THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JUNE 27, 1930.
to be charged to the Public Works (1927) Loan for the construction of the Kai Tak Aerodrome and further approves the expenditure of this sum during the year 1929.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
11. The Colonial Secretary moved the following resolution :-
That this Council approves the recommendations of the Salaries Commission published in Sessional Paper No. 7 of 1929 as modified by the Governor's despatch No. 37 of the 22nd January, 1930, and approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in his telegram of the 25th March, 1930, published in Sessional Paper No. 3 of 1930, and further modified by the exclusion of the High Cost of Living allowance referred to in paragraph 12 of the Commissioners report and the rent allowance for dollar salaried officers of less than 10 years' service referred to in para- graph 180 of the report which allowances shall not be provided without further specific sanction of this Council, and accordingly resolves that a sum of $1,628,917 be charged upon the Revenue and other funds of the Colony in addition to the sums already provided in the Estimates for 1930 for the purpose of carrying into effect as from the 1st of January, 1930, the recommendations so modified.
The Secretary for Chinese Affairs seconded.
The Hon. Mr. J. OWEN HUGHES addressed Council and said that as the Govern- ment had adopted the present course of action it would be necessary for the first of his two motions to be put as an amendment and trusted that His Excellency would accept it in this form. The amendment was as follows:-
That in view of the far reaching effect of the Commissioners' Report on employment generally and the community as a whole and the large expenditure of public money involved, His Excellency the President of this Council be invited to appoint a Committee consisting of Government Nominees, Representatives of employers and employees and others having a broad knowledge of the conditions of employ- ment in this Colony, to investigate the Report of the Commissioners and make a Report thereon to the Government for further con- sideration.
The Hon. Mr. C. G. S. MACKIE addressed Council supporting the amendment.
The Colonial Secretary replied and stated that the Government was unable to
accept the amendment.
His Excellency addressed the Council and said that though the Government were unable to support the resolution proposed by the Hon. Member he was prepared to accept his second resolution regarding the appointment of a retrenchment committee.
On the amendment being put to vote it was declared lost. Ten Members voted against and six, the Hon. Mr. J. OWEN HUGHES, Hon. Mr. C. G. S. MACKIE, Hon. Mr. R. H. KOTEWALL, Hon. Mr. S. W. Ts'o, Hon. Mr. J. J. PATERSON and Hon. Mr. A. F. B. SILVA-NETTO, for the amendment.
Hon. Sir SHOUSON CHOW and Hon. Mr. PAUL LAUDER abstained from voting.
The Hon. Dr. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., moved the following amendment :-
That the recommendations of the Salaries Commission as modified by the Government be not accepted, and that, as an alternative, the temporary High Cost of Living Allowance approved by the Finance Committee on the 10th April, 1930, be continued until this Council shall otherwise