203
The critical examination into the functions of the Department carried out in September 1959 showed that despite increases last year, the staff of the New Territories Administration was still inadequate to cope with the continued expansion of Government activities in the New Territories. During the year the Department was strengthened by the addition of the staff asterisked above; these include a nucleus of one Administrative Officer together with subordinate staff to deal with the Plover Cove Reservoir Scheme.
To deal with the proposed major reclamation project at Kwai Chung, an additional Adminis- trative Officer and one Estate Surveyor and subordinate staff have been provided.
Additional Engineering Staff are included to cope with the ever increasing and very important work on Local Public Works in the New Territories.
Four posts of Liaison Officer Class II have been included for liaison work between the depart- ment on the one hand and Rural Committees and other representative bodies on the other.
The responsibilities for scavenging and beach cleansing and maintenance in the New Territories are to be handed over to the Urban Services Department, as a result of which it is hoped to effect improved scavenging services in the New Territories. Accordingly, the staff of the unit are now shown under Head 80.
Under Other Charges Annually Recurrent, the net increase of $575,500 largely results from an increase of $374,500 in the Administration subhead where a substantial increase is included under the item for Rent of Offices and Quarters. This increase arises from an approved new policy under which wider quartering facilities for staff employed in the District Offices in the New Territories are to be provided. A new vote provides $150,000 for subventions for 25 Rural Committees in the New Territories to assist them in meeting their basic running expenses. Another new vote provides $100,000 to meet recurrent expenses in connexion with squatter areas.
Under Special Expenditure, funds have been included for additional office equipment, for an extension to the wireless communication system purchased in 1959 for the Department and for additional transport to meet the District Offices' ever increasing needs. $35,000 has been included to cover the purchase of 100 transistor radio receivers required in connexion with a community listening scheme. These receivers will be capable of receiving the new F.M. transmission shortly to be introduced by Radio Hong Kong. Provision of $100,000 has also been included for the formation of an area at Tai Pei Tau, near Yuen Long, to enable cottages for the resettlement of squatters to be built; another $80,000 has been provided for similar site formation work at Ap Chau (Robinson Island).
Estimate 1960/61
Revised estimate 1959/60
Approved estimate 1959/60
HEAD 52 — PENSIONS
$18,332,000
16,913,000
15,783,000
15,173,952
Actual expenditure 1958/59
The increased provision for 1960/61 is accounted for partly by an increase in the number of pensioners and partly by the 1959 Salaries Revision.
HEAD 53 POLICE FORCE: HONG KONG POLICE
Estimate 1960/61
$68,816,500
Revised estimate 1959/60
57,607,000
Approved estimate 1959/60
58,118,200
Actual expenditure 1958/59
48,584,483
1959/60
1960/61
Difference
Permanent staff
Supernumerary staff
8,893
9,552
+ 659
33
17
16
Net increase
643
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