64
II.
Telegram of 25th March, 1930 from Secretary of State to the Officer
Administering the Government.
Dated 25th March, 1930.
Your despatch of 22nd January (No. 37). Salaries Commission.
I approve your proceeding as proposed in paragraph 12, but I am bound to say that the recommendations for starting salaries appear to me generous in particular I am surprised to learn that in Hong Kong the cost of living is higher now than in 1920. The committee gives no evidence of this-and steps should be taken in the course of the year to compare carefully the comparative cost in 1920 and 1929, with a view, if figures warrant it, of withdrawing or diminishing the Cost of Living Allow- ance. I regret I can see no grounds under existing arrangements for proposing that additional revenue should be relieved from assessment for Defence Contribution. Regarding the salaries of Audit and Marine Survey staffs I shall address you later, but in the meantime you should proceed on the basis of the revised salaries' scheme in their cases. Gratuities recommended in paragraph 13 approved. Pending the introduction of revised salaries, I agree to the proposals in your telegram of 14th March that the exchange compensation scale should be extended down to exchange one shilling and sixpence. Despatch follows.