Estimates-1956 — Page 53

198.

48

The net increase of 16 in the permanent establishment comprises the following:-

15 Clerks

1 Stamper

1 Watchman

less

17

1 Woman Confidential Assistant

16

Of these, 3 Clerks and a Watchman were approved during the year against the deletion of a post of Woman Confidential Assistant. Of the remaining 12 Clerks, 8 have been engaged on work connected with resettlement of fire victims and paid from the emergency votes. They are now required as a permanent addition to the Treasury establishment for revenue collection in the new resettlement areas. A further 4 Clerks are required for the increasing volume of accounting work in the Treasury and a Stamper is needed to operate an additional franking machine in the Stamp Duty Office. The additional posts, together with normal increments and salaries revision, account for the increase of $67,561 in the vote for Personal Emoluments.

199.

Under Other Charges, an additional $2,400 is provided in the vote for fuel light and power, being the cost of running the new air-conditioning plant installed during the year. The vote for maintenance of office machinery and equipment has been increased by transfers of $1,500 from the Incidental expenses vote and $5,200 from the stores and equipment vote, together with additional provision of $6,270 required on account of mechanized salary accounting. The increase of $30,000 in the vote for stamps arises from the need to order revenue stamps of the new issue, involving the preparation of new dies. The placing of large orders will enable advantage to be taken of lower prices and it is expected that the requirements of the next two financial years will be correspondingly reduced. An additional $1,150 is required to meet the travelling expenses of shroffs on revenue collection duties at Shek Kip Mei and Tai Hang Tung Resettlement Areas.

200.

Special Expenditure includes provision of $90,000 for two replacement cash registers and a new machine for the Treasury Office to be opened during the year at Tsun Wan. A new franking machine is required for the Stamp Duty Office on account of the increased volume of work and it is proposed to convert an existing manually-operated machine to electrical operation. Provision of $2,200 is required for modifications to existing accounting machines.

HEAD 41B · CUSTODIAN OF PROPERTY

—

Estimate 1955/56

Revised estimate 1954/55

Approved estimate 1954/55

Actual expenditure 1953/54

$53,300

53,000

53,418

50,273

1954/55

Permanent staff

5

1955/56

5

Difference

201.

The increase of $382 in the vote for Personal Emoluments arises from normal increments and salaries revision. The vote for Other Charges has been reduced by $500 and divided into its component parts for more detailed accounting purposes.