from a revenue sub-head. There is no net increase in expenditure because the revenue from consultant fees is correspondingly higher.
The majority of changes which appear in the body of the estimates involve transfers with other departments, promotions of staff within authorized establishments, changes from the non-pensionable to the pensionable establishment, and regradings. There are in fact only six new posts, two of Midwives for the Tsan Yuk Hospital, two Women Dental Assistants, one Nurse and one Coolie.
Recurrent expenditure shows an increase of $656,564. The most important factors are the increases of $390,000 for medicines and instruments consequent on higher prices and consumption, $100,000 for bedding and clothing, $94,300 for repairs and upkeep of stores, plant and equipment, $75,000 for fuel, light and power, and $50,000 for X-ray departmental expenses. There are three new sub-heads, two
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