Estimates-1960 — Page 215

New posts

1 Architectural Draughtsman Class I

1 Engineering Draughtsman Class I

1 Estate Head Caretaker*

1 Office Attendant

2 Messengers

3 Semi-skilled Labourers

6 Porters*

2 Women Cleaners

215

Existing posts deleted

49

8

** Approved by Special Warrant during the year.

A new post of Commissioner for Housing was created during the year, and substituted for that of the Cadet Officer, Class II. The additional posts of Executive Grade Officer, Confidential Assistant, and fourteen clerks are required to cope with the increase in work consequent on the Authority's increased activities. One post of Assistant Housing Manager is provided to enable the appointment of an Applications Officer to process applications for occupation of Housing Authority flats.

An additional Housing Manager, three Assistant Housing Managers, and two Housing Assistants, are required for the So Uk Estate. Although the estate will not be completed until 1960 these staff are required to facilitate advance letting of the 4,500 flats to be constructed there.

The architectural and engineering staff are required in connexion with the formation of an architectural section, which it is hoped will be able to undertake planning of the Authority's estates in future, instead of employing private architects as at present.

A new post of Maintenance Officer, to undertake maintenance of the Authority's completed estates, has been substituted for one Clerk-of-Works, Class II, and three posts of semi-skilled labourer have been substituted for three posts of Porter, who have been employed on clearing drains, etc. An additional post of Estate Head Caretaker was approved during the year for Sai Wan Chuen, a compensating deletion of one post of Estate Caretaker being carried out. The Office Attendant, 2 Messengers, and 2 Women cleaners are required in connexion with the extension of the Authority's offices to accommodate the additional staff to be employed.

The Establishment in the 1958/59 Estimates was again only partially filled, principally because of delays encountered on building sites. It is not possible to make an accurate forecast of the date of recruitment for some of the new posts, as this is related to progress on building construction.

The gross

salaries (plus a 30% surcharge to cover overheads) of the Housing Division (with the exception of the Commissioner for Housing, his Confidential Assistant, and three or four clerks employed on statistical work), who comprise the staff of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, are reimbursed to Government by the Authority.

HEAD 44 - ·COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE SCHEMES

Estimate 1959/60

Revised estimate 1958/59

Approved estimate 1958/59

Actual expenditure 1957/58

$1,844,700

2,016,000

3,245,900

2,635,068

Final payments for site development for low cost housing at Healthy Village (Scheme D.2341) were made during 1958/59.

Expenditure under this Head is partially offset by revenue in the form of grants receivable from H.M. Government. The proportion to be reimbursed varies and can be ascertained in each case from the footnotes to the Estimates. Receipts are accounted for under Revenue Head 11.

The Aeronautical Telecommunications Scheme (D.2594) is being reconsidered in the light of recent technical developments.

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