HONGKONG GOVERNMENT SERVICE (LEVY ON SALARIES)
ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to make provision for a levy on the salaries of public officers in the Hong Kong Government Service."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.-Your Excellency, I concur in the terms of this Bill, which has become necessary owing to an
unfortunate series of events which have culminated in an unbalanced Budget for 1936.
It should be borne in mind that, in many commercial firms, heavy cuts in salaries, and in many cases termination of employment altogether, have been the order of the day during the past five financially difficult years.
In addition to the measures of economy which were suggested at the last Meeting of this Council, the Unofficial Members suggest for Your Excellency's consideration that further substantial economies might be effected:-
(1) By reducing the salaries of some Posts in the Service upon new appointments to those Posts being made, and by reducing the number of Officers and of sterling-paid Clerks in some Departments, and by substituting dollar employees for sterling-paid employees.
(2) By reducing the rent-allowance privileges of Government Servants and also by increasing the percentage of salary chargeable in respect of housing accommodation, in cases where such accommoda- tion is provided.
(3) By a thorough investigation into acting, leave-pay, conveyance and other allowances made to Government Servants.
(4) By inaugurating a system of medical attendance on Government Servants by private practitioners, upon a contract basis, instead of by Government Doctors; thus reducing the number of Government Doctors required and effecting a saving on their salaries, allowances, leave-pay, passages and pensions. In this connection our contention is that much of the work now done by Government Doctors could equally well be performed by private practitioners attending at the Government Hospitals and by their also attending on Government Servants in their own homes. Thus a great saving in public expenditure could be effected. We regard this suggestion (4) as being of pressing importance, having regard to the necessity, next year, of providing for the staffing of the new Queen Mary Hospital.
Accordingly we suggest that the Government do now appoint a small Commission or Committee, upon which there should be Unofficial representation, to enquire into and report on the matters included in the above paragraphs (1) to (4).
In conclusion we desire to add that we regard the present depression as being of a temporary nature. In Great Britain and elsewhere there are signs of reviving trade and prosperity, which must enure to the benefit of this Colony.
In the past Hong Kong has weathered many serious economic storms, and she will win through now as she has won through so often in times gone by. (Applause).
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