HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I would therefore earnestly seek the cooperation and support of my colleagues on all sides of this Council to eliminate waste of time by concentrating on the essentials only, leaving partisanship and campaigning to some other more suitable place or occasion.
Mr. Chairman, with these few remarks I have much pleasure in supporting the motion. (Applause).
COL. J. D. CLAGUE: Mr. Chairman, during a recent debate in another place, an honourable Member stated that it was the duty of all Unofficials to question the wisdom and necessity of the various departments' ever increasing demands, but being a realist and with that typical Irish logic to which that body has by now become accustomed, he proceeded to make a most eloquent plea for further expenditure. Although myself a Celt, I do not propose, Mr. Chairman, to go quite so far, but I do rise to support the increases of staff which this Council unanimously recommended for next year.
The Urban Services Department has been under fire and the view has been expressed that the situation may be getting out of hand. Last year our staff increased by no less than 960, and this year it is proposed that there should be a further increase of 789. This makes a total of 8,518 posts but it is noteworthy that no less than 5,510 are Manual Labourers.
There are a number of very good reasons why our staff has increased so much over the past few years. The first and most obvious reason is that the population has been increasing and naturally the work of the U.S.D. has increased in direct proportion. Equally there has been a great deal of new building. Another important reason is that additional responsibilities, notably by the transfer of the Gardens Division in 1953/54, have been given to the U.S.D., and have necessitated the recruitment of large separate additional Sub-Divisions. The figures are further inflated due to the fact that it has been necessary during the past three years to provide an additional 467 posts to cover leave reserve as prior to 1957/58 there was no proper leave reserve as is required by Government policy. Also during 1957/58, 268 Daily Rated staff were transferred to Monthly rates and therefore show up in the number of posts rather than appearing under the general heading of "Other Charges".
This process of expansion is continuing this year. 91 new posts have been created to deal with the Hawker control which is now a U.S.D. responsibility having been taken over from the Police who are now relieved of this onerous task. More than 100 new posts are required to handle the two new car parks and to provide gardeners, coolies and park-keepers for the many new playgrounds which have been, or will be, opened during the current year, and to which reference has been made in the Chairman's report and also by Mr. Li Yu Bor.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It is also worthy of note that income from rates have increased in keeping with the increase in our staff and now amount to nearly $80 million per annum. Revenue from licences issued by the Council have also increased from $3 million in 1947/48 to $11 million at the present time. The total cost of emoluments for our staff is estimated in the current year to be $22,070,000 compared with $20,493,600 last year—an increase of only approximately $1.4 million in spite of the substantial increase of some 789 posts. From these figures it will be seen that the average cost per person is falling, which emphasizes that the major increases have taken place in the lower brackets. Contrary to ill-informed criticism the increase in clerks and administrative personnel was happily small and is indicative of the desire on the part of all concerned to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
There is one aspect of the estimates as they affect the Urban Services Department, however, which requires careful watching, and that is the provision of $1 million for overtime pay. This represents almost 5% of the total personal emoluments and would seem to me to be excessive. I would urge that during 1959/60 a careful watch is made on all payments for overtime, and at the end of the year we should examine the details with the greatest possible care in order to ensure that there is no unnecessary expenditure of public funds. If, as is possible, the fact is that our staff increases continually lag behind the number required to carry out the work involved, then it would seem to me more realistic to face up to the position and increase the number of posts rather than pay out large sums for overtime.
The second item on which I would like to comment briefly is the position of the new abattoirs. Last August the U.K. Consultants, with whom the Abattoir Select Committee had had conferences, forwarded the first drawings showing the suggested layout and equipment for the new abattoir in Kennedy Town, together with a very comprehensive memorandum. Further drawings were submitted shortly afterwards. The views of Government were despatched to London in November and revised drawings have now been received and are being considered urgently. The plans for Cheung Sha Wan have also been received and incorporate the amendments suggested for the Kennedy Town abattoir. It is hoped that the final plans will be approved in the near future. It is obvious that in such a highly technical task as the designing of most expensive and modern abattoirs, the greatest possible care should be taken to ensure that all requirements are met, and whilst any delay is regretted it is not a matter on which snap decisions can be taken. On the other hand, I feel that by now everyone has had ample opportunity of studying the problem, and there appears to me to be no justification whatsoever for further delay.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I would therefore earnestly seek the cooperation and support of my colleagues on all sides of this Council to eliminate waste of time by concentrating on the essentials only, leaving partisanship and campaign- ing to some other more suitable place or occasion.
