Extract from Mr. Eves' General Letter No. 21 dated 10th January, 1907.
I would bring to your notice the case of those of the staff who were appointed at home and on joining found that they had to live at Head Quarters in a place where no quarters were provided for them. On Railway construction it is a general rule that free quarters are provided for such staff.
In the present case I myself, the Chief Storekeeper and the Assistant Engineer in charge of Kowloon Sub-Division are compelled to live in Kowloon in houses which we have rented. All the other Engineering Staff have free quarters provided for them. Houses in Kowloon are very scarce and in consequence very expensive and I would ask therefore that some allowance be made to meet the expense incurred similar to "presidency allowance" granted in similar circumstances in India.
At the present rate of exchange I have to pay over £200 per year for my house and the Assistant Engineer about £100 which is a very large proportion of the salaries.
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