TNAG-0760-FCO40-964-Annual-accounts-of-the-Hong-Kong-Government-for-1977-1978 — Page 38

Head 38 - Housing Department

Two subheads in addition to ‘Personal emoluments' recorded significant excesses. These were $6,686,955 or 191.1% under 'Compensation' due to extension of the eligibility criteria coupled with increased clearances not envisaged at the time when the original estimate was prepared and $1,331,684 or 35% under 'Development of licensed areas' because better progress was made in letting contracts for this programme than originally anticipated. There was a saving of $20,958,908 or 25.4% under 'Management of estates and cottage areas' because domestic rents for Group B estates were increased with effect from December 1976 resulting in a smaller grants being required from Government and because difficulties in obtaining additional staff for the maintenance section led to a reduction in maintenance expenditure.

Head 39- Immigration Department

There was only one noteworthy variation from the printed estimates, namely a saving of $1,114,430 (49.8%) under 'Stores and equipment'. This was mainly because payment, for passports received during the year, could not be effected due to late submission of the bill but was also partly due to tender prices for microfilming materials and equipment being lower than anticipated.

Head 40 - Independent Commission Against Corruption

There was a substantial saving of $1,167,703 or 22.9% under 'Annually Recurrent - Other Charges' largely because owing to the difficulty of obtaining suitable office accommodation only two sub-offices were opened during the year instead of five as originally planned so that expenditure on ‘Hire of services' and 'Publicity' was smaller than anticipated, but also because production of the second ICAC television drama series was delayed pending the recruitment of key personnel for the Media Programme unit in the Community Relations Department.

Head 41 - Information Services Department

There was only one substantial variation from the original estimate, an excess of $468,346 or 12.5% under 'Publicity' mainly as a result of expenditure on three major publicity compaigns relating to the Methadone Detoxification Project, Industrial Safety Measures and a Police Recruitment exercise which were launched during the year and which were not provided for in the original estimate. One new subhead ‘Poster sites' was opened during the year with supplementary provision of $4,900 against which expenditure of $790 was actually recorded.

Head 42 - Inland Revenue Department

There was only one significant variation under this Head, namely an excess of $283,589 or 153.3% under ‘Administra- tion' where extra expenditure was necessary in order to meet increased court fees and increased payments for fuel, light and power for additional offices.

Head 44 - Kowloon-Canton Railway

Under 'Annually recurrent' subheads there were significant savings of $317,787 (26.5%) under 'Administration' mainly because actual electricity charges were lower than estimated and $351,042 (16.1%) under 'Transport and travelling' because consumption of fuel and lubricants was smaller than anticipated due to a number of factors including delays in the introduction of air-conditioning for coaches and the delayed arrival of two additional locomotives. There were four significant variations between estimated and actual expenditure under 'Special expenditure', all savings: $1,107,143 (94.6%) was underspent against the subhead 'Additional train set' and $1,433,187 (88%) on ‘Replacement of 28 pas- senger carriages' mainly because of delayed submission of final bills by the manufacturers; $2,956,690 (98.6%) was underspent on 'Colour light signalling system' because further studies led to a revision of the project and $1,230,000, the whole provision, was underspent under 'Wheel-lathe' due to delay in the delivery of the equipment. Three new subheads were opened during the year with total supplementary provision of $2,232,349 against which expenditure of $2,127,032 was actually recorded. The largest of the new subheads was created for 'Emergency measures' with a sup- plementary provision of $1,330,000 and actual expenditure under this subhead was $1,282,221.

Head 45- Labour Department

There was only one significant variation under this Head, namely a saving of $606,176 or 54.1% under 'Transport and travelling', mainly because the Marine Department supplied vessels for the transport of explosives with effect from October 1976 and the amounts provided in the Mines Division estimates for this purpose were no longer required.

Head 46 - Legal Department

There was one significant excess of $366,490 or 111.1% under 'Legal expenses' due mainly to an unforeseen increase in the number of criminal cases leading to the payment of additional fees to barristers in private practice engaged in the prosecution of these cases.

Head 47 - Legal Aid Department

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There was a saving of $617,552 (11.7%) under the subhead for 'Legal aid' mainly because more cases than anticipated were handled by the department's litigation unit resulting in a reduction in the amount paid out in fees to private practitioners.

Head 48 - Marine Department

As regards 'Annually recurrent' expenditure there were significant savings under 'Administration' $324,393 or 36.1%, because of successful economy efforts leading to a reduction in electricity consumption, fewer subsistence allowance

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