Estimates-1962 — Page 191

Fisheries Division

New posts

189

Supernumerary Staff

Existing posts deleted

4 Fisheries Officers/Assistant Fisheries

Officers

7 Fisheries Supervisors Class I & Class II

6 Fisheries Supervisors Class III

2 Craft Technicians

1 Draughtsman Class III

1 Fishing Master

1 Telegraphist Signalman Class II

1 Master Shipwright

1 Chief Launch Engineer

1 Launch Engineer Class I

2 Launch Engineers Class IV

1 Stoker Class I

1 Boatswain

2 Coxswains Class II

5 Fishermen Class I

10 Fishermen Class II

1 Artisan Class II

8 Farm Labourers Class II

2 Clerks

195

71

* Approved by Special Warrant during the year.

The new posts are required for normal expansion and new duties. The additional posts of Clerk, Typist, and Clerical Assistant shown under Headquarters are required to deal with increased office routine in the general administration of the department and of the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, for leave reserve, and for new licensing duties under the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Amendment) Ordinance, 1960. The latter duties also necessitate an increase of three posts of Overseer in the Animal Industry Division which were approved by Special Warrant during the year for inspection duties. One post of Agricultural Supervisor Class II was also approved by Special Warrant for the Agricultural Division to enforce the Emergency (Agricultural Poisons) Ordinance. The expansion of forestry work requires the addition of one post of Assistant Forestry Officer to provide assistance in divisional administration; two additional posts of Forestry Supervisor Class II for extension work and one further post together with that of Forest Ranger for the Shek Pik Scheme. Four posts of Stockman and three of Forester are required as leave reserves. The other changes represent transfers of posts from the casual labour force previously provided under Other Charges Annually Recurrent, or transfers to Head 28.

Under supernumerary staff two posts of Clerk are required for nine months only until the mechanized accounting system is functioning properly.

The layout of Other Charges Annually Recurrent is revised to show more clearly the expenditure related to the various activities of the department. The net decrease of $147,600 is mainly accounted for by the transfers of the Fisheries Division and by a reduction in provision for casual labour to offset an increase in permanent labourers provided under Personal Emoluments. The principal increase in provision is in the vote for veterinary medicines to meet the demand for prophylactic treatment of animals; this increase in expenditure is offset by an increase in revenue.

Under Special Expenditure, besides revotes, provision is included for the continuance of experi- ments in agronomy ($15,000); the construction of forest roads to facilitate planting and fire control ($100,000); the purchase of a duplicating machine ($2,600); the development of additional land required for the extension of Tai Lung Station ($38,600); the purchase of farm machinery and laboratory equipment ($70,000) and forestry fire-fighting equipment ($20,000); for improvements and additions to outstations and quarters ($250,000); for the purchase of replacement motor vehicles ($17,500); and for the installation of a water supply system at Tung Chung Station ($8,800).