THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 22, 1939.
1026
No. 851.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DEPARTMENT.
The following is published for general information.
18th September, 1939.
R. A. C. NORTH,
Colonial Secretary.
Under Proclamations by His Excellency the Governor on 30th August and 4th September certain officers, warrant officers and men of Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force have been mobilized for service. Further proclamations may yet be made increasing the number.
When the list was completed an effort was made to cause the civil community as little inconvenience as possible but it has been impossible entirely to avoid inconvenience. It is therefore desirable that the inconvenience be assessed and that an endeavour be made to find a solution without. how- ever, subscribing to any suggestion that the duties to which personnel have been detailed are not of vital importance to the defence of the Colony.
A solution is offered in the speech by His Excellency the General Officer Commanding the Troops before the Legis- lative Council on 27th July wherein it was suggested that a Tribunal be set up to consider claims by employers against the mobilization of members of their staffs whom they con- sider to be either key men in essential services or essential in other ways to business. Employers will be asked to make, in the first instance, representations to the Commanding Officer, Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force and if satisfactory agreement is not reached a decision will be sought from the Tribunal.
It is therefore proposed to deal with the position under two categories--
(a) Members already mobilized.
(b) Members not yet mobilized.
and to offer to employers or individuals an opportunity to appeal against mobilization. Claims will be considered in priority (a) (b).
The following list of names of members of the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force is published for the information of employers, who should apply to Commanding Officer, Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force, H.M.S. Cornflower, Royal Naval Dockyard, Hong Kong. for appeal forms if it is their desire to appeal.