Estimates-1960 — Page 199

Drainage Office

199

Most of the additional posts are transfers from Works Votes while the remainder is required to deal with the laying of extra sewers and drains due to continued building development in the Colony.

Electrical and Mechanical Office

The majority of additional posts for this Office are in the Artisan grade, and are required because of the increasing use of mechanical plant and the increase in air-conditioning and vehicular establishments.

Port Works Office

20 of the additional posts are accounted for by transfers from Works Votes, whilst the remaining additional posts are required in order that the office may meet its increasing day to day responsibilities.

Roads Office

The additional post of Assistant Chief Engineer is required for the "Traffic Section", 7 posts are transferred from Works Votes, whilst the remaining engineering, technical, supervisory and artisan staff are required to deal with road construction, maintenance and transport problems which continue to face this office.

Waterworks Office

14 of the additional posts are accounted for by transfer from Works Votes, etc. whilst the remaining additional staff is required to cope with the increasing demands on the Colony's water supply.

Supernumerary Staff

The supernumerary post of Superintendent of Crown Lands and Surveys is provided to cover the pre-retirement leave of the present substantive holder.

These changes together with normal increments account for the increase of $2,577,900 in the personal emoluments subhead.

Several votes under Other Charges Annually Recurrent have been increased to cater for increased staff, the occupation of additional offices and the large increase of works being undertaken.

The chief items of Special Expenditure are an Asphalt spreader ($115,000), Quarry Plant ($105,000), Road rollers ($75,000) and a Shovel/Bull dozer ($70,000) for the Roads Office; Boring equipment ($60,000) for the Development and Waterworks Offices; a current meter ($14,000) and Laboratory equipment ($28,700) for the Port Works Office. The provision of $605,000 for Motor Vehicles consists of a revote of $108,000, $280,500 for replacements of old vehicles, and $216,500 for new vehicles. Surveying units at a cost of $68,100 are for the Architectural Office ($6,500), the Crown Lands and Surveys Office ($27,000), the Roads Office ($12,300) and the Development Office ($22,300).

HEAD 29 - PUBLIC WORKS RECURRENT

Estimate 1959/60

Revised estimate 1958/59

Approved estimate 1958/59

Actual expenditure 1957/58

$30,970,000

31,204,000

29,977,000

30,562,815

The increase of $500,000 in the Maintenance of buildings vote is due to an increase of approximately 21% in the Maintenance Contract rates and to the number of buildings completed three or four years ago which are now due for inclusion in the maintenance programme.

Additional survey work required for Development and Planning and for Revenue Surveys required to be carried out for the New Territories Administration necessitates an increase of $5,000 in the Maintenance of Boundary and Survey Marks vote.