INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
221
Typex
FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
Do
22nd February, 1951.
10.25 hrs.
R.
22nd
No. 206
Confidential
I hope to present estimates for 1951/52 to the Legislative Council on 7th March. Revenue is expected to total 247,280,850 as against an estimated expenditure figure of $233,465,137 thus providing for a surplus of
13,815,713.
2. Expenditure is made up of personal emoluments 48 million, cost of living allowances 314 million, other charges 872 million, special expenditure 31 million, public works non-recurrent
$342/million.
In
3. The total expenditure figure represents an increase of some 323 million on the approved estimate for the current year and this $323 occurs almost entirely under other charges and special expenditure, particularly under the latter. The increase is made up largely of charges not covered in the current estimates or revotes or increased provisions necessitated by defence and security needs. the first category, there is a sum of $8 million which has been included in respect of the contribution to H. M. G. in respect of the present emergency. This is only a tentative figure, as the amount of the contribution in respect of the coming year is, of course, a matter for negotiation, but it is felt that it should be related to local expenditure on defence and security generally and, in particular, to revotes amounting to over $72 million which it has been necessary to include to cover the completion of the present civil defence programme. Another, is an increase of $1 million under police other charges, 1 million under fire brigade and 2 million under defence force. There is also a large item of nearly 21⁄2 million to cover the cost of a camp for destitute Nationalist soldiers. There is also an increase of $ 21⁄2 million in grants to schools and
million under medical other charges. There is too, a self balancing item of $2 million in respect of additional charges for conveyance of mails due to the great quantities
of transit mail now passing through Hong Kong.
million
Lo The public works programme represents the first year's instalment of a five year programme which will provide, anongst other items, for a new mental hospital, a further T. B. clinic, a new general hospital in Kowloon and 7 for new school buildings. Owing to unavoidable delays in the preparation of plans, only 1 million for school building and something over million for medical expenditure will be included in the 1951/52 programme. This will also include nearly $6 million police expenditure mostly on quarters, $ 1 million on tanks and salt water mains for civil defence fire fighting and 4 million for road alterations necessary for defence purposes in connection with the extension of Kai Tak runways. Provision has also been included for new ferry piers for
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a new abbatoir and for the first Government officies.
the commencement of work on section of work on the new
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Private notes are available after approval.