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REG 2 OCT 16!
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 23rd. August, 1916.
RECO
75I have had under consideration your Confident- -ial Despatch of the 7th. of October last in which you inform me that you are unable to sanction my proposals for the grant of House Allowances to certain Married European Officers but that you are prepared to approve proposals for the erection of quarters to be rented at a moderate rental to the classes of officers referred to whether married or single.
Your reasons for arriving at this decision are that the emoluments enjoyed by Public Servants are intended to `be adequate remuneration for the services which they perform regardless of their domestic affairs; and that in Ceylon the grant of a house allowance has been followed by a proportionate increase in the rent charged by the landlord with the result that the officer whom it was intended to benefit has received no relief and the whole advantage of the allowance has accrued to the individual landlord.
2.
In reply I beg leave to point out that in this Colony many precedents exist for discrimination between married and single officers in the matter of emoluments. For instance Government Quarters are at the present time being erected under authority of Mr. Harcourt's Despatch No. 171 of 9th. July, 1914, to be rented to married European Officers with salaries not exceeding £450 per annum who receive no house allowances or duty
RIGHT HONOURABLE
ANDRE BONAR LAW, M.P.,
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