216
In the price of rice, although the official return shows
no increase, retail dealers actually demand quite 25 per
cent over and above the price obtained in 1895 for the
same staple.
4.
As to the question of house-rent, there
appeurs to be no necessity for a marshalling of figures to
prove the assertion that it has now been for some time so
high as to be entirely disproportionate with the average
rate of pay drawn by us. The forcible remarks of a
gentleman largely interested in landed property in Hongkong,
made at the last annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce,
are more likely to demonstrate the hardship we suffer than
any observations we might make on the subject.
Mr. Granville Sharp's words verbatim:-
5.
advanced and was pleased to sanction an increase of pay in
the case of officers in Singapore similarily circumstanced
as we are in Hongkong, Moreover, the increase was made
"a permanent and pensionable one", as was done a few years
ago in the case of the subordinate members of the Ceylon
Civil Service.
8.
The Banks and the leading mercantile firma
of Hongkong have already granted applications from their employés for increases to their salaries, and in forwarding
our petition, we do so in the perfect confidence that the
Government will be found equally willing to meet the reason-
able request of its servants.
We quote
9.
I find,
"People have to live here upon $50 a month. and I believe many of you find it much easier to spend $50 a day than $50 a month, and if people are to be
taxed for everything, what is to become of the poor
people who live in $25 a month houses".
Now for some years past, all Civil Servants
of Hongkong, domiciled in a country having a gold currency, have been compensated for the increased cost of living we
now again complain of in the form of an addition to their salaries denominated the "Exchange Compensation".
6.
Although in our case it might be suggested that we are affected in a less degree than the "domiciled" officers, nevertheless, it should be readily conceded that to some serious extent we are, and have been, affected by
the low rate of the dollar.
7.
The case of the two branches of public
And we officers in Singapore is anologous with our own. have learnt that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has recognised the justice of the arguments we have just
advanced
We beg, in conclusion, to request you to be
so good as to place our letter before the Acting Governor,
in order that, supported with your recommendations, is
Excellency might be pleused to sanction the increase asked
for at an early date.
We have,
&C,
(sd.) E. ". d'Aquino'
& others.