THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1936.

788 Per Cent Increase In Pensions In 15 Years! But- CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE LEGITIMATE

COMPLAINT REGARDING WIDOWS' FUND

THEY PAID $3,554,800 INTO FUND: GOVERNMENT TOOK $1,114,260

DEDUCTED FROM SALARIES: SURPLUS BECOMES PART OF COLONY'S “REVENUE”

"Telegraph" Special Representative CONSIDERABLE interest occurred as a result of the

disclosures made by the "Telegraph" last week re- garding the staggering burden the Hongkong taxpayer] is now called upon to face as a result of the increase in Government pensions appropriations.

With the passing of each year the burden has grown heavier and heavier,

In 1920 we paid only $266,320 to retired Civil Servants. By last year the total annual expenditure had increased to $2,070,000.

In fifteen years the Colony's pension bill has therefore increased 788 per cent!

More than half of the total of $17,170,000 paid in pensions since 1920 has been expended in the past five

years,

4

Despite Government's budget for a decreased pension expenditure of $1,810,000 for the current year, as com- pared with the all-time high of $2,090,000 in 1934, there seems no indication that the heavy additions which have been imposed with the passage of each year will not con- tinue.

When the estimates for the current year were made, the dollar was based at 1s 8d. sterling. Almost im- mediately afterwards the dollar commenced to fall, until it reached its present relatively stable level of 1s, 3d.

If the Hongkong dollar were to remain in the vicinity of Is. 4d., it would be necessary for Government to find at least $2,100,000 for next year's pensions.

+

Since the beginning of 1920, or 1901, under which the Colony. Hongkong has spent $17,170,000 pays a specific portion of its re- on pensions for Civil Servants, venue for Defence purposes. Police Officers and Widows and. Orphans.

Of this amount the greatest appropriations were made for Civil Service pensions, which have increased from $190,820 per annum in 1920 to $1,450,000 per annum in 1935 and $1,250,- 000 (estimated) for the current year. Police Department pen- sions, which accounted for only $45,000 in 1920, cost the Colony $370,000 in 1935.

Widows and Orphans pensions cost $30,500 in 1920. In 1935 they cost exactly a quarter of a million dollars,

THE OTHER SIDE

an

In order to create a surplus, the 1908 ordinance provides for abatement of four per cent. of the

total salaries of contributors,

PROFIT FOR GOVERNMENT

This abatement of four per cent. has not only been sufficient to pay the $2,440,510 spent on Widows and Orphans' pensions during the past fifteen years. but has been so much in excess of requirements that it has pro- vided the Hongkong Government with a surplus of $1.114,260. In effect, Hongkong civil ser vanta during the past 15 yents have paid almost 60 per cent. more into the fund than widows and orphans have received from it.

HOW THE MONEY HAS

GONE SINCE 1920

Civil Servants Police Widows & Orphana Total

675,903

1920

$ 190,820

$ 45,000 $30,500 $ 260.320

1921

216,000

$6,000

40,900

312,000

1922

208,865

A

69,626

54,630

393,111

1921

295,000

86,703

60,893

441.693

1924

353,800

115.000

66,000

1134,800

1925

509,000

113,700

77,580.

$60,280

1026

373,600

127.600

90,000

591,200

1027

433,310

143.543

99,050

1928

612,405

191,574

130,000

*893,979

1929

493,000

193,000

159,000

*847,000

1930

536,000

213,000

180,000

*528,000

1931

705,000

275.000

218,000

*1,228,000

1932

1,088,000

370,009

250,000

1,708,000

1933

1,300,000

1934

330,000

244,000

1,894,000

1,000,000

330,000

260,000

2,000,000

1935

1,460,000

370,000

250,000

2,070,000

†1936

1,250,000

320,000

240,000

1,810,000

Total Pensions l'ald since 1928 $17,170.186. *Includes a total of $115,000 Death Gratuities. ↑ Estimated.

A SIGHT ALL HONGKONG IS WAITING FOR

Overflow at Tylam Intermediate Reservoir on the Island, a night that will mean, when it happens, this year, the end of all water restrictions in the Colony.

ALL-RED AIR ROUTE AROUND WORLD: HONGKONG AS VITAL LINK?

The excess money they have That is the Hongkong public's paid into the fund does not go into side of the pensions question.

Trust, ns would ordinarily be the But if the public have a com-case with a similar fund run by plaint regarding the exhorbitant private institution. growth of pensions, the public Colony's general revenue.

Instead, it becomes part of the: zervants have an equally legitim- included in the budget as

complaint regarding the under the heading Reimburse AS a result of representations made by the Canadian

ate

handling of the Widows' and ments in Aid”. Orphans' Pension scheme.

Although payment of this pen- ston is shown in the Government's annual balance sheet it is, in fact, paid by the civil servants them- selves.

It is

such.

