TELEGRAMS: SHIPMINDER, PARL LONDON. TELEPHONE: VICTORIA 8740.
30042/3
82
M.16165/1926.
ho 2
FOR D
NATIONAL
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SABLED ME
MERCANTILE MARINE DEPARTMENT,
BOARD OF TRADE,
3, SANCTUARY BUILDINGS,
GREAT SMITH STREET,
LONDON, S.W.1.
19th January, 1927.
Dear Mr. Paskin,
Thank you for your letter 30042/27 of the 15th January which clears up some of the points regarding the proposed loan of one of our surveyors to the Hong Kong Government. In order that I might see whether we were not quite clear as to the conditions on which the appointment could be offered, I discussed the matter with one of the applicants who is at headquarters and he has raised a number of other points on which he himself would want information before agreeing to go if the appointment were offered to him. In these circumstances the best thing is to clear them out of the way before we go further.
I am accordingly sending you over his manuscript list of questions which you would perhaps return.
As regards (1), you may know whether it is customary to count the seconded period for increment. The answer to question (2) is of course that the bonus will be subject to the usual fluctuation. (3) is settled so far as you are concerned and we shall have to deal with (4). I gather from your letter that the Colonial allowance will definitely be £300, but I have no idea as to whether you would give any special Colonial outfit allowance. I understand that this would probably be quite a substantial item and if there were no allowance this would have some bearing on an officer's decision to go.
There is usually a small allowance of 5/- to 10/- a day to officers while on voyage. Is it intended that this should be paid in addition to the free passage and half pay?
I gather that 6% will be deducted from total emoluments if unfurnished Government quarters are provided. If they are not provided, I believe that the allowance given in lieu would not be so much as 6% and would more probably be 4% or 5%. I assume that for purposes of calculation of total Hong Kong emoluments the percentage deduction would not be made if unfurnished quarters are provided by the Government, but I should like to know whether, if an allowance is made in lieu of quarters, that allowance will be included in total emoluments for this purpose; also is the transport allowance a purely local matter to cover local travelling and is it included in total emoluments.
J.S. Paskin, Esq.
/Questions