MX CONFIDENTIAL.
AIR MAIL.
Sir,
122
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HỒNG KÔNG,
6th April, 1936.
17
I have the honour to refer to my confidential
air mail despatch of 6th March, 1936, under which I forwarded
a petition from the sterling paid officers of this Government,
and to forward for your consideration a petition since received
from 1,878 officers on dollar salaries.
2.
This petition is distinguished from the former by the absence of any criticism, constructive or otherwise; of the financial policy of this Government, and amounts in the main to
a plea of hardship.
3.
the dollar was
5
The present
I cannot however agree that such hardship is general among the Chinese employees of Government.
rates of salary were approved in June, 1930, when the rate of
1/4, only slightly higher than the rate for January this year (1/3) when the levy was imposed. The intervening period saw a fluctuation between the extremes of 11,2a and 2/4, the average rate for the whole period being 1/5.
A complete cost of living index for the period
16
4.
d
in question is not available, but weighted figures compiled by Mr. N.E. Young, of His Majesty's Treasury, show that the cost of living index has fallen from 100, this being the average for the period January 1928 to July 1933, taken as the period of reference, to 75.3 for January 1936. Mr. Young for the purpose of his calculations took into consideration only such items as
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
J.H. THOMAS, M.P.
&C.,
&C.,
&C.