AN: //2.
sir.
CO
21249
M. 3021
Copy
262
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 10th March, 1921.
I have the honour to address you on the
subject of the appointment of Masters and Mistresses from England for Government Schools in this Colony.
2.
There is good reason to believe that one of
the main obstacles to recruiting suitable candidates in the United Kingdom is the fact that Masters and Mistresses in Government Schools, who enter into an agreement to serve in Hongkong for three years and return to the United Kingdom at the temination of such agreement, lose their previous service for pension purposes and have to begin again. Teachers appointed hitherto on a three years' agreement heve in nearly all cases elected to continue in the service of this Government, but there can be little doubt that the apprehension that the climate of this Colony may not suit them, and that their previous service would be lost for pension purposes, does militate against teachers with good qualifications accepting posts in the Colony,
I should be glad, therefore, if the Board of Education could be approached with a view to arranging that in the case of teachers who return to the United Kingdom on the expiration of their agreements, provided their work and conduct has been satisfactory, the period spent abroad may not be regarded as a break of service.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WINSTON CHURCHILL, M.P.,
4.
J
17
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