has not reached this office
(The letter stated the cost of the enquiry).
5w725/4
Wonce
No.113
Kongkong.
y 2376
losure
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Pict 5
REG 23 APR 12
Government House, Hongkong, 24th March, 1902.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 41 of the 31st January last, transmitting a copy of a letter from Mr. T. E. Young asking for further information in connection with the valuation of the Hongkong Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund.
2. With regard to the first paragraph of that letter, I transmit herewith a copy of each of the ten Annual Reports on the Fund, and I trust they will not arrive so late as to cause unnecessary inconvenience.
3. The reply to the second paragraph is that no Medical examination is requisite prior to admission to the fund.
4. With reference to the third paragraph, it is necessary to point out that every person is included in the membership of the fund whose official salary is over $240 per annum, and all Members of the Police Force are included from the rank of Sergeant upwards.
5. Mr. Young is right in pointing out that the rate of withdrawal from the fund is excessive and that this must in time have an appreciable effect on the mortality.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
800-