Estimates-1963 — Page 243

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The staff increases reflect the continuing expansion of the activities of all the sections of the Department, especially the Probation and Youth Welfare Sections. The majority of the additional posts are for four new projects; the Probation and Remand Home for Boys, the Probation and Remand Home for Girls, the Children's Reception Centre and the Community Centre at Kwun Tong.

Other Charges Annually Recurrent have been increased by $262,100. The main increases are in Relief and Public Assistance ($100,000) to provide cooked meals or dry rations for an increasing number of destitutes or persons eligible for such assistance; Group Work ($95,000) to meet the recurrent operating expenses of the Wong Tai Sin Community Centre, the Princess Alexandra Community Centre and the new Kwun Tong Community Centre to be completed in 1962-63; and Probation Work ($57,800) to meet recurrent institutional expenses of the Castle Peak Boys' Home, the Girls' Probation and Remand Home and the new Begonia Road Probation and Remand Home expected to be completed in October, 1962.

A new item "Child Welfare Services" with provision of $55,900 is included under Other Charges Annually Recurrent for expenses connected with child welfare including the operating expenses of the new Children's Reception Home expected to be completed in early 1963.

Under Special Expenditure, the provision of $50,800 in Subhead 7 is to meet the cost of one station wagon for conveying physically handicapped persons, children and adults for training and group work activities in vocational training centres and community centre in the Kwun Tong area and a mobile emergency relief van for emergency relief work particularly in the New Territories; and the provision of $91,000 in Sub- head 9 is to meet travelling and accommodation expenses of three expert consultants engaged from abroad to train social workers in the Colony in accordance with recommendations of the Younghusband report.

HEAD 73 — STORES DEPARTMENT

Estimate 1962-63

$13,519,600

Revised estimate 1961-62

13,124,000

Approved estimate 1961-62

11,129,700

Actual expenditure 1960-61

11,163,517

Permanent staff

Supernumerary staff

1961-62

617

1962-63

617

Difference

1

+ 1

Net increase

New posts

3 Storekeepers

1 Clerical Assistant

1 Stores Assistant

1 Plantman

1 Storekeeper*

1 Clerk

Existing posts deleted

1 Labourer

1 Artisan Class I

3 Apprentices

Supernumerary Staff

7

6

* Approved by Special Warrant during the year.

The new Storekeeper posts are required to deal with increased work in the Medical Section, Storage & Distribution Section and Sand Monopoly. The new posts of Clerical Assistant, Stores Assistant and Plantman are offset by the reduction of posts of Clerk, Labourer and Artisan Class I respectively.

Under Other Charges Annually Recurrent, the provision for the collection of sand is decreased

by $500,000. There will be a corresponding decrease in revenue.

The figure against purchase of Unallocated Stores shows an increase of $1,300,000 which is accounted for by the increased turnover resulting from more demands by all departments. The net debit of $1,800,000 is offset by estimated sales the proceeds of which are credited to Revenue. The rundown of stock to a desirable level has been completed and the value of unallocated stock is expected to remain more or less static.