Estimates-1961 — Page 207

206

New posts

(Football Pools Division)

1 Controller of Posts

2 Superintendents of Mails

4 Inspectors of Postmen

77 Temporary Postal Clerks

4 Head Postmen

20 Postmen Class II

150 Assistant Postmen

4 Motor Drivers

349

51

Existing posts deleted

EK

Approved by Special Warrant during the year.

The introduction of football pools to Hong Kong is expected to more than double the volume of mail items now being handled by the Post Office. 262 new posts have accordingly been provided in a separate division to deal with this extra traffic load. The other new posts provided are required for new post offices, and to cope with increased business in all sections. These changes, together with the revision of salaries, account for the increase of $2,242,000 in the vote for Personal Emoluments.

The increase of $3,848,900 under Other Charges Annually Recurrent is also attributable, in large part, to the expected football pools business; this accounts for $1,434,700 of the increase under Conveyance of Airmails and for the additional provision under Stores and Equipment. The general increase in the volume of postal traffic has necessitated most of the other additional provisions shown.

Under Special Expenditure, $50,000 of the provision in the Motor Vehicles subhead and Stamp Cancelling Machines, $30,000, are for the Football Pools Division. The remaining items are required for handling increased business in other sections.

HEAD 56 - PRINTING DEPARTMENT

Estimate 1960/61

$3,430,500

Revised estimate 1959/60

Approved estimate 1959/60

Actual expenditure 1958/59

3,278,000

3,242,900

2,778,790

Permanent staff

Net increase

1959/60

230

1960/61

Difference

233

+ 3

3

New posts

1 Assistant Superintendent

I Confidential Assistant

1 Copy Holder

1 Lithographer Class I

4

1

Existing post deleted

I Lithographer Class II

The additional posts of Assistant Superintendent and Confidential Assistant are required in connexion with security printing, and the two other posts are needed because of the increased printing work. Under Other Charges Annually Recurrent, provision of $65,000 is included in Subhead 4(1) Paper and Printing Requisites for the purchase of printing material for the proposed printing of a revised edition of the Laws of the Colony, Subhead 4(2) Postal Order printing has been added in anticipation of a demand for local postal orders, consequent upon the introduction of football pools to the Colony. The increase of $60,000 in Subhead 4(3) Printing and Binding and $40,000 in Subhead 4(5) Stationery generally reflect the increased demand on this department for the supply of printing and stationery. The decrease shown in Subhead 4(4) Publicity Printing is possible due to provision for the printing of the Trade Bulletin being included under Head 27, Subhead 10.

ment.

Under Special Expenditure provisions have been included for the purchase of improved equip- The vacuumatic paper counting machine is required for use in connexion with security printing.