TNAG-0453-FCO40-518-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1974-1975-1975 — Page 71

which was adopted by Legislative Council on 1st March 1972. The powers and functions of the newly-constituted Council are defined in the Ordinance, which conferred on the Council a significant degree of financial autonomy.

49. Although the Council became free, from 1st April 1973, to draw up its own budget, the Council continues to operate through the Urban Services Department and, as the staff in the department remain in the public service, posts for it continue to appear in the annual Estimates. The Urban Council reimburses the full cost of all the staff except the Director and Deputy Directors (who have responsibilities beyond those of the Urban Council) and their Personal Secretaries.

50. It has been agreed between the Government and the Urban Council that additional posts for the Urban Services Department will continue to be created by the Legislature, on request from the Urban Council. Such requests are examined in the C Division of the Finance Branch to confirm that:

(a) the activities for which the posts are sought fall within the

Urban Council's sphere of responsibility; and

(b) the proposed grading of the additional posts conforms with

Government principles and practice.

51. In accordance with these arrangements we recommended during the year the creation of 94 additional permanent posts and 107 additional supernumerary posts.

Urban Services Department (New Territories Division)

52. A total of 577 additional posts were recommended for this division during the year, mostly for the expansion of cleansing services. in the New Territories.

DRAFT ESTIMATES 1974-75

53. We note that departments asked for a net total of 4,788 additional posts for inclusion in the draft Estimates for 1974-75, of which 2,816 have been included. Of the remainder, some were rejected, some were withdrawn by departments after discussion and others were deferred for detailed investigation outside the context of the Estimates. Details of staff changes included in the draft Estimates are shown in the Memorandum Notes to the 1974-75 draft Estimates.

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