Estimates-1956 — Page 20

15

The new post of Executive Officer was approved during the year in order that the Medical Officer in Charge might be relieved of the routine office work of the Auxiliary Medical Service. This post is offset by the deletion of the post of Field Training Officer. The additional Nursing Sister is needed to take over training duties at the new Auxiliary Medical Service Centre, Kowloon. It is proposed to put convalescent patients in the new Ward and to have them cared for entirely by A.M.S. Auxiliary Dressers under the close supervision of a Sister. This will provide valuable training for the personnel concerned. The post of Medical Board Attendant is offset by the post of Laboratory Assistant deleted. Posts of 1 Woman Confidential Assistant and Charge Electrician are no longer considered necessary and have therefore been deleted. Additional provision is included for Overtime Allowances previously omitted. These changes, together with normal increments and salaries revision, account for the net increase of $15,066 in the vote for Personal Emoluments.

47.

Under Other Charges, savings are shown under a number of votes formerly over- estimated and the vote for rent of offices is decreased by $43,990 in respect of accommodation no longer required in King's Building consequent upon the removal of the C.A.S.A.M. Club to Statue Square Huts during the year.

48.

Special Expenditure includes $5,000 for time-expired drugs which need replacement. Expenditure of this kind cannot be eliminated entirely, but is kept to the minimum by regular turnover of stocks as between the Medical Department and the Auxiliary Medical Service. Provision of $10,000 is included to cover the balance due in respect of items formerly provided for under the block vote provided for Defence-Miscellaneous Measures.

HEAD 9G - CIVIL AID SERVICES

Estimate 1955/56

$1,039,240

Revised estimate 1954/55

785,000

Approved estimate 1954/55

810,018

Actual expenditure 1953/54

540,475

Permanent staff

1954/55 1955/56

26

Difference

31

+5

The additional 5 posts comprise 7 new posts less 2 existing posts deleted, as

49.

follows:

New posts.

1 Clerk

1 Staff Officer

3 Watchmen

1 Caretaker

1 Stores Attendant

Existing posts deleted.

1 Woman Confidential Assistant

1 Coolie

2

Of these posts, the Clerk was approved during the year in place of a Woman Confidential Assistant. The post of Staff Officer is necessary in order to relieve the Chief Staff Officer of the increasing volume of routine executive work connected with stores, records, selection of recruits and train- ing. The Watchmen and Caretaker are required for the Wong Tsuk Hang Store, the Rescue Centre in Hawthorn Road and the new Kowloon Training Centre, in order to provide adequate protection for valuable stores and equipment. The Stores Attendant replaces a Coolie in order to secure more adequate supervision over the Coolies employed in the Civil Aid Services Stores, These changes, together with normal increments and salaries revision, account for the increase of $46,492 in the vote for Personal Emoluments.

50.

Under Other Charges, certain increases arise from the move to new premises. The additional provision of $62,000 for clothing and accoutrements is required for 200 new lady members. The remaining changes in provision are due to the increased activities of the Civil Aid Services.

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