1
!
:
7
No.10 N.P.(4)467/3362,
sir,
ADMIRALTY,
166
21st
April, 1922.
CONFIDENTIAL.
B
I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acknowledge the receipt of Sir G.L. Baretow! letter of the 11th instant, (6.15328), relative to payment of Extra Pay at double rates to Naval personnel lent to the Hong Kong Government and to private Firme at Hong Kong during the recent strike at that port, and to enquire whether my Lords are to understand that in the event of the borrowing parties declining to re-imburse Naval Funds the sanction of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to payment of double
In this connection I am to
Extra Pay will not be forthcoming.
point out that the procedure laid down in the Treasury letter under reply may have the effect of delaying credit of the extra remuneration to the individuals concerned until the claims have been completed, as it appears possible that some at least of the undertakings interested may decline to commit themselves to promises of repayment in the absence of details of the cost of the services rendered by the Navy, which cost it may be remarked is likely to be higher than the normal local working
cost,
Further, the withholding of Extra Pay from ratings employed by a Firm which refuses repayment or the promise thereof would undoubtedly cause discontent when it became known that ratings employed by other Firme had received the Extra Pay, and My Lords consider that any differentiation
in treatment would be indefensible.
In these circumstances I am to request that sanction may be given to payment of double Extra Pay forthwith, the claims being presented in the ordinary course after payment
The Secretary,
H. M. Treasury,
S.W.1.
of