288
C.O. 21463 RECO
Registration Branch, RES 14 AUG 19
General Post Office
Hong Kong 13th June, 1899.
Sir,
With reference to the instruction to work 2 hours extra labour daily, issued today by Mr. Barron, and approved by you, we the undersigned clerks, in the Registration Branch beg most respectfully to approach you on the subject.
Our present average hours of attendance in this office is from 50 to 60 hours a week, almost double the time allotted by the Government as our working hours, and we can say with truth that none of the Government Department in this Colony is working as long as we are doing at present, which we think is long enough and yet, we are all ordered to attend for another 2 hours. It seems so very hard, even if we were well paid, considering that our hours of attendance is not fixed; we are to attend the office at all hours, sometimes without any food. If you will fix a certain time as our hours of work, and any time over that to be paid extra, it is more reasonable.
We are all far from being disobedient, but the order issued today is almost beyond our power to execute, for if we do such long hours of work, we are sure to get sick, as with the present hours and working in this ill-ventilated and badly lighted Department is already telling on our health. As you are well aware, our work is always done hurriedly, not like other Government Departments, where the work is done leisurely, and naturally; as such strain is put on us, we ought to work less hours instead of more.
Now it remains for us to pray on your goodself to see your way to retract the order issued by Mr. Barron, and hoping you will see the justice of this petition.
We are, Sir,
Your most obedient servants,
(SIGNED)
E.J. Lopes.
A.O. Abbas
J.L. Remedios, Jnr.
J.S. Remedios
F.M. Rangel.
W. C. H. Hastings, R.N.
Postmaster General.