nsation has been cleared up eten now." PF'or! what period have they accepted this agreement! The CHAIRMAN-The Secretary of State bas laid it down clearly that this arrangement is subject to yearly reconsid ration.
Hon K. BELLIOS-Suppose exchange gos to Is. 6d. or to 4s., can we then reconsider it. P
The CHAIRMAN--I have just informed the hon, member that the agreeinent is subject to reconsideration yearly and if exchange fluctuator
to the extent the hon. meinber mentions I think
it is certain it will be reconsidered.
Hoa. ER BEL Los →Yearly?
The CHAIRMAN—Yes
Hon. A. McCONACHIE-T understand the members of the service have all acc-pted the new terms, ant the old terms.
The CHAIRMAN-The difference in the terms, I may mention, is this. When the vote last cams before the Conscit the Secretary of State had made su offer that half the salary while do aétive serving be paid at 3s. and that half pay while on leave be paid at 3s. These terms, it was discovered, were not the same as had been offered to the sister service in the Strait Battle- meats and a large majority refined to acept them, and the matter was referred home in a memorial by the members of the service to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has reconsidered the matter and has decided the oivil servion of Hongkong should be given the same terina as the civil service of the Straits, that is. If pay while on active service at 35. and leat÷ par at 48. So the difference is that the former for was for 3s. both ways and in the pres at case it is 3s. on half the salary while un active service and 4s, while on leave.
Hon. A. McCONACHIE-Those who accepted the first offer are not bound by it ?
The CHAIRMAN--Oh, no; the prosent offer is to all alike.
Revote recommended
SHEEP AND SWINE DEPOT. The CHAIRMAN-The next ninate is one in which the Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of $600 for the salaries of the Chinese staff at the now shee, and swine depôt. Hon. members are no doubt aware the sbeep and swine depôts have been completed; in fact they have been ready for some time, but owing to delaya they have not been occupied. The Sanitary Board has been considering the matter and has now sent in a letter representing that it will be necessary to vote $600 for the Chinese staf necessary to supervise the depôts.
Vote recommended.
C. O.
14530
163
RECO (PEGF 19 U0 95)
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