Estimates-1964 — Page 247

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HEAD 73 - SUBVENTIONS: MEDICAL

Estimate 1963-64

Revised estimate 1962-63

Approved estimate 1962-63

$29,295,000

27,015,000

27,792,900

25,009,269

Actual expenditure 1961-62

Recurrent subventions total $24,400,700, $2,681,200 more than the provision for 1962-63. The main increases are in respect of: Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital-$323,000, due to increases in salaries for the medical and nursing staff and the need for additional rented accommodation during the period of rebuilding of staff quarters; Haven of Hope Tuberculosis Sanatorium-$115,200, for maintenance of an additional 20 Government-sponsored beds at increased cost; Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association— $200,000, to meet increased recurrent costs, including those arising from a new 141-bed building which is to be constructed; Shek Kwu Chau Drug Addiction Centre-$245,000, since the Centre is expected to be in operation throughout the major part of the year. The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation $300,000, in view of increased commitments in respect of the Society's Centre at Kwun Tong which was opened in September, 1962; Tung Wah and Associated Hospitals-$1,400,000, due to increases in salaries and allowances and in the cost of medicines and services generally; University of Hong Kong-pathological services $100,000, to meet the increased cost of the pathological services performed by the University laboratory.

Under Special Expenditure, the total provision of $4,894,300 is $1,179.100 less than that for 1962-63. This is due mainly to the reduction of $1,000,000 in the amount provided for the new Kwong Wah Hospital, the provision of $4,000,000 representing the final instalment of Government's capital contri- bution towards this project.

HEAD 74- SUBVENTIONS: SOCIAL WELFARE

Estimate 1963-64

Revised estimate 1962-63

Approved estimate 1962-63

Actual expenditure 1961-62

$4,743,000

4,114,000

4,368,200

3,621,530

Increased provision is attributable to the following welfare organizations whose recurrent sub- ventions have been increased by the amounts shown in brackets:

Hong Kong Society for the Blind ($100,000) to meet increased staff salaries and wages, incentive payments to blind trainees and hostel messing expenses as a result of the operation of the new Workshop for the Blind; Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association ($55,600) mainly to cover normal salary increments and salaries for new staff; Little Sisters of the Poor ($45,000) towards costs of caring for an increased number of aged persons in the Aberdeen and the Ngau Chi Wan Homes; Society of Boys' Centres ($35,100) to cover salaries for new staff as a result of the operation of an enlarged new centre; Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups ($35,000) towards staff salaries and running expenses; Boy Scouts Association ($30,600) towards planning, training and development expenses; Children's Playground Association ($29,500) to meet increased expenses in maintaining and operating the Southorn and the Queen Elizabeth Centres and stadia; Chinese Young Men's Christian Association ($26,300) for salary increases and employment of suitable staff; Hong Kong Family Welfare Society ($26,000) mainly to cover increases in grants and loans and staff salaries; Hong Kong Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society ($22,000) to meet previous years' deficits, salary increments and new staff salaries as well as meal tickets, office, hostel and travelling expenses; Po Leung Kuk ($20,000) to cover salaries of new staff; Ebenezer School and Home for the Blind ($16,000) mainly towards rates arising from new extension to the Home; Aberdeen Technical School ($15,000) to meet increased expenditure on food-stuffs, water charges and wages of menial staff; St. Christopher's Home ($14,000) towards increased operating expenses resulting from the opening of the new Infants Section providing another 100 places and the employment of a qualified Assistant Superintendent; Good Shepherd Sisters ($13,000) towards increased operating expenses of Pelletier Hall. In addition, $29,600 and $6,000 are provided respectively for Caritas and Catholic Relief Services, which did not feature in the Estimates last year, for payment of rates on premises used for welfare purposes.

Items under Special Expenditure include $150,000 (part revote) for the Sham Shui Po Kaifong Advancement Association as a contribution towards the cost of part of the new Kaifong building to be occupied by the Social Welfare Department; $53,000 for the Boy Scouts Association towards expenditure on the extension of scouting to resettlement estates, a Sea School Base and a New Territories Camp Site; $21,000 for the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association to equip three new libraries and $20,000 (revote) for the Hong Kong School for the Deaf towards the cost of construction of a sick room.