Estimates-1960 — Page 203

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Since the supernumerary post of Registrar General is included merely to cover the retirement leave of Mr. W. Aneurin Jones, the true increase in staff is 17. Of these, one Legal Assistant is required for secondment to the New Territories Administration to deal with land problems, and two Assistant Registrars are required to perform marriages at new marriage registries which it is proposed to open on a part time basis in outlying parts of the Colony. The other Assistant Registrar replaces the former supernumerary Assistant Registrar, Class I. The Supernumerary Assistant Registrar Class II and 3 clerks approved by Special Warrant to deal with applications for post-registration of births in the New Territories, have already been recruited. The remaining new posts are required to cope with the general increase in the work of the Department.

The supernumerary post of Executive Grade Officer is deleted upon the officer's transfer to the Legal Department in one of the three new Legal Officer (Pupil) posts. It is expected that this officer and one Assistant Registrar who is also being transferred to another of the new Legal Officer (Pupil) posts will remain seconded to the Registrar General's Department for some time.

The only significant changes in Other Charges Annually Recurrent are in respect of Rent and of Travelling Expenses. Rent is reduced because of the forthcoming move of the Companies and Trade Marks Registries from Fung House to the West Wing of the New Government Offices. The saving of $60,000 on this is, however, reduced by $5,000 in respect of rent of accommodation for some marriage registries in outlying parts of the Colony. The figure for Travelling Expenses has been increased by $12,000 to allow for the expenses of the staff of these registries and the officers dealing with the post-registration of births in the New Territories.

HEAD 35 - REGISTRY OF TRADE UNIONS

Estimate 1959/60

Revised estimate 1958/59

Approved estimate 1958/59

Actual expenditure 1957/58

Permanent staff

Temporary staff

Supernumerary staff

Net increase

$233,500

183,000

192,600

185,864

1958/59

1959/60

Difference

15

18

+ 3

1

1

1

+ 1

3

Additional clerical officers are required for extra work resulting mainly from new legislation. These changes, together with normal increments, account for the increase of $27,300 in the Personal Emoluments vote.

Of the increase of $13,600 under Other Charges Annually Recurrent, $13,500 is required to meet the cost of rented accommodation into which the Department is expected to move early in the financial year.

HEAD 36 RESETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT

--

Estimate 1959/60

$8,482,400

Revised estimate 1958/59

6,329,100

Approved estimate 1958/59

7,571,100

Actual expenditure 1957/58

6,025,332

Permanent staff

1,614

1958/59 1959/60

2,078

Difference

+ 464

Net increase

464