TNAG-0453-FCO40-518-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1974-1975-1975 — Page 14

BUT, IN ADDITION, WE WOULD SEEK BY RESOLUTION, FUNDS UNDER EACH HEAD ''ON ACCOUNT. OUR PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ARE THAT THE AMOUNTS ON ACCOUNT'' WOULD BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH

CERTAIN RULES WHICH MIGHT BE:-

ANNUALLY RECURRENT:

A PROPORTION OF THE AMOUNT IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES RELATED

TO THE TIME LIKELY TO BE REQUIRED TO DEBATE THE APPROPRIATION BILL. DEPARTMENTS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE VOTES ''ON

ACCOUNT'' FOR NEW POSTS OR SERVICES.

SPECIAL EXPENDITURE:.

SUFFICIENT TO MEET COMMITMENTS OUTSTANDING FROM THE

PREVIOUS YEAR.

PUBLIC WORKS NON-RECURRENT:

THE FULL AMOUNT INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES IN RESPECT OF SUBHEADS BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR (1.E. WORK

ALREADY STARTED),

AND THAT THE DETAILS OF THE AMOUNTS ON ACCOUNT UNDER EACH

SUBHEAD WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES. THE ACCOUNTANT

GENERAL WOULD BE AUTHORISED TO MAKE PAYMENTS AGAINST VOTES

''ON

ACCOUNT" BY MEANS OF A ''VOTE ON ACCOUNT WARRANT''.

5. FOR US TO ADOPT SUCH A PROCEDURE WOULD BE CONTRARY TO

C.R. 182: AND A 'VOTE ON ACCOUNT WARRANT' IS NOT PROVIDED FOR UNDER C.R. 214. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL, THEREFORE, FOR YOUR

COVERING SANCTION TO OUR ADOPTING IT, COLONIAL REGULATIONS NOTWITHSTANDING, FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. IF IT PROVES ACCEPTABLE TO UNOFFICIALS AND PRACTICABLE ADMINISTRATIVELY, I WOULD SEEK

YOUR FORMAL APPROVAL FOR AMENDMENTS TO COLONIAL REGULATIONS

LATER IN THE YEAR. SO THAT THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE

MADE HERE, IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF WE COULD HAVE YOUR

ANSWER BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.

MACLEHOSE

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