Estimates-1961 — Page 183

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Administration Division

The new post of Treasury Accountant has been offset by the reduction of one post of Executive Grade Officer. Two of the existing four posts of Confidential Assistant have been re-classified as Secretary Stenographer posts. There are two new posts of Secretary Stenographer, one to relieve the current pressure in the Confidential Typing Office and the other to provide a leave reserve. In the clerical establishment there is an increase of three posts for the Statistical Branch to handle expanding and additional commitments, two of which were approved by Special Warrant during the year. There are seven new posts of Clerical Assis- tant, five to enable the Statistical Branch to deal with its growing activities and two to strengthen the Accounts and Administration Branch.

An additional post of Junior Machine Operator approved by Special Warrant during the year to relieve the pressure on the staff operating the electrical tabulating machinery is included. The word "Machine" has been added to the title "Supervisor" to indicate more precisely the nature of the duties performed. A new post of Stores Attendant is provided to assist the Stores Clerk in charge of the depart- mental godowns for seized and confiscated goods.

Development Division

Two posts of Clerk and one of Typist are required to enable the Industry Branch to become fully operative. There is also an extra clerical post for the Export Promotion Branch to cope with an expansion of activities, following the appointment of additional senior staff in 1959/60.

Controls Division

Two posts of Executive Grade Officer have been retrenched: one in accordance with the policy of running-down the Supplies Branch and another in the Certification Branch because of additional posts in the Trade Officer grade created in 1959/60. Due to a falling-off in the number of import/export licences dealt with it has also been found possible, in addition, to retrench two clerical posts, and to dispense with a post of Confidential Assistant in the Trade Licensing Branch. Eight posts of Confidential Assistant have been re-classified as Secretary Stenographer posts. An extra clerical post is provided to assist the officer in charge of Fan Ling Revenue Station to maintain his records of seized or confiscated goods. Following the closure of additional firewood yards it has proved possible to dispense with a further six Watchmen. Three new posts of Messenger are included, one for the New Eastern District Excise Office in the Causeway Bay Magistracy, one for the new Kai Tak Airport Office, and the third to deal with various tasks resulting from the provision of additional offices by the enclosure of verandahs. The comprehensive survey of the Preventive Service mentioned earlier results in a strengthening of almost all sections of the Service to ensure that protection of the revenue accruing from dutiable commodities is at once adequate and efficient. New posts included for this purpose are:-1 Revenue Sub-Inspector, 45 Assistant Revenue Officers and 4 Women Assistant Revenue Officers.

Overseas Offices

A new post of Principal Information Officer, approved by Special Warrant for the Hong Kong Government London Office during the previous year, is included to enable that office to expand its public relations activities. Increased financial provision is required to meet normal increments and adjustments to salaries to ensure that they accord with the proper points for age in the approved U.K. Civil Service salary scales. The Tokyo Office is to be closed with effect from 1st April, 1960, and all the existing posts abolished.

Supernumerary Staff

The Chief Preventive Officer is on leave prior to retirement and the supernumerary post will enable a substantive replacement to be appointed during this officer's leave.

Allowances, Etc.

Provision for acting pay has been increased to a figure consistent with actual expenditure during the 1959/60 financial year. That for overtime allowance has been reduced to accord with the policy of permitting the least possible amount of paid overtime work. The figure for technician allowances shows a substantial rise due partly to an increase in the rate for drivers recommended by the 1959 Salaries Com- mission, and partly to an increase in the number of departmental drivers.

These changes together with normal increments and salaries revision resulting from the 1959 Salaries Commission Report account for the increase of $1,139,700 in the vote for Personal Emoluments.

Under Other Charges Annually Recurrent, provision is included for printing of the Trade Bulletin, funds for which were previously included in the estimates of the Printing Department. A new Official Enter- tainment subhead has also been created. Increased provisions are included for a number of other items. The increase under Subsistence Allowances results mainly from the acceptance of a recommendation by the 1959 Salaries Commission that an allowance be given to junior married officers posted to New Territories stations for 24 hours continuous duty. The increase for uniforms is to meet the cost of initial issues to the holders of new posts, and to several officers not previously provided with uniforms because their posts had been regarded as temporary, but which have in fact become of at least a semi-permanent nature. The increase for cleaning of offices arises from the decision to have the headquarters offices cleaned on contract, resulting in two Coolies becoming redundant.