Estimates-1956 — Page 57

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HEAD 43 COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE SCHEMES

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Estimate 1955/56

Revised estimate 1954/55

Approved estimate 1954/55

$1,583,000

1,771,000

3,367,000

664,958

215.

Actual expenditure 1953/54

Upper air reporting stations (Scheme No. D1060). It is anticipated that all major items of the scheme will be completed and paid for during 1954-55 but the sum of $10,000 has been provided to cover contingencies such as outstanding accounts and minor additions to the equipment.

216.

Mechanization of the fishing fleet (Sheme No. D1435). Plans for one mechanized fishing vessel have been completed and forwarded to the Secretary of State for consideration. Construction costs of this vessel are estimated at $80,000. Provision has been included in the Estimates for completion of the scheme during 1955-56.

217.

Survey party in the New Territories (Scheme No. D1661 and D1661A). Funds of $88,000 were made available under Scheme No. D1661, enabling the survey party to survey a number of places for which development layouts have been or are being prepared. These funds were sufficient to cover the cost of the survey party until June, 1954. An additional grant of $80,800 was made under Scheme No. D1661A to enable the work to continue for a further period of 2 years.

218.

Fisheries Research Unit (Scheme No. R480A). Capital expenditure on this scheme is now virtually complete. Recurrent expenditure, excluding salaries, etc., which are paid by the University, assisted by a Government subvention, is estimated at $62,000 for the coming year.

219.

Loans to fishermen (Scheme No. D1967). This scheme is now in active operation and it is anticipated that $300,000 will be spent in 1954-55 and the balance in 1955-56. The administration of the loans has presented little difficulty and no bad debts have so far been incurred.

220.

Site development for low cost housing, Hung Hom (Scheme No. D2061). Progress on this scheme has not been as rapid as originally estimated, owing to the difficulty of clearing squatters from the site. Clearance has been completed and site levelling has proceeded to the point where building work can now commence on the first block of flats.

221.

Irrigation in the New Territories (Scheme No. D1952A). This is a continuation of the work done under Scheme No. D1952 which was completed in 1953-54. The new Scheme provides funds of $420,000 for diversion dams and irrigation channels at various places in the New Territories and will be completed during 1955-56.

222.

Site development for low cost housing, Healthy Village (Scheme No. D2341). This is a new scheme involving a grant of $400,000 for developing two sites at Healthy Village, North Point, on which the Hong Kong Housing Society proposes to erect four ten-storey blocks of flats comprising 592 flats and 12 shops. These sites were formerly occupied by three small temporary Government buildings and 47 temporary cottages.

223.

General. Schemes completed during the current year include Village Agricultural depots-capital expenditure (Scheme No. D994), and the Pier on Ping Chau Island (Scheme No. D2073). Expenditure under this Head is offset by equivalent revenue in the form of loans and grants receivable from Her Majesty's Government. This is accounted for under Revenue Head 12.

DEVELOPMENT FUND EXPENDITURE

Estimate 1955/56

Revised estimate 1954/55

Approved estimate 1954/55

Actual expenditure 1953/54

*excluding Tai Lam Chung Water supply scheme.

$22,869,000

3,985,000

19,300,000

1,926,541*

224.

Housing Loans. An allocation of $50,000,000 was made during the year for the purpose of financing the Housing Authority. Approved schemes will be financed by loans from the Development Fund at 3 per cent per annum and the Authority will be charged, as from the