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1
* CONFIDENTIAL.
REC
63840
REC 31 DEC17)
195
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LATRBERGO
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81.1.8
Gov
Sir,
HONGKONG.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
7th November, 1917.
Je
I have the honour to enclose a copy of my
54058 telegram of the 3rd November as decoded on the subject of the
hardships which members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces are suffering from the high rate of exchange and the increased cost of provisions.
You
43736
2.
The meeting of the Unofficial Members at which
the recommendation contained in my telegram of the 1st Septem- ber was drawn up was held on the 31st August at which time the
sterling pay of His Majesty's Forces was converted into local currency at the rate of 28.61d. to the dollar, being the average rate for July. In September the rate of conversion was 28.8ld, and in October it had risen to 3s.l4d. The rate for the current month will be 2s.10d. These rates are much higher than any since the year 1892, and have resulted in both officers and men of the Naval and Military Forces receiving
of officers with- sums in local currency on which in the case out private means (and at present that is the great majority) it is practically impossible to make both ends meet and in the case of Non-Commissioned Officers and men, especially married men with families in the United Kingdom, the mere pittance received weekly is totally insufficient to provide for anything more than the scantiest subsistence.
3.
RIGHT HONOURABLE
To illustrate what I have written above I have
WALTER LONG, M.P..
SC..
Azr 41.