Mr. Chairman, with these few remarks I have much pleasure in supporting the motion. (Applause).
COL. J. D. CLAGUE: Mr. Chairman, during a recent debate in another place, an honourable Member stated that it was the duty of all Unofficials to question the wisdom and necessity of the various depart- ments' ever increasing demands, but being a realist and with that typical Irish logic to which that body has by now become accustomed, he proceeded to make a most eloquent plea for further expenditure. Although myself a Celt, I do not propose, Mr. Chairman, to go quite so far, but I do rise to support the increases of staff which this Council unanimously recommended for next year.
The Urban Services Department has been under fire and the view has been expressed that the situation may be getting out of hand. Last year our staff increased by no less than 960, and this year it is proposed that there should be a further increase of 789. This makes a total of 8,518 posts but it is noteworthy that no less than 5,510 are Manual Labourers.
There are a number of very good reasons why our staff has increased so much over the past few years. The first and most obvious reason is that the population has been increasing and naturally the work of the U.S.D. has increased in direct proportion. Equally there has been a great deal of new building. Another important reason is that additional responsibilities, notably by the transfer of the Gardens Division in 1953/54, have been given to the U.S.D., and have necessitated the recruitment of large separate additional Sub-Divisions. The figures are further inflated due to the fact that it has been necessary during the past three years to provide an additional 467 posts to cover leave reserve as prior to 1957/58 there was no proper leave reserve as is required by Government policy. Also during 1957/58, 268 Daily Rated staff were transferred to Monthly rates and therefore show up in the number of posts rather than appearing under the general heading of "Other Charges".
This process of expansion is continuing this year. 91 new posts have been created to deal with the Hawker control which is now a U.S.D. responsibility having been taken over from the Police who are now relieved of this onerous task. More than 100 new posts are required to handle the two new car parks and to provide gardeners, coolies and park-keepers for the many new playgrounds which have been, or will be, opened during the current year, and to which reference has been made in the Chairman's report and also by Mr. Li Yu Bor.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
21
It is also worthy of note that income from rates have increased in keeping with the increase in our staff and now amount to nearly $80 million per annum. Revenue from licences issued by the Council have also increased from $3 million in 1947/48 to $11 million at the present time. The total cost of emoluments for our staff is estimated in the current year to be $22,070,000 compared with $20,493,600 last year- an increase of only approximately $14 million in spite of the substantial increase of some 789 posts. From these figures it will be seen that the average cost per person is falling, which emphasizes that the major increases have taken place in the lower brackets. Contrary to ill informed criticism the increase in clerks and administrative personnal was happily small and is indicative of the desire on the part of all concerned to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
There is one aspect of the estimates as they affect the Urban Services Department, however, which requires careful watching, and that is the provision of $1 million for overtime pay. This represents almost 5% of the total personal emoluments and would seem to me to be excessive. I would urge that during 1959/60 a careful watch is made on all payments for overtime, and at the end of the year we should examine the details with the greatest possible care in order to ensure that there is no unnecessary expenditure of public funds. If, as is possible, the fact is that our staff increases continually lag behind the number required to carry out the work involved, then it would seem to me more realistic to face up to the position and increase the number of posts rather than pay out large sums for overtime.
The second item on which I would like to comment briefly is the position of the new abattoirs. Last August the UK. Consultants, with whom the Abattoir Select Committee had had conferences, forwarded the first drawings showing the suggested layout and equipment for the new abattoir in Kennedy Town, together with a very comprehensive memorandum. Further drawings were submitted shortly afterwards. The views of Government were despatched to London in November and revised drawings have now been received and are being considered urgently. The plans for Cheung Sha Wan have also been received and incorporate the amendments suggested for the Kennedy Town abattoir. It is hoped that the final plans will be approved in the near future. It is obvious that in such a highly technical task as the designing of most expensive and modern abattoirs, the greatest possible care should be taken to ensure that all requirements are met, and whilst any delay is regretted it is not a matter on which snap decisions can be taken. On the other hand, I feel that by now everyone has had ample oppor- tunity of studying the problem, and there appears to me to be no justification whatsoever for further delay.
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