TNAG-0620-FCO40-768-Annual-accounts-of-Hong-Kong-Government-for-year-ending-1976-1977 — Page 64

Head 42-Information Services Department

Two new subheads were opened during the year with total supplementary provision of $376,000 against which actual expenditure of $369,781 was recorded. There were no substantial variations to the original estimates.

Head 45-Kowloon-Canton Railway

There was one significant excess under 'Annually recurrent other charges' subheads, namely $512,886 (18.3%) under 'Maintenance of buildings and equipment' because the original provision was under-estimated. The sub- head 'Administration' recorded a saving of $342,683 (43.6%) because the move to the new railway terminal at Hung Hom took place later than anticipated and actual electricity charges were lower than originally estimated. There were two significant variations between estimated and actual expenditure under 'Special expenditure' both savings; $1,170,070 (96.8%) was underspent against the subhead 'Additional train set' and $1,448,718 (82.8%) was underspent on ‘Replacement of 28 passenger carriages'-in both cases although the equipment was delivered in 1974/75 final payments were delayed pending modifications to the carriages and will not be made until 1976/77. A further four new subheads were opened during the year with total supplementary provision of $1,046,300 and on one of these subheads 'Improvements to Lo Wu station' the actual expenditure recorded was $313,950 against provision of $366,300. On the remaining three subheads for which $680,000 was approved no expenditure was incurred.

Head 48-Legal Department

The subhead 'Legal costs' which is very difficult to estimate recorded an excess of $425,574 (141.9%) because of an increase in the number of anti-corruption and other cases, in which very heavy costs and expenses had to be borne by Government.

Head 49-Legal Aid Department

There was a saving of $1,150,239 (19.8%) under the subhead for 'Legal Aid' because there were fewer applications for legal aid in criminal cases than had been budgeted for at the time of the estimate although this saving was partly set off by the rise in the number of civil cases finalised during the year.

Head 50-Marine Department

Under 'Recurrent expenditure' there were large savings on 'Administration', $336,372 (37.4%), in 'Fuel and lubricating oil' $936,178 (29.2%) and on ‘Maintenance and improvements to craft and marine equipment' $5,388,947 (31.9%) because of successful economy measures (e.g. in the case of 'Fuel and lubricating oil' reducing launch speeds and in the case of 'Maintenance and improvements to craft and marine equipment' rearranging the maintenance programme of Government craft) and the delay in opening of the Wan Chai cargo working area. Supplementary provision of $1,185,000 was approved during the year under the existing 'special expenditure' subhead 'Two 65-foot launches' for the Mines Division of the Labour Department which had a 'nil' provision in the original estimate; expenditure of $948,000 was recorded against this supplementary provision. There were several major underspendings on 'Special expenditure' subheads. These were $365,705 (35.8%) under 'Engine replacements, spares, auxiliaries and electrical' because of delay in delivery of engines and spares ordered from overseas; $353,188 (79.7%) under 'Equipment and special services for Tong Mei Road Public Cargo Working Area' due to delay in the inauguration of the cargo working area and $799,845 (30.8%) under ‘Harbour moorings-replacement of buoys and fittings' because of delay in delivery of mooring components ordered from overseas.

Head 51-Medical and Health Department

In monetary terms the excess of approximately $14.1 million under 'Personal emoluments' was the largest of all departments. This excess was the principal reason for the overall net excess on the Head of some $7.7 million. There were however a number of other substantial variations between budgeted and actual expenditure. These were underspendings of $1,447,707 (11.1%) under 'Administration', $2,565,543 (10.5%) under 'Stores and equipment' and $2,068,229 (13.9%) under 'Provisions' principally because of the delayed opening of the Princess Margaret Hospital and clinics, but also due to some extent to non-delivery of stores ordered in the case of 'Stores and equipment' and downwards revision of contract prices in the case of 'Provisions'; and an underspending of $312,855 (83.2%) under 'Special hospital equipment' due partly to non-delivery of equipment ordered and partly to the cost of certain pieces of equipment being less than anticipated at the time when the budget was prepared.

Head 52-

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Head 53-

There were $264,752 (

ment of C industrial $330,000, 1

Head 55—

The only n and Defen

payment e adjustment

Head 56-

There was in activitie tion' beca $1,241,855

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