Sessional_Paper_1932 — Page 52

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and where the reductions should be effected being left to the discretion of the sub- departmental heads. They will make recommendations regarding the clerical establish- ment elsewhere in their report.

43. Summarising the recommendations as a whole; Waterworks will be entirely detached, and its financial policy put upon a proper basis; there will be a net reduction of 21 senior officers and 11 overseers, or about 30% and 12% respectively of the approved establishments; and by the process of amalgamation the number of sub-departments will be reduced from thirteen to seven. These sub-departments should be officered by experts. To-day is the day of specialists. It is bad policy to have an officer one day in the Surveys Office, the next in the Drainage Office, and the day after in the Architectural Office. Promotion and acting appointments should, with the exception of junior engineers on their first tour of duty, take place within the sub-departments, and not according to seniority in the Public Works Department as a whole. Selected officers would have to be earmarked for command; but their number is so small as not to affect the general rule. The problems of the Public Works Department of Hong Kong are largely municipal. would be well if its administration were in conformity with municipal practice.

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT.

The staff of the Harbour Department, particularly as regards the Europeans, has grown considerably within the last five years, and whilst the Commissioners fully recognize the desirability of efficiency, they also realize that there is a point where efficiency becomes uneconomical, and in their opinion this poin: has been passed. There is moreover the danger that too rigorous regulations may discourage shipping from using the port.

2. The executive of the department consists of the Harbour Master. the Deputy Harbour Master and the Assistant Harbour Master. Prior to 1925 there was a Harbour Master and Assistant Harbour Master. The Commissioners are not satisfied that the posts of both Deputy and Assistant Harbour Master are necessary, and they recommend that they be re-amalgamated into one post; leave requirements notwithstanding. The Harbour Master should be relieved of a certain amount of work by the transference to the Police Court of all non-technical cases, which at present come before him as Marine Magistrate.

3. In 1923 there were in all twenty three clerks, none of whom were European. In 1931 the authorised establishment consists of five European clerks, one Stenographer and thirty-five clerks and shroffs. Such a large increase is not in the opinion of the Com- missioners justified. Of the five Europeans two are in the Harbour Office proper, one in the Government Marine Surveyors' Office, one in the Shipping Office, and one vacant post. The Commissioners consider that the Stenographer is unnecessary and that one European clerk in the Harbour Office and one in the Government Marine Surveyors' Office, making a total of two European clerks, to be quite sufficient for the work to be done. Reductions should also be made in the Junior Clerical Staff. This will be reported on generally elsewhere.

4. The Harbour Master gave it in evidence that the increase in 1930 in the number of Boarding Officers from five to seven was made, not at his request, but at the instance of the River Steamers' Commission. It is recommended that the number of five be reverted to.

5. A table is attached showing the amount collected in licence fees for junks and cargo boats and the number of inspectors in each of the past ten years. To justify the increases in the number of inspectors in 1926 and 1927 it was claimed that the appoint- ment of these inspectors would more than pay for their salaries. The figures do not seem to bear out this claim. It was explained in evidence that had not the number of inspectors been augmented the revenue would have dropped, owing to there being fewer large vessels in the waters of the Colony, and that the collection of fees from sampans and small craft was laborious and expensive. The Commissioners consider that the in- fliction of severer penalties, such as confiscation of the offending owner's craft, for non- payment of licence fees would lead to more prompt payment of fees, and so relieve the work of the inspectorate in rounding up defaulters. In any case the post of Chief Assistant Inspector should be abolished.