Continued. (2)
16
Hong Kong, India, Ceylon, and Malaya is appended. (table 1)
We would invite reference to the fact that all these
scales, with the exception, at certain stages, of that of
Malaya, are superior to that of Hong Kong. In the case of
Malaya, we would refer to the fact that by the system of
acting appointments in force there, most junior cadets are
acting in, and being paid on the scale of, higher posts than
is indicated on the salary scheme.
(2) Comparison with the initial salaries of other depart-
ments in this Colony.
We, alone, are selected on the results of a competitive
examination. Our age is as advanced as that of the entrants
to these Departments. We omit mention of Police Probationers
who are recruited at an earlier age than we are. Men from the
same universities as we, whose scholastic attainments (and we
would submit that medical, education, and engineering courses
are no more specialised than the ones we have to take to fit
ourselves for the Civil Service examination) are in no way
superior to ours, are for many years better paid.
Reference to the table (II) attached, will show that a
cadet has to serve five years before he draws the same salary
as an officer of the Education Department, seven years before
he overtakes engineers of the Fublic Works Department, and
fourteen years before his salary equals that of an officer of
the Medical Department.
(3) Comparison of our real salary before and after passing
our final Chinese examination and becoming Passed Cadets
In this connection we venture to invite your attention
to an anomaly in the working of the present scale. A cadet,
after passing his first Chinese examination, is paid 375 per
month, plus free quarters or 860 house allowance in lieu there
of, plus free medical attendance. On passing his final
examination, his salary is 3400 per month minus $23.30 if
he is allotted furnished Government quarters. Where an officer
has to find quarters for himself the loss is still greater.
His nominal advance of $25 per month is thus in reality a