TNAG-0760-FCO40-964-Annual-accounts-of-the-Hong-Kong-Government-for-1977-1978 — Page 40

Head 51 - New Territories Administration

Apart from 'Personal emoluments' there were no significant excesses on subheads appearing in the original estimates. However there were three substantial savings. These were; $280,523 (31.2%) under ‘Management of Crown Land' and $435,169 (21.8%) under ‘Cleansing facilities' mainly because progress of the work was slower than anticipated and some contracts could not be completed within the year; and $461,228 (93.7%) under 'Radio Telephone' because of delay in the delivery of the equipment. Two new subheads were opened during the year, one with supplementary provision of $65,050 against which no expenditure was recorded and the other, for 'Clearance of the tanneries at Sheung Shui' with supplementary provision of $7,000,000 against which actual expenditure of $2,972,554 was recorded.

Head 52 - Office of Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils

There were no substantial variations in the case of subheads appearing in the original estimates. One new subhead for 'Expenses of UMELCO Members' was opened during the year with supplementary provision of $400,000 against which expenditure of $399,502 was actually recorded.

Head 53- Pensions

There were two major variations from the printed estimates for this Head namely a saving of $596,634 (33%) under 'Volunteer and Defence Force pensions, allowances and grants' mainly because of depreciation in the value of the pound sterling, in which currency these awards were granted, and a saving of $10,484,885 (26.8%) under ‘Gratuities for officers on contract, ex gratia pensions, awards and allowances, increases in ex gratia pensions' because fewer officers than originally estimated completed their agreements during the year.

Head 54 - Police:Royal Hong Kong Police Force

In monetary terms the 'Personal emoluments' excess of approximately $43.9 million was the largest Personal Emolu- ments excess of all departments apart from which there was only one major excess, $2,240,433 (20.7%) under ‘Rewards and Special Services' due to a general increase in activities to combat crime, but there were substantial savings of $1,368,916 (13.7%) under 'Stores and equipment' because of delay in the delivery of some items ordered during the year; $937,001 (18.1%) under 'Transport and travelling' because of a reduction in the number of mileage claims sub- mitted during the year, $456,491 (35.7%) under 'Operating costs of Police Cadet School' because the campus at Dodwell's Ridge came into operation later than originally anticipated and there was delay in the delivery of certain items of sporting, educational and training equipment; $957,747 (34.7%) under 'Motor vehicles' due to delays in delivery of vehicles ordered during the year; $483,412 (25.1%) under ‘Arms' because some items ordered were not delivered before the end of the year; $10,202,849 (43.3%) under 'Personal beat radio scheme' due to delays in installation; and $3,881,372 (83.1%) under 'Radio and radar equipment' where, because of an alteration in plans, funds provided for VHF radio replacements did not require to be expended during the year.

Head 55 - Police: Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force

All the subheads showed savings because of reduced activities by the Auxiliary Force; the major underspendings being $8,576,551 (33%) under 'Pay and allowances' and $629,520 (38.8%) under 'Stores and equipment'.

Head 56 - Post Office

Apart from 'Personal emoluments' there were no significant excesses. There were savings under 'Stores and equipment' where expenditure was $1,064,727 (26.6%) less than estimated partly because of outstanding stamp and postal stores commitments and partly because a planned purchase of uniforms was deferred; and under 'Dues to other administra- tions' where expenditure was $9,100,647 or 22.8% less than estimated partly because increased terminal charges took effect more slowly than anticipated and partly because the strengthening of the Hong Kong dollar reduced the cost of settling international accounts.

Head 57 - Printing Department

The only major variation from the printed estimates was a saving of $1,956,316 or 12.8% under 'Stores and equipment' due mainly to delay in the delivery of printing supplies, particularly supplies ordered from overseas. One new subhead 'Shrink wrapping machine' was opened during the year with supplementary provision of $50,000 against which there was no expenditure.

Head 58 - Prisons Department

There were two significant variations from the original estimates under this Head namely a saving of $5,442,430 (24.2%) under 'Stores and equipment' partly because of a reduction in contract rates and partly because the average prison muster during the year was not as high as had been previously forecast and a saving of $1,448,882 or 92.1% under 'Equipment for prison industries' because further purchases were deferred pending consideration of the results of a new survey of requirements. One new subhead 'Communication network' was opened during the year with supplementary provision of $214,000 against which there was no expenditure.

Head 59 - Public Debt

The only significant variation under this Head was a saving of $832,798 or 11.1% under 'Loans (Asian Development Bank Ordinance), Cap. 271; Single purpose desalting plant' because the amount originally provided for this purpose was over-estimated.

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