TNAG-0453-FCO40-518-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1974-1975-1975 — Page 16

FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD MOVE THE APPROPRIATION BILL AT THE END OF THE MONTH. THE BILL WOULD BE IN ITS PRESENT FORM, THAT IS SEEKING APPROPRIATION, FROM THE GENERAL REVENUES, OF THE TOTAL

AMOUNT INCLUDED FOR EXPENDITURE IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES SUPPORTKO BY A SCHEDULE GIVING THE AMOUNT UNDER EACH HEAD OF EXPENDITURE.

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 BE1-

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,

MACLEROSE