b. CONFIDENTIAL.
AIR MAIL.
208
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG,
6th March, 1936.
Sir,
In continuation of my Confidential air-mail
despatch of the 24th February, 1936, on the subject of the
levy on Government salaries, I have the honour to forward
herewith the petition from 556 sterling-paid officers of
the Government service referred to in paragraph 5 of that
despatch. Individual protests addressed either to the
Colonial Secretary or myself have been received from certain
other officers who for one reason or another have not signed
the petition.
2. The memorandum enclosed with my despatch of 24th February, 1936, set out the seriousness of the present financial position, the necessity for calling on the
Government service to bear some share of the financial burden
suddenly, but it is hoped temporarily, imposed upon the Colonial Treasury by economic and exchange conditions, and the reasons for adopting a tapering form of levy in anticipation of a progressive rise in the cost of living. Since that despatch was written I have received from the
Colonial Treasurer a revised estimate of the financial
position on the 31st December, 1935. Revenue in 1935 unexpectedly exceeded the estimate by about $300,000 and expenditure fell short of it by some $700,000. The result is that revenue and expenditure for 1935 will have approximately balanced, though the final figures cannot be
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
J.H. THOMAS, M.P.
&C.,
&C.,
&C.
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