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His Excellency further recommended that the District Officer should be placed in Class II subject to a deduction for rent of house at Taipo of $1,080 per annum if married and of $600 per annum if unmarried; and that the post of Assistant District Officer at Taipo should be placed in Class III and that on the occurrence of the next vacancy the officer selected should be subject to a deduction of $720 per annum if marriel and of $480 if un- married.
Mr. Harcourt under date 9th March, 1911, replied :—
"I am prepared to approve the adoption of the scale which you recommend in para- graph 3, provided that the Legislative Council agree.
"You do not suggest a date for the new scale to be brought into operation. I am in- clined to think that the most convenient date would be the 1st of July next, but if the Le- gislative Council consider that its introduction should be deferred until the 1st of January next, I am ready to accept that view. In any case the introduction should not be antedated.
Existing officers should be given the option of coming upon the new scale at the point which they would have reached if it had been in force at the time when they were appointed to the Classes in which they are now serving.
"I share your views as to the soundness of the principle of making a part of the emoluments of a European Officer serving in the tropics a duty allowance payable only while he is actually on duty.
“I concur in the proposa's in the next paragraph of your despatch as to the District Officer and Assistant District Officer at Taipo."
The above terms have been offered to all officers in the Hongkong Service holding ap- pointments to which Cadets have a preferential claim, and which carry salaries not lower than those attached to Class III posts (see p. 191 of the Hongkong Civil List 1911). The following officers have accepted:-Capt. F. W. Lyons, Messrs. A. G. M. Fletcher, G. N. Orme, R. O. Hutchison, D. W. Tratman, E. C. Lewis, P. P. J. Wodehouse, P. Jacks and C. A. D. Melbourne. All other officers have declined to accept the terms. In other words all sterling paid officers concerned have accepted and all dollar paid officers concerned have declined the scheme.
The attached schedule shows how the sum of $6,241 is calculated.
Comparative Statement of Salaries under the Dollar, Sterling and New Schemes.
Dollar Sulary.
Equivalent in Sterling.
Salary under Sterling Salaries Scheme.
New Scheme.
Class I,.... Class II, ... $1,800 – $5,400 × $300 III £720–£810 × £45 111
$6,000-$7,200 × $600 III · £900–£1,080 × £90 III | £800 - £1,000 × £100 II1 £800-£1,000 × £100 III
Class III, $3,600 – $1,200 × $300 111 | £540–£630 × £45 III
£600-£720 × £40 III
£420–£540 × £40 III
and £150 duty pay. £600 – £720 × £40 III and £120 duty pay.
£400–£560 x £20 I and
£100 duty pay.
I signifies annual and III triennial increments.
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Schedule.
Date
Appointment.
of
Appointment.
Present
scale
of salary.
Salary for the period from 1st July
to 31st December, 1911.