Estimates-1962 — Page 227

225

Port Works Office

Roads Office

responsibilities.

The additional posts have been provided to deal with the increase in secretarial and typing work.

The additional staff is required in order that the Office may meet its increasing day to day

Waterworks Office

Eight of the additional posts are accounted for by transfer from works votes whilst the remain- ing additional posts are required to operate and maintain new pumping stations and to deal with the increasing day to day responsibilities of the sub-department.

Supernumerary Staff

The posts of Deputy Director, Assistant Director, Superintendent of Crown Lands & Surveys, Chief Building Surveyor and Secretary are provided to cover the pre-retirement leave of the present substantive holders; the post of Chief Electrical & Mechanical Engineer is held against the vacant new post of Assistant Director (Electrical & Mechanical). The post of Engineering Draughtsman Class I is provided for a temporary replacement for an officer of that grade on no pay leave. One post of Map Draughtsman Class III and one post of Foreman Class III are being held against two existing unfilled vacancies in higher grades.

These changes together with normal increments account for the general increase of $1,521,900 in the Personal Emoluments subhead.

The net decrease shown under Other Charges Annually Recurrent is accounted for by the transfer of provisions for Cleaning and for Fuel Light & Power for joint user buildings from this Head to Head 62. These decreases are partially offset by increased provisions for Rent, consequent upon the move of the Build- ings Ordinance Office into leased accommodation, and for Subsistence Allowances and Travelling Expenses which are attributable to more works being carried out in out-lying areas.

The main items of Special Expenditure are boring equipment for the Port Works Office (revote $84,500), motor vehicles $433,000 (revote $31,000; replacements $220,500 and new money $181,500), pumping plant for the Waterworks Office (revote $120,000), radio telephony equipment for departmental use ($50,000), road rollers ($55,700) and workshop equipment and tools $337,700 (revote $268,600; replacements $23,900 and new money $45,200),

HEAD 62 — PUBLIC WORKS RECURRENT

Estimate 1961/62

Revised estimate 1960/61

Approved estimate 1960/61

Actual expenditure 1959/60

$41,025,000

39,300,000

35,713,000

39,922,440

The new subhead entitled "Management of joint-user buildings" is included in the Public Works Recurrent head of expenditure to accommodate the management costs of buildings used jointly by several departments.

Additional public lighting has to be installed as development proceeds and an increase in the provision for this purpose to $2,850,000 is provided for 1961/62. Electricity charges for traffic signals and refuges which were previously provided under Head 52 are now included in this vote.

The rapid increase in the weight and density of road traffic is the reason for the accelerated rate of deterioration in the condition of the Colony's roads and this, coupled with more mileage to be maintained necessitates an increase of $250,000 in the provision for the maintenance of roads and bridges. The provision for maintenance of traffic aids, lights and signs now shown under Subhead 15(5) was previously included under Head 52.

The overall cost of bringing the installation of fire hydrants in all areas to a satisfactory standard is $600,000 spread over a period of three years. The sum of $200,000 is provided under Subhead 16 for this purpose. An additional $300,000 is provided for the installation of extra fire hydrants in the Kowloon City flight funnel, where a plane crash would have grave consequences.

Additional salt water flushing systems will be in commission in 1961/62 and these will call for extensions as development continues. An additional provision of $230,000 for this purpose is accordingly included.

The completion of new catchwaters and pumphouses and the taking of raw water from Sham Chun collectively increase the pumping, filtration, distribution and associated costs for the supply of water and the maintenance of waterworks. A new item "Purchase of water" is provided to cover the cost of raw water from Sham Chun. These additional commitments together account for the increase of $2,595,000 in the provision under Subhead 21.