511
there is nothing in the remotest degree recoubling a free
contract in the cnce of an officer in the Colonial Service who
is offered promotion. The true relation between an officer in
the Colonial Civil Lervice and the Lecretary of late as
representing the Crow ceenn to us with respect to be rather
this:- the officer gives hic viole time and energiec to the
Cervice. The Lecretary of State ic justified in incicting on thic
to the utmoct, and when the officer it no longer cupable, through
nge or 111 health, of rendering theco corvicus, he must go. On
the other hand the officer relies on the -ecretary of State to
see that the calery ic cufficient for the needs of the office:
and as circunttances arice over which the officer has no control
which crecte violent fluctuations in the calary, he is justified
in looking to the Dogretmy of Elate to re-uijust it, and put it
upon a more stabla footing. It may be said that there is no cuch
condition in the contruct: the numerous cases in rhich edjet-
we submit mentc have been made, komever fully warpunt ite being considered
ns incorporated therein. Looking at the matter fros n different
point of vior, it cannot be for the good of the public service
that its servants chould be subjected to the inconvenience, and
in many cuted, the grievous hardchip of having their monthly
stipend considerably reduced.
12.
In conclusion re aubuit with recneet and confidence
that the time hur turrived when the whole question of the
calaries in Hongkong should again be raviced es in 1890. Inch a
revision is we mubait inevitable owing to the rapid and viclent
fluctuations of exclaire which were not foreseen when the
prosent scale of salaries was fixed and owing to many other
circumstances, all tending to an increase in the cost of living:
and further bocauce the scale is based on a rate of exchange
which has never since been approabbdd, and which is now out of
proportion to the ante by which all expences in the Colony aro
Soverned.
We believe that a new scale hich would be acceptable