TNAG-0760-FCO40-964-Annual-accounts-of-the-Hong-Kong-Government-for-1977-1978 — Page 36

1973/74

1974/75

1975/76

1976/77

(all figures are shown in $ million)

(a) Total Personal Emoluments

1,562.1

1,956.2

1,781.5

2,135.0

(b) Total capital and recurrent expenditure*

4,869.2

6,255.2

6,032.2

6,590.9

(c) Percentage (a) of (b)

32.1%

33.3%

29.5%

32.4%

(d) Total recurrent expenditure

3,474.2

4,456.8

4,450.1

5,223.5

(e) Percentage (a) of (d)

45.0%

43.9%

40.0%

* excluding a payment of $300m to the Mass Transit Fund in 1973/74.

Head 22 - Agriculture and Fisheries Department

40.9%

None of the subheads showed significant excesses. There were three significant savings $3,169,588 or 73.9% under 'Countryside recreational development' because of delay in the completion of works due to problems encountered in staff recruitment, land clearance and the delivery of motor vehicles and road making equipment; $383,159 or 97.2% under 'Farm waste treatment' due to tender difficulties, delays in the delivery of equipment and shortage of staff; and $9,989,841 or 99.9% under 'Fisheries research vessel' because consultations required prior to the finalisation of the tender documents delayed construction of the vessel.

Head 24 - Census and Statistics Department

Apart from 'Personal emoluments' the only subhead appearing in the printed estimates to record a significant variation was 'Population By-Census 1976' where there was a saving of $386,557 or 21.3% because it proved possible to carry out the data processing work for the project with existing Government staff and the provision made for outside data processing services was therefore not required. Two new subheads were opened during the year with total supplementary provision of $89,000 against which expenditure of $84,563 was actually recorded.

Head 25 - Civil Aviation Department

None of the expenditure subheads showed significant excesses. There was four significant savings; $1,607,853 or 33.9% under ‘Administration' due partly to economies in the consumption of electricity and partly to delays in the completion of the extension to the Passenger Terminal Building and in the occupation of the office building at the Air Cargo Complex; $254,795 or 15.4% under 'Airport insurance' because the premium quoted was lower than anticipated; $3,503,783 or 99.8% under 'Flight information display system' because of delay in payment pending acceptance of the equipment under the Technical Services Agreement; and $324,715 or 37.8% under ‘Improvements to the approach lighting to runway 13 at Hong Kong Airport' because of delay in the completion of part of the work.

Head 26 - Colonial Secretariat

There were no significant variations in the case of the 12 subheads which appeared in the printed estimates. Four new subheads were opened during the year with total supplementary provision of $478,000 against which expenditure of $370,073 was actually recorded. Of the new subheads the largest was 'Visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra 1977' with a supplementary provision of $357,000 and actual expenditure of $251,523.

Head 27 - Colonial Secretariat: London Office

There was only one significant variation as regards the 11 subheads for which amounts were included in the original estimates, namely a saving of $626,060 (37.4%) under 'Rent and rates' mainly due to a partial exemption from rates granted in respect of the London office building and the Commissioner's official residence. Two new subheads were opened during the year the smaller of these being 'Feasibility study on Hong Kong students' centre' with supplementary provision of $40,000 against which expenditure of $30,611 was actually recorded and the larger 'Alteration and extension of Hong Kong students' centre' with supplementary provision of $1,575,000 against which expenditure of $46,691 was actually recorded.

Head 28 - Commerce and Industry Department

There were no significant expenditure excesses among the 13 subheads for which amounts were provided in the printed estimates but there were three significant savings. These were $300,388 or 31.6% under ‘Administration' mainly as a result of economies in the use of fuel, light and power and a reorganisation of the duties of Marine personnel in the Harbour Division of the Preventive Service leading to fewer claims for subsistence allowance; $356,715 or 38.6% under 'Stores and equipment' largely because of delay in the delivery of uniforms by suppliers; and $625,016 or 52.1% under 'Consultations, conferences and committees' because a number of negotiations with textile delegations took place in Hong Kong instead of overseas resulting in considerable savings in air-fares and subsistence allowances. One new subhead 'Motor vehicles' was opened during the year with supplementary provision of $33,000 against which expenditure of $28,670 was actually recorded.

Head 31 - Defence: Miscellaneous Measures

There was one excess under this Head, namely, $8,860,000 (5.5%) under 'Defence Costs Agreement: cash contribution'. This occurred partly because prices used in calculating the contribution required to be updated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement to take account of cost and relevant exchange rate variations and partly because the initial rate of expenditure on capital works reimburseable by the United Kingdom Government and deductable from the contribution was lower than had been anticipated at the time when the original estimate was prepared. There were also a number of substantial savings. These were; $3,392,655 (12.1%) under 'Defence Costs Agreement: main- tenance' because some works were cancelled as a result of a reduction in the size of garrison barracks and the reloca-

12

tion of the in sterling under 'Def■ tion of ma $9,711,172

were over E

'Security w-

Head 32

-

Apart from original es: of $14,700

Head 33-

There were estimates. ■ provision c

Head 34- There were These were

of delays in bursaries a

because th

payment o examinatio

rates as bet at the time larger of t of $2,298,C Hill Techn

Head 35- None of th under 'Ad: result of d electricity ordered fr 14.5% und in travellir

procureme lower thar

under 'Lig

pumps' ar required f

'Motor an

was theref only one

Head 36 - The subhe pared with

amount tc chases ma

require re during the

originally available

landing cl handled b buildings

and beca

Head 37 - The only $408,503 originally