MINUTES.
MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.
No 69-
Bir,
I c.c.
16515
APMET
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 29th February, 1924.
96
For
20
With reference to Lord Milner's telegram of
the 18th May, 1920, I have the honour to inform you that 22855 the period of five years during which officers of the Civil
Service in this Colony were granted free passages will
expire on the 31st December next. The concession was
granted subject to the Secretary of State having a free
hand to modify it or withdraw it at the end of five years, if the financial situation of the Colony required it, or
if for other reasons he thought fit to do so. As officers
due for leave of absence next year will be anxious to know
at the earliest possible date their position with regard to
the cost of passages, I think it is desirable that a decision as to whether the privilege of free passages is
to be continued or not should be arrived at as soon as
possible.
2.
The financial situation certainly admits
of the continuance of the concession, which has been a
great boon to the service generally. In fact had it not
been for the existence of this privilege many married
officers would have been unable to take the leave for which
they were eligible without running into debt. The officers
of the various departments of Government have performed their duties during a period of considerable stress in a
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
J. H. THOMAS, M.P..
*C..
&c.
&C.,
highly
!