25
This would only refer to late.
те
Certainly I do not think we should do so unless
the Government definitely took steps to safe-
guard themselves when the revised salaries
were announced by making it clear that the
rate of exchange might be varied from time to
time.
It will be noted, moreover, that
stated to n
various Appointments Pamphlets have been issued
since the revision of salaries stating that
"the local payment of salaries fixed in sterling
is made in dollars converted at the current rate
of exchange." Before the revision of salaries
the rate of conversion was fixed from time to
time by the Government. In the absence of any
such statement in the present editions, it seems
to me to be perfectly clear that officers who
have been furnished with the present conditions
of appointment have received a definite pledge
to have their salaries converted at the current
rate of exchange, whatever it may be.
Unless there is something wrong with
the above reasoning, I think that the Secretary
of State would be placed in a very unfortunate
position if he agreed to an arbitrary alteration
of the rate of exchange on the lines proposed
by the Hong Kong Government. It is just the
sort of case which, unless we are in a position
completely to justify our action, will inevitably
land us in trouble with such bodies as the B..Á.,
which quite properly make it their business to
see that Colonial Governments keep their bargains
with their staff.
I do not see that we can possibly
approve the proposal unless we can be satisfied
that the local Government, in announcing the
revised