Estimates-1956 — Page 10

5

PART II. EXPLANATORY NOTES ON EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES

GENERAL

1.

Estimate 1955/56

Revised estimate 1954/55

Approved estimate 1954/55

Actual expenditure 1953/54

Actual expenditure 1952/53

$445,747,950

384,481,000

388,262,050

355,407,770

311,749,659

The revised estimate of expenditure for the current year is nearly $4,000,000 less than the approved estimate. Among the more important savings may be mentioned:—

Defence votes

Education Department

Kowloon Canton Railway

Marine Department

Hong Kong Police

Public Works Department

$m

2.0

1.4

4.5

1.8

1.3

1.8

18.8

4.2

1.8

Public Works Non-recurrent

Subventions

Urban Services Department

These savings are largely offset by expenditure not provided for in the Estimates, the principal items being:

Squatter fires

$m

16.3 (including a revote of

Salaries revision

$3.7 m for Shek Kip Mei)

16.0

2.

Interest-free loans to schools

Post Office

3.2

2.8

In the Estimates for 1955-56, new Heads of expenditure have been created for the Registry of Trade Unions, now separated from the Labour Department, and for the Resettle- ment Department which was created during the current year to take over duties connected with squatter control and resettlement formerly the responsibility of the Urban Services Department (Resettlement Division), Public Works Department and Social Welfare Office. The subdivision of Personal Emoluments estimates has been carried a few stages further, suitable divisions being given for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department, Civil Aviation Department, Kowloon Canton Railway, Marine Department, Public Works Department, Resettle- ment Department and Urban Services Department.

The following table shows the relationship between Personal Emoluments, Other Charges and Special Expenditure for the four years ending 31st March, 1956:

1952/53

1953/54

1954/55 revised estimate

1955/56 estimate

m

%

$m

%

$m

%

$m

%

Personal Emoluments

(including pensions)

100.6

Other Charges (Recurrent)

95.5

Special Expenditure (Non-recurrent)... 89.3

35.3 119.8

33.4 105.1

31.3 129.7

33.8 146.0

29.6 117.8

36.6 120.7

38.0 158.5

30.6 132.4

31.4 154.9

35.6

29.7

34.7

Total...

285.4

100.0

Loan Expenditure

2.8

354.6 100.0

0.8

384.5 100.0 445.8 100.0

Total.....

288.2

355.4

Development Fund......................

2.1

1.9

384.5

4.0

445.8

22.9

Total...

290.3

357.3

388.5

468.7

Page 10Page 11