2077/15 C.S.0.
Conditions of Service for Nursing Sisters in the
Medical Department, Hongkong.
1. Appointments to the Staff of Nursing Sisters are made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the recommendation of the Colonial Nursing Institute.
2. A Nursing Sister is engaged in the first instance for a period of three years. She is provided with a first class passage by a steamer other than a mail steamer, subject to an undertaking to repay its cost if she leaves the service of the Government within three years from the date of her arrival in the Colony for any reason other than mental or physical infirmity. She is required to enter into an agreement to this effect with the Crown Agents, and to find one surety for its due performance. If she prefers not to provide a surety, a deduction of 15 % is made from her salary during the three years of her engagement, the money so deducted being paid over to her on the satisfactory com- pletion of this period.
3. If at any time during the said period of three years it is established to the satis- faction of the Governor that a Nursing Sister is not qualified for efficient service in the Colony, he may cancel her appointment, subject to the confirmation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, without giving her further compensation than a passage back to England; provided that the Governor is satisfied that she has, by her good conduct,
deserved it.
4. A Nursing Sister receives salary at the rate of £110 per annum, rising after three years' service to £130 per annum. If she remains in the service of the Govern- ment her salary is increased, after a further three years' service, to £150 per annum. She is entitled to half salary during the voyage to the Colony. She receives also furnished quarters, fuel, light, attendance, uniform, and laundry.
5. At the end of the said period of three years a first class passage back to England is granted provided that the Nursing Sister avails herself of the passage within one month from the termination of her engagement.
6. If a Nursing Sister desires to remain in the service of the Government after the completion of three years' satisfactory service she is placed upon the permanent staff and becomes eligible for pension.
7. A Nursing Sister who wishes to leave the service of the Government either during the period of her original engagement or at any subsequent time is required to give one month's notice, or to pay to the Government a sum equivalent to one month's salary.
8. A Nursing Sister may be required to undertake private nursing or to serve in any hospital in the Colony. When first appointed she is almost invariably attached to the Private Nursing Staff, being transferred to the hospitals' staff as suitable vacancies
occur.
9. A Nursing Sister is entitled to vacation and sick leave in accordance with the General Orders of the Colony relating to such leave.
10. A Nursing Sister is allowed, after each period of four years' resident service, eight months' leave on half-pay in addition to such period of vacation leave on full pay, not exceeding three months in all, to which she may be entitled; and she is provided with a return passage to and from England.
11. When a Nursing Sister, who has been selected through the Colonial Nursing Association, resigns her appointment on or with a view to marriage she may, provided that she is on the permanent establishment and has completed five years' service, and subject to the consent of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, be granted a gratuity calculated at the rate of one month's salary for each completed year of service provided that such gratuity shall not exceed a maximum sum equal to the amount of her salary for twelve months.
12. A Nursing Sister is entitled to pension on retirement in accordance with the Pension Rules in force in the Colony. The pensionable age, except in cases of retirement on medical grounds, is fifty years.
25th April, 1917.
N & Co
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