13E DOET
# Candidates desiring further information are asked to apply to "the Colonial Office". Mr. Orme and I, who had been at school and at Oxford together and were well acquainted, intended to take appointments in the Home Service of which a larger number than usual were offered - there were vacancies, as far as I remember, in the Admiralty, Board of Trade, War Office, and Post Office - but we decided in the first instance, having received the above-mentioned Circular, to make enquiry regarding the prospects in Hongkong.
We saw at the Colonial Office Mr. Im Thurn and Mr. Fiddian, who pointed out to us with regard to the Cadet salaries of £225 and £300 - £350 that the Cadets who were then in Hongkong were drawing only $1,500 and $1,800 respectively. They explained the Sterling value of these salaries which were then, with single exchange compensation, approximately as follows:- $1,500 = $750 at 3/ and $750 at 2/ = £112 10 plus £76 = £187. 10, and $1,800 = $900 at 3/ and $900 at 2/ = £138 plus £90 = £225.
They impressed upon us the fact that the Government had raised Cadet Salaries from £187 10 and £225 to £225 and £300 £350 respectively, gave us some brief figures with regard to Cadet posts, and added that the Sterling salaries to be attached to these posts were under consideration. We unfortunately but perhaps not unnaturally inferred that the Sterling...