{
OF Y.
Enclosure 2.
sir,
CO203 5830
Hongkong, 15th May, 1911.
04 FEB 12
We the undermentioned members of the Medi cal
Department appointed on a sterling salary basis beg leave respectfully to lay before is Excellency the Governor our application to be allow- -od to participate in the scheme which has recently been approved by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State with regard to the salaries and allowances of the Cadet Branch of the Civil Service and Officers occupying posts to which Cadets are eligible.
We would point out
(a) that we have to undergo a period of at least five years specialised training before we can become qualified in our profession, and thus have had to join this service comparatively late in life, and do not attain our maximum s-lery for 18 years; while members of the Cadet Branch of the Civil Servies, who specialise after joining, have the advantage of drawing pay during their period of training, and of more rapidly reaching higher rates of pay in their appointments;
(b) that though our pay may seem to be on a par with that of Medical Officers in other Colonies they have the privilege of augmenting it by means of private practice and other fees, which in some cases may double their salary:
opportunities
(c) that the appointments for promotion to higher pasts are many in other Colonies they do not obtain here. The only betterment we can look forward to is our stipulated triennial increase of salary, and as we have pointed out we do not reach
our maximum till 18th. year of service:
(d) that our work is more onerous and exacting than that
of any other department in that we are obliged to be available
for duty both day and night, and do not enjoy the privilege of
public or government holidays:
(e) that it is an acknowledged fact that the cost of
living