109
by the saving of a house diminished. On the other hand, the cost of building obviously cannot wholly be the basis of an allowance, because this might commit Government to too great an allowance. We consider that, where the market value of a house is not ascertainable by ordinary methods, it is fair to assess the rental at 6% of the gross cost of the land and building.
We think that in applying this rule it should be limited as usual by the condition as to allowances for rented tenements being based upon salaries set out in (a) (b) (c) and (d) of paragraph 5 of General Order No. 109.
follows:
175. General Order No. 109 (7) deals with Lodging Allowances and reads as
"An officer who with permission of the Colonial Secretary does not reside either in Government quarters or in a tenement in respect of which a rent allow- ance is payable under paragraph 5, shall receive a lodging allowance follows:-
as
(a) Married officers 15% of salary subject to maximum of $100 per
month.
(b) Other officers 71% of salary subject to maximum of $50 per month.
We consider that this rule should be limited to officers having a salary not exceed- ing £1,200 per annum: We base this recommendation on the hypothesis that officers drawing a larger salary would probably obtain Government quarters, if they desired to do so, and, in any case, should have no difficulty in renting a tenement.
176. General Order No. 109 (8)-(12). reads as follows:-
(8) An unmarried mistress in the Education Department on sterling salary is granted, while in the Colony, free partially furnished quarters, if avail- able, or a rent allowance in lieu thereof of $50 a month.
(9) An Unpassed Cadet or Police Probationer is granted free partially-furnish- ed quarters or such rent allowance as the Government may in each case prescribe.
(10) Officers of the Police, Prison and Medical Departments, who are not entitled to free quarters under the terms of their engagement may never- theless be exempted from payment of quarters-rent when required to occupy quarters within or close to the institutions to which they are attached but if Government furniture is supplied in such quarters rent thereon at the rate of 1% of salary will be payable by the occupier in all
cases.
(11) The immediately preceding regulation will apply also to executive officers
of the Railway in respect of the Railway quarters at Hung Hom. (12) During temporary absences, when there is a reasonable necessity that the officer paying rent or drawing an allowance should retain his accommoda- tion, the rent payable in respect of Government Quarters may be remitted or reduced and rent and lodging allowances may be continued.
We agree with all these regulations with the inclusion of Confidential Assistants and Stenographers in paragraph (8).
177. General Order No. 109 (A). reads as follows
"Officers of the Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff on sterling salaries are eligible for the privileges in respect of quarters described in General Order No. 109 subject to the proviso that no Officer below Class I may receive an allowance exceeding the amounts set out in General Order No. 110′′ (2).