Department of National Defence, Canada may short- Government servants have ally be linked with Hongkong by air. legitimate grievance in that the surplus portion of the four per

It is understood that the Canadian Government has cent, assessment on their salar- urged upon the British Government the desirability of in- les does not go into a fund to augurating British air services between Vancouver and provide more generous pensions Hongkong and Vancouver and-New-Zealand, before the Of the total payment of $17,-

to-their-widows-and-orphans, but is taken by the Government contemplated Imperial Airways trans-Atlantic service be- 170,180 made for pensions since

920, the civil servants have con- as part of the Colony's revenue. tween Ireland and Newfoundland starts.

$1,114,260 EXCESS ributed $2,440,540, by means of a

Since 1920 the excess collected avy on their salaries, for Widows' ad Orphans' pensions. Thus the from government vervants in this ctual Government contribution manner has amounted to the extra-

wards pension during the past ordinary total of $1,114,260. This 5 years was not $17,170,186 but total, applied in a lump sum, is in 14,729,646,

excess of the Government surplus Control of the Widows and Or-for 1933, the last year in which

000, was vested in the Govern- expenditure.

Feeder services across the American continent from New- foundland to Vancouver would then provide an all-Red air route around the world.

RADIO BROADCAST

Daventry Relay-Monologuc

In Melody

CHILDREN'S CONCERT

From Z.B.W. on 'a wavelength of 355 metros (845 kilocycles):

5-6 p.m. Hongkong Hotel Dance Orchestra.

6 p.m. Children's Studio Concert.

6.30 p.m. Dance Music,

7 p.m. "Stenka Razino"

zounov).

(Gia

7.17 p.m. Vocal Gema. The Three Musketeers; The Choco- late Soldier,

7.30 p.m. "Nell Gwyn Dances" (Edward German),

7.45 p.m. A Relay from Daven- try.

"Morologue in Melody." Denis Van Thai in Syneopated pianoforte Music. 8 p.m. Time, Weather, Stock Quo tations and Announcements.

8.05 p.m. Chinese Studio Concert. 11 p.m.

Close Down

8.05-10 p.m. European

Pro-

gramme from ZEK on a fre

quency of 640 kilocycles.

8.05

p.m. The Hill Billies.

The Hill Billy Band; Susanna from Alabama; When that Harvest Moon is shining; Good-Night.

8,18 p.m.

Cinema Organ Music.

Nola (Arult); Funeral "March of a Marionette (Gounod)..........Sydney Gun- tard; Film Hits of the Moment.. Sidney Torch; Parade of Parades Selection Quentin M. Maclean.

8.37 p.m. Morck Weber and his Orchestra.

Chopinnta-Potpourri (arr. Silber- mann); You shall be the King of my heart. (Stolz); Entry of the Spring. Flowers (Kockart); Amorettantanze- Waltz (Gung'); Oki Vienna (Lanner). p.m. Daventry News Bulletin. 9.20 p.m.

Variety and Dance

Music.

Vocal America Calling....The Carlyle Cousine; Tango Marilou; Song-Mo and my Dog ("Public Nuisance No. 1")....Frances Day: Fox-Trots You can't do that thoro cre; The Duck Seng; Song-I'm sittin' high on a hill top...Samı Browne: Fox-Trots-With all my heart; Cing to me; Song The Little Bilkworm....Jessiu Matthewa; Fox- TrotsPlay, Orchestra Play; II should lose you.

10 p.m. Big Ben from Daventry: Close Down.

ZEESEN PROGRAMMES

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SOUTH ASIA ZONE

South Asla Zone, Lroadeant from DJI, (10,74 metres) and DIN ($1.45 metris).

4.00 p.m. German Folk tone.

4.55 Dim. Greetings be war Ulsteners.

1 p.m. All Sorts of Wandering Folk. 5.30 30. News and Review in English. 5.43 D.th Morical Worka of Romance,

Virtuoso Flute Meale,

4.30 p.m.

.5 p.m. News and Raview in German,

Concert of Light Moxic

7 pJn.

7.16 pas. Topical Talk.

7.30 pm. Cancers of Light Music (on-

*

tinued)

8 pm. News in English,

8.13 pm. Curvert of Light Music (con-

tinued),

EAST ASIA ZONE

East Asia Zone broadcast through DJQ on 19.63 metrom (16,280 kr.) 1,89-5 pm. Concert, news at 2 p.m.

1,05 pm. German Palk Bong.

60 pan. Greetings to our Platenera, 1.38 p.m. News and Herlew in German. $30 pm. Maule by a Relchashr Hand, 10' pit. News and Revise In English on

DIN. DIE

19.15 p.m. To-day in Germany, 19.30 p.m. From National-Sociallat Litera

fure Dr. Roberi Lør: "Gatmany in berame more beautiful." 19.45 pm. "Soldier Camendro.""

DAVENTRY PROGRAMMES

The following wave-lingika and frequencies

Wavelength

Frequentay

4,050 k.. 0,59 3,510 k. 31,85 Birre 9.885 k.c. $1.30 metr

25.43 metres 26.35 metres 19.87 metres

Sign

red-bre

GBA

1780

GRE

G&D

Gaz

Cyp

080

11.750 K.. 11879 K 13,140 k.. 17,710 3.c.

1625 metres

The direct route would be from Croydon to Hongkong via Singapore and Penang, the service now in existence.

kong by three alternate British routes,

Passengers would be able to travel from England to, Hong-

GRI

21,420 k

12.37 metres

CEL

14.200 k.e.

