17
Continued. (3)
reduction of 835 per month on his real salary.
(4) Comparison of the cost of living in 1920 and now.
The cost of living has, since the existing scale was designed, gone up to a degree variously estimated at from
30% to 60%. In addition, the dollar is falling, and the
exchange compensation which is valuable when the dollar is
at 2/6 or above, is, at present, vastly minimised in its
advantages. We would point out, too, that such compensation
is not granted during leave, in which respect our scheme
compares unfavourably with that of the Malayan Service who
are paid at the same rate at home as in Malay.
We have had under consideration the question of
proposing annual increments of £50 after reaching 2400, but
we regard this, while beneficial, as not removing the anomaly
mentioned in paragraph (3).
We would, therefore, humbly petition His Excellency
that the salary scale be amended as following:-
Instead of £350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 500
read £350, 375, 450, 475, 500, 550
and thereafter by increments of £50 as at present.
We consider the present scale sufficient for the first
two years during which we are studying Chinese and are more
or less regarded as probationers, and are not required to
live in Hong Kong for any considerable time.
We would invite reference to our previous statements,
and to the fact that the nominal increment of £75 (as
proposed) on passing the final Chinese examination, represents
in reality, only an advance of $15 per month.
We further, humbly petition that we may be placed as
though we had been on the amended scale from the commencement
of our service.
Finally, we would add, that the adoption of our
proposals would eventually amount to a grant, to all of us,
of one year's increant in advance of our seniority, but that
it would be most beneficial to men on their first being
recalled for service in Hong Kong, while the expense to the