Climate.
Clothing,
Cost of Living, &c.
19
The winter climate of Hong Kong is usually dry and bright, with a keen North wind when the Monsoon is strong.
The summer climate is hot and somewhat damp, but not actually unhealthy.
obtained from home should be Winter clothing should be such as could be worn on a mild day at home. Many people feel the cold of a Hong Kong winter almost as much as at home. Summer clothing should be obtained in the Colony where it is fairly cheap.
It is impossible to give a satisfactory estimate of the cost of living in Hong Kong, because so much depends upon the tastes and habits of the individ- ual. But the following information is taken from a Hand-book on conditions and cost of living in Hong Kong compiled by the Colonial Government from records up to 1925/-
"The cost of hotel accommodation for a single person varies from $145 to $250 a month, not inclusive of drinks, electric fans and fires.
Boarding House accommodation for a single person may be put at $125 to $200 a month.
Wages of Native servants vary from $12 to $30 a
month".
Other expenses would include laundry (say $10 a month) transport (say $15 a month), clubs, and holidays spent outside the Colony.
The entrance fees to the best social club in Hong Kong, a good golf club and the best cricket club amount in all to about $150, Club subscriptions to about $20 a month. But it must be borne in mind that attendant expenses, especially in the case of golf, are likely to involve a considerable addition to this Other clubs such as the yacht club and the polo club, are cheap of their kind, but must be regarded as expensive luxuries.
sum.
There is at present no Income Tax in the Colony and there are no rates or taxes in the usual English
sense.
On the whole it may be said that an unmarried Surveyor during his probationary term of 3 years can
if he wishes li do save money and still live on a scale which would
Jo
content him at home.
But it would be extremely difficult for a married Surveyor to live on the salary offered during the first few years of service in Hong Kong, and it is for that reason considered advisable that officers selected should be unmarried and should remain so until they are placed on the pensionable establish- ment.
Colonial Office.
December, 1927.
3.