141
151. The average monthly income of families under relief was $1.57 per head in 1938.* The lowest in any one month was $0.86 at the Eastern Centre. The following table shows comparison with previous years:-
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
$2.93
2.49
2.05
2.01
1.73
1.80
1.57
The table shows an alarming and almost continuous decline in income since 1932.
152. Children are suckled for long periods until they can digest rice, as the poorer classes are unable to afford cow's milk.
<<
153. The investigations of the recently gazetted Nutrition Research Committee, which was appointed to inquire into the question of nutrition in the Colony includ- ing the application of dietetics to the social problems of the Colony," should throw light on the subject of the adequacy of the normal Chinese labourer's diet, as with his preference for polished rice and the incidence of beri-beri there is much scope for inquiry and education.
154. The wages and cost of living of the labouring classes in Hong Kong are subject not only to the effects of the trade cycle but also to conditions peculiar to China and to the fluctuations in the value of the dollar which until 1935 was based on the price of silver. Its sterling value is now practically stabilized.
the result of the trade depression many labourers returned to China and rents fell accordingly. In 1938, trade boomed, rents soared, and accommodation was at times unattainable by many.
155. No adequate statistics have been kept but it would not appear that rates of wages have fluctuated to anything like the same extent as cost of living, with the result that there must have been considerable disparity between real and money wages.
156. The Salaries Commissiont reporting in 1929 on the adequacy of the exist- ing scales of salaries, wrote-
"We think, after a careful consideration of the evidence of a large number of witnesses of this class, that the lowest wage paid to a labourer in Government employ should be $12 a month although in most cases we have recommended a commencing wage of $13 a month. This compares favourably with wages paid by private employers. In many cases men stated quite frankly that they had entered Government service because they improved their position by doing so, and they were fully alive to the advantage which greater security of continued employment gave them.'
157. In addition, these workers are entitled to free quarters or an allowance in lieu, and, as a result of the recommendations of the Commission, receive a Chinese New Year Bonus.
(a) A bonus on the following scale is payable at Chinese New Year to Chinese monthly paid officers with three years' service or more other than the discipline staff of the Police, Fire Brigade and Prisons Department:—
Annual salary up to $240
from
,,
7)
241 to $252
253 to 264
265 to 276
One month's pay. $16
12.
8.
ود
J
277 to 288
4.
>>
""
"J
289 and over
Nil.
"
9th Annual Report of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children covering the period from
1.11.37 to 31,10,38.
+ Sessional Paper No. 7 of 1929.
§ General Orders of the Hong Kong Government para. 105.