CB)

21,540 k..

GHL

An alternative route would be from Ireland to Newfoundland,

hang Fund, which commenced in there was surplus of rovenue over Newfoundland to Vancouver by Canadian domestic services short- ent in 1908; when Ordinance No... How Government's profit from ly to be inaugurated, and thence across the Pacifle to Hongkong

of 1908 was introduced and the Widows and Orphans' Fund

sed by Legislative Council.

CREDITED TO REVENUE

e 1908 Ordinance stipulated

widows', and orphans' pensione

Jld be paid out of the Colony's

has grown since 1920 is shown in the following figures,

Officers'

Government Contributions Payments to

to Fund Widows &

bral revenue, and were to ba 1020

Orphans

+

$5,000

30,500

o a charge upon auch revenue. 1921

69,000

40,000

ut

All contributions and other 1823 evenues receivable from officers f-the civil service under the 1025 rovisions of this ordinance are 1027 arried to the credit of the 1928 eneral revenue, and therefore 1020 ecome a part of the Colony's 1030 övenue,

ontributions towards the WI- 1032 g'-and-Orphana penalon fund not, however, assossable for 1033 tary contributions under the 1030 (esti anco Contribution Ordinarico

1022

81,000

$4,020

07,000

60,003

1024

107,000

60,000

123,000

77,580

1020

144,00D

90,000

152,300

170,000

09,050

110,000

175,000

190,000

1031-

204,000

120,000 133.000 213,000

420,500

230,000

1092 1934

304,000

244,090

380,000

200,000

307,000

250,000

mated) asp,000

240,000

and Singapore.

4

The roundabout route would be vin Cannda across the Pacific to New Zealand, where a link would be provided by the existing Imperial Airways and Q.A.N.T.A.S. services linking New Zealand with Aus tralia and Australia with Singapore and Penang. CANADIAN SUPPORT

The project is receiving the enthusiastic support of Mr. George W: Wakeman, Canadian Minister for Defence, who urges" the all- British routes across the Puelfie an a means of strengthening the obvious weakness of the Imperial Air Route to the Far East, at present imperilled by European unrest.

Access to the Far East by Britain in case of interruption of air communications between London, India, Australia and the existing Imperial Airways service to Singapore and, Hongkong could best be obtained via Canada, Mr. Wakeman pointed out recently,

Duo to the international understanding that each country has overeign-rights in the air above national territories, air activities. be paralysed in the event of an European conflict.

No such paralysis could eventuate if an alternative route to the East via Canada were used, since most of the journey would be over water. :

(0.8.N..

12.30

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0,190, 3.4.

18.04' mitran 19.40 metre $5.10 mat

Transmission 1

G.S.I.).

lg Bers. "Han the Tiger." A rocial comand7.

The WC. Empire Orchestra. Greenwich Time Signal at 1.35 ..

1.50 p.m. The Planting of Penny Hedge An laterical And sys-witnaan account of the ceremony which takes place annukily on the nóming of Ascension Eve In Whitby Harbour,

2.13 p.m. The News and Announcements -

Transmission 2

(0.8.0.,, C.3.11.)

7 p.m. Dig Ben. The IRC. Theatre. Öel

chestra, 7.4 p.m. "Monologue in Melody,” #pun.. Ost of Doare, Henry Willlate. 8.13 p.m. Chamber Music.

Greenwick Time Bigunit pan

⚫ p.m. The News and Annaṇncementa. 1.10 p.m. The B.R.C. Danes Orchestra.

Transmission 3

+

(03.0, OAF, GODY

10 p.m. Hg Tlas. "linder" fig Dan.”

talk by Howard Marshall

10.17 p.cs. The Hand of file Majesty'

Royal Marita, Pirmonth Division. 11 p.m. "Lady in the-Wax,” 11.49 pm. Malo by Trid. Conisa, 11:48 Bom, The News and Annonsermania,"

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NAKAYAMA CASE

TRIAL FOR MURDER OF A JAPANESE MARINE

Shanghal, May 20.

26 Nathan Road, Kowloon.. Telephone 59101.

WAKE UP YOUR LIVER BILE-

At the resumption of the Naka- WITHOUT CALOMEL

yama trini, when a Japanese marine was shot dend in Shanghai last November, YI Hal-sen allas Little Kwangtung, said to be a well known member of Shanghat's underworld declared that the fellow who accused Yang Wen-tno gave him the pistol with which he shot the marina. · He added that the murder was planned a few days previously when a group of persons, including Yang, visited the scene of the crime.

Yang denied both allegations, A third Chinese, Chow She-yung, a cabaret employee, was to-day charged by the Shanghai Municipal Police with complicity in the crime. -Router.

|

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