512
69
THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRESS &
March 27, 1936
Over Fourteen Million Dollars For Salaries
doubtful whether he could be effi- ciently replaced by an officer on a lower scale of salary.
THE CHIEF CLERK
In regard to the Chief Clerk, who is the head of the Govern- ment C'erical Staff, and to the European clerical staff of the Col- onial Secretary's Office generally, it will be remembered
that this Colony differs from most other Colonies by the fact that the great majority of its inhabitants and even of its locally recruited Civil Servants are not British subjects. There is a certain amount of work which in other Colonies may be undertaken by locally born British subjects, which in this Colony has perforce to be performed by Euro- peans. The growing complexity of modern government is inevitably reflected in an increase of and responsibility in the Colonia' Secretary's Office.
work
Con-
undertake. I would mention in ; but the proportion of passing the International vention for the Safety of Life at Sea, which has entailed an in- crease in the work of the Har- bour Department,
Factory
the
and Mui-tsai legislation, which
Europeans
Civil with
The Government regrets that it has again as in the case of ster -
cn sterling salaries to the total Civil Service in 1923 was only 9.65 and it has decreased to 9.52 in 1935.
the The increase in Service has been consonant the increase in the growth of the has necessitated an Inspectorate | Colony and the amount of work, under the Secretariat for Chin-municipal and otherwise which ese Affairs, the development of has to be performed by the Gov- flying with its attendant in- crnment. crease of staff, not only under Air Services but also under Ro- yal Observatory, the develop-ling-paid officers in 1931, found it ment of Wireless services, en- necessary to impose a 'evy on the tailing more work in both thecmoluments of its servants, with Post Office and the Public Works a view to decreasing the deficit in Department, the increase in the the Budget. As Honourable Mem- been Volunteer Defence Corps and the bers are aware a bill has inauguration of the Naval Vo- read a first time this afternoon în
addi- lunteer Force. All these
which legislative sanction is
on been sought for the levy
salaries tional commitments have
Bill the undertaken by Government with and in introducing the the approval of this Council. Attorney General has set out the financial position which compelled The Honourable Member refers
impose the to the numbers of officers in the ❘ the Government to I am glad the Honourable Mem-
levy. The Government is taxing Police. The authorised establish- bers referred particularly to th
its own servants to meet what it ment fifteen years ago (in 1921) proposed appointment of a ster
hopes is a temporary emergency, was one Captain Superintendent ling-paid officer as official anaes- thetist. He will be interested to
of Police, one Deputy Superinten and it is exploring every possible means of economy; it is at the dent of Police, three Assistant learn that this appointment was
same time considering every pos- advocated with a view to improv. Superintendents of Police and once
sible method of increasing the ing the facilities for the teaching | probationer. The provision in the
Colony's revenue. In addition it of of medical students at the Univer-estimates for this year is for one
considering the granting sity of Hong Kong.
Inspector General of Police, The great
facilities to officers to retire before General, two Deputy Inspector majority of these students are
the normal age limit. and except Divisional Superintendents of Po- non-European, but to make them
where it is absolutely necessary, lice. two Superintendents, proficient to replace Europeans
it is not appointing new officers Assistant Superintendents and one
for whom provision is made the engagement of Europeans as
in in this instance, is necessary. The probationer. It is submitted that
the estimates or filling vacancies appointment in question is not this increase is not disproportion-
the as they occur Or renewing that of a special sterling-paid offi- ate to the growth of the Colony. |
contracts of officers on a tempor- nor is the number of Commission- | cer as official anaesthetist, but of
ary basis. The Honourable Mem- a Medical Officer with special ex-
ed Officers excessive for a Force of
ber asks that Government should over 2.000ˆ men. In this connec- perience in the administration of
not engage any more persons on a tion the Honourable Member will anaesthetics to fill a vacancy in
sterling basis without consulting for the medical establishment
bear in mind that times of de- European medical officer, and it pression are not necessarily times this Council, and that no vacan- was with a view to economy com-
in which the work of Government decreases. bined
On the contrary such with
the efficiency that
times frequently throw considerable idea of engaging a medical officer
additional work on certain Gov- with specia' training in anaesthe- tics was conceived. Such an offi- ernment Departments. of which
in the cer is available
Medical the Police is one, and the Trea- Departments of the Straits Settle- sury another. ments and of the Federated Ma- lay States. and the lack of a spec- ialist in Hong Kong has laid open to serious criticism the curriculum for the instruction of students.
GROWTH IGNORED
a
one
seven
THE PERSONNELLS The Honourable Members also that the quoted figures to show Government has not implemented its promise to retrench, particu- larly in the matter of European of As I said before the Honour staff. He quoted the number
in 1935 able Member appears to ignore European Civil Servants the growth of the Co'ony with- as 975, the number given by the in recent years, a growth which Government in answer to his re- in- I hope and expect will continue. cent question. That figure That growth alone account; for cludes, however, fifty-two Euro- the increase in several depart pean Civil Servants on dollar sa- ments, and to this must be add-laries. The total number of Euro- ed the international obligations pean Civil Servants has increased to from 647 in 1923 to 975 in 1935,
had Colony has
is
cies should be filled without simi- lar consultation. That to a large extent represents the present practice. The annual estimates. by which the expenditure of the year is definitely limited and ar- to this ranged. are submitted Council and in respect of any ap- plication for supplementary penditure the approval of the Finance Committee. on there is an unofficial majority. i
the a'most invariably sought in
first instance.
ex-
which
Member who
The Honourable seconded the motion suggests that be an Unofficial Member show'd appointed to the Appointments Board of the Senior Clerical and Accounting Service,
APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE
It is assed that the Honour-
the able Mem refers to
Ap-