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The regulations governing the grant of rent allowances to Senior European Officers differ from those dealing with Subordinate European Officers by the requirement that the Senior Officer shall pay 6% of his salary for Government quarters or towards the cost of a rented tenement. While it is not possible to draw a dividing line so clearly in the case of officers recruited locally, the recommendations that we make do in fact embody this distinction.
181. We recommend as follows:-.
Where married quarters are not available for a male officer, or where no quarters are available for a female officer, rent allowances should be paid in accordance with the following scale :-
Where the salary does not exceed $360 per annum :—
$48 per annum;
Where the salary exceeds $360 and does not exceed $600 per annum :-
$60 per annum;
Where the salary exceeds $600 and does not exceed $800 per annum :
$84 per annum.
We consider, then, that officers, for whom we have recommended salaries exceed- ing $800 per annum, should make the usual contribution of 6% either for Government quarters or towards the cost of rented premises and recommend, therefore, that the allowance should be the difference between 6% of the officer's salary, inclusive of fixed personal allowance but of no other allowances, and the rent actually paid by him for ac- commodation occupied by himself and his dependents only, subject to the following
maxima:
Where the salary exceeds S00 and does not exceed $1,000:-
$120 per annum ;
Where the salary exceeds
$180 per annum; Where the salary exceeds $240 per annum; Where the salary exceeds
$300 per annum; Where the salary exceeds
$360 per annum ; Where the salary exceeds
$420 per annum;
$1,000 and does not exceed $1,200:-
$1,200 and does not exceed $1,800:-
$1,800 and does not exceed $2,500:---
$2,500 and does not exceed $3,500:-
$3,500 and does not exceed $4,500:-
Where the salary exceeds $4,500:-
$480 per annum;
We agree with paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Order which read as follows:-
(3) Allowances may be withdrawn at any time in cases of misconduct or of refusal to occupy quarters offered by Government, or when in the opinion of Government the need for special rent allowances has ceased.
(4) For the purposes of these allowances or for the allotment of quarters one
wife only will be recognised.
182. We consider that these provisions should be in force generally and that rent allowances now appearing in the Estimates, not in accordance with these scales, should cease with the following exceptions:-
(i) Senior Chinese Revenue Officers are at present in receipt of rent allowances of $180 per annum; we suggest that these allowances should continue for present holders. of these posts but that they should not be granted when new appointments are made.
(ii) Probationer Dressers (Medical Department) at present receive rent allowances of $96. We consider this allowance should cease when new appointments are made, and that they should come under the general rules detailed above.