514
SALARIES DEBATE
THE DILEMMA
THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRESS &
The Honourable the Senior Unofficial Member who seconded
the motion has been given, in answer to his remarks regarding Government's refusal last autumn to fix exchange forward for its sterling Commitments this year, the
that he hoped very rep.y would not be given. That is be- cause it is the true and only pos- sible reply. I was not here at the time, but I have read the corres- pondence and from it
emerges
very plainly the dilemma in which Government found itself. It was on the one hand, as the Honour- able Member expressed it, the trustee of the taxpayer; and it was on the other the Keeper of the public conscience.
The fact that the advice for fixing exchange forward was tendered unanimously by the Unofficial Members of this Council was proof enough that the proposal was not morally indefensible. But there are matters in which a Government should not allow itself to be placed in a position where a defence of its morality may be even called for. For Govern- ment to have fixed exchange forward with an exclusive fore- knowledge of relevant future events to be brought about by itseif might, I consider, have created a
situation in which
by
official scrupulousness could have been questioned; and questionings of that kind might have done the Administration greater injury than it would have reaped financial gain fixing exchange forward. That is all I have to say this motion but before putting it to the vote I would ask the Honourable proposer to consider whether his purpose has not been adequately served by this debate; if it has, there is hardly any need to proceed to a d vision.
MOTION DEFEATED
on
and
Sir Henry Pollock intimated that the Unofficial members desired to leave the Council Chambers to deliberate over the matter, after an absence of ten minutes, the Hon. Mr. M K. Lo addressing His Excellency the Governor, said that while he thanked Colonial Secretary and Dr. Wel- lington for their comprehensive statements, he was not convinced Government had taken steps in retrenchment.
the
SIR ROBERT'S PARTY
Farewell To Sir
Wm. Shenton
A farewell luncheon party was given by Sir Robert and Lady H Tung on Monday at the Hong Kong Hotel in honour of Sir William Shenton who will shorty be leav- ing the Colony on retirement with his daughter.
|
70 March 27, 1936
HONG KONG FIRE
INSURANCE
Annual Report Issued
the
The following report is for pre- sentation to
shareho.ders of the Hong Kong Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., at the Sixty-Seventh Or- dinary Meeting, to be held at the offices of the company, on Friday, March 27, at noon.
1934 ACCOUNT
The following guests attended: The Bishop of Hong Kong, Com-
The General Managers and Con- modore and Mrs. Sedgwick, The sulting Committee have pleasure Hon. Sir Thomas Southorn, The in submitting a statement of the Hon. Sir Henry and Lady Pollock, Accounts of the Company, made Sir William Hornell, The Hon. Sir up to 31st December, 1935, in Ster- Shouson Chow, The Hon. Mr. and ling and Hong Kong currency. Mrs. R.A.C. North, The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga, Mr. and Mrs. Ho Kom Tong, Hon. Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Pa- terson, The Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau, The Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwel, Mrs. Dodwell and Miss Dodwell, Mr. V. M. Grayburn, Mr. A. Brearley, Mr. E. J. Davies, The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. M. K. Lo, Mr. and Mrs. G. S Archbutt, Mr. Ll Koon Chun, and Mr. Armstrong.
It was impossible for him to reply at a moment's notice, but he felt that he had the support of the Unofficial members on this point. Mr. Lo said that he was particularly grateful for what His Excellency had said and the man- ner in which he had taken the motion. That the Civil Service was overstaffed was not only his opinion, but that of the general public. In addition it was condemned generally
Civil Servants themselves.
own
by
In view of His Excellency's as- surances, he wished to submit that the idea of his motion was to record his view and intimated that he wished the motion to be put to the division. The motion was defeated by nine votes to six.
This Account shows a surplus of $662,910.82, and it is recommended that this sum be appropriated as follows:-
To pay a Dividend of
$11 per share
To add to Investment and Exchange Fluc- tuation Account ........ To add to Reinsurance
Fund
1935 ACCOUNT
$440,000.00
100,000.00
122,910.82
$662,910.82
The balance at credit of th.s Account is $753,116.76.
CONSULTING COMMITTEE
Sir Robert Ho Tung, Messrs. C. Bernard Brown, A. H. Compton, L Dunbar, Felix A. Joseph, T. E. S. T. Pearce, J. H. Taggart and Williamson retire but, being eligi- ble, offer themselves for re-elec- tion.
AUDITORS
The Accounts have been audited by Messrs. Lowe, Bingham and Matthews and Percy Smith, Seth and Fleming, who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
The Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga abstained from voting. He said that to his mind the statements made by the Government were satisfactory, and the acsurance that they would undertake to Formerly a waiter in Boston, Soo keep an eye on the problem, met | Hoo-look, otherwise called Lewis with his approval. Before the Seto, otherwise, known as Sz Hoo-
vote was taken Sir H. Pollock in- femed His Excellency Mat the Fiui. 1* S. W. Ts'o was absent but tha he was in eutire agerð with 20 views of the noftical members.
Th Council meeting (ben ad- journed sine dine.
louk, left local estate amounting to $3,000. The deceased was formerly of 24 Oxford Street, Boston, Mass.. D., and died at the Best City Hospital on 1, 1934. Letters of adnut to the estate have been gy to Mir, David W K. Au, bar
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