MINUTES.
MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.
N°398.
res 1×2.
sir.
C.c.195 5618J
1 060 2+
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 29th October, 1924.
I have the honour to state that in my opinion
the time has now come for the more systematic organisation
of the European clerical and accounting staff employed by this Government.
2.
I enclose lists of the posts which could conveniently be grouped together for this purpose, arranged according to Departments and also graded according to salaries: the system of providing for these posts under the estimates of the Departments concerned has led to the existence of a number of different scales of salary for officers doing very similar work and possessing very similar qualifications with the result that a certain amount of dissatisfaction has been
caused and complaints have been frequent on the familiar lines
"Thy should A, whose work is similar to that of B, rise by
increments of £20, whereas B's increments are of £10 or why should C's maximum be £480 and B's £500"?
3.
Another objection, and a more serious one,
however; to the present arrangements is that no provision is made for leave arrangements, so that when one of the officers concerned takes leave difficulties constantly arise in finding
an efficient substitute,
4.
I therefore propose, subject to your cmcurrence, that provision should be made in the Estimates
for
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
J. H. THOMAS, M.P.,
Bo..