Ausd 25.
Copy to CA 20
The Right Hon'ble,
Victoria House, No. 31. Staunton Road, Coleford... Glos.
November 12th 1938.
The Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Rt. Hon'ble Sir;
31
xt
23.
Re Widows' and Orphans' Pensions.
I beg to enclose herewith a copy of my Pension Warrant from the HongKong Police Force, also Copy of a letter received from the Crown Agents for the
Colonies re payment of Pensions under the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund and to appeal to You under the following circumstances :-
As shown in my Pension Warrant & 92. 046 per annum has been deducted from my Pension as my contribution to the Widows' and Orphans' Fund.
A.
B•
The Exchange value was calculated at 3/8 per dollar, so that in Sterling this has amounted to £I: 8: 2. per month (£16: 18: 0 per annum.) and deduction was made at this rate of exchange for about 22 years, after which no payment to the Fund was necessary.
C. The Dollars payable to the Fund, and such as were deducted from my pay whilst serving, were at the current rate of exchange then ruling in the Colony, so that the deduction from my pension at the 3/8 dollar represents that nearly three times the value has been paid from my Pension than was paid from my pay when serving. The present currency value of the Dollar, and for some time past, has been I/3.
D. The Crown Agents letter informs me that the HongKong Govt (who administers the Fund) has decided that as from the Ist June 1938, that benefits under the Fund will be paid at the current rate of exchange. That the sum of $584. 936 per annum is registered in my name as payable. This represents a payment of only 14/- per week to my Wife, during Widowhood, should she survive me, which after paying rent would leave her nothing to live on.
E.
That this small amount would in turn make her ineligible for benefit under the Old Age Pension Fund as enjoyed by Old People in this Country, and this would off-set Ten Shillngs per week out of the 14/- received from the Widows' and Crphans' Pension Fund and would leave a very poor return for about 35 years contributions paid to the W and O Fund, and would leave nothing but the Poor Law to fall back on in case of distress.
F.
I most respectfully pray that the decision to pay pension at the current rate of the Dollar for Widows' and Orphans' benefit be reconsidered, and humbly submit that it would be more equitable to pay the Pensions at a rate of exchange value corresponding to that at which the Contributions was made.
G. I am one of the few pensioners on the Dollar Scheme and probably the HongKong Govt had not realised the hardship which their decision would entail in my, and maybe other similar cases.
I have the honour to be,
Right Hon'ble Sir,
Your humble and pbedient servant,
Houch
ex. Chief Detective Inspector,
Hong Kong Police.