3.
46
the present scales of salary for Government Marine Surveyors in Hong Kong as unduly low compared with the
salaries of similar officers at Home and of other
technical officers in the Colony. I do not think that
any useful direct comparison can be made between the
sterling equivalents of salaries in Hong Kong and Malaya
owing to the difference in value of the local currency
units but I observe that in Malaya the salary of a Marine
Surveyor compares favourably with that of an Assistant Engineer ($400-$600 per month) and has the same maximum as that of an Executive Engineer ($625-$800).
6. Moreover I am impressed by the importance
of the work of the Government Marine Surveyor and his
staff from the point of view of the maintenance of the
reputation of the port of Hong Kong, with particular
reference to the valuable activities of ship repairing
and ship building; and I am inclined to think that the
maximum salary for so responsible a post as the Head
of that Department should not be rated lower than that
of an Executive Engineer (£1300 per annum on the new
scale) or the Deputy Harbour Master (£1200, old scale).
It is one of the inevitable difficulties
7.
of a comparatively small department that it is impossible
to hold out the same prospects of promotion as in a
large department. I should be grateful if the Board of
Trade could be asked to consider whether there is any
possibility of regarding Government Marine Surveyors
in the Colonies as eligible for consideration in
appointments to the higher posts in the Board of Trade
itself. I appreciate the many difficulties in such an
arrangement but if it were possible it would afford some
improvement