Wages
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1952
Overall wages have remained steady in Government and the larger concerns, though the general business. recession has undoubtedly led to some reductions among employees of the smaller business and industrial firms. At the end of 1951 and the beginning of 1952 Govern- ment and most of the big European employers decided to increase basic wages by consolidating approximately two-thirds of the variable high cost of living allowance, while retaining one-third of the allowance as a variable factor to meet temporary increases in the cost of living. Although this scheme did not make any increase in the overall wage it was of considerable benefit to the wage- earners because it not only accepted a permanently higher basic standard but also materially increased overtime rates and retiring gratuities or allowances which are calculated on basic wages only. In spite of this, the consolidation scheme was made the target for a most virulent attack by the left-wing unions who, by deliberate distortion and misrepresentation, suc- ceeded in temporarily convincing their members that the scheme was intended to exploit them. As a result of this campaign the introduction of the scheme was held up in some of the companies while one large company (the Hong Kong Tramways Limited) operated two sets of accounts for workers on consolidated and uncon- solidated rates for over nine months until the cold logic of facts gradually penetrated the fog of propaganda.
The following may be taken as average daily rates paid to workers during the year :—
Skilled Workmen
Semi-skilled
Unskilled
$6.00-$8.50 $5.00-$6.50
$3.50-$5.00
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