8
(a). Computation of Pensions.
In paragraph 5, the petitioners ask that an
allowance for quarters be included for the purpose of
computing their pensions, as they claim to be the
only Indian officers in the service of the Hong Kong
Government for whom such allowances are not included
in the amount on which their pension is assessed.
In particular, they claim that this is the principle
adopted in the case of all Indian members in the
Prisons Department of whatever rank.
The Governor's despatch unfortunately makes
no mention of this, and I have not been able to trace
any special Pension Regulations for the Prison
Department. The despatch does, however, state that the
omission of allowance for quarters was not due to an
oversight when the Police Pension Regulations were
drawn up in 1933: it was deliberate on the principle
that no allowance should be added to salaries in
respect of officers whose normal quarters are in
barracks in which it is their duty to live. Moreover,
the petitioners are in the same position as all police
officers, including Europeans, below the rank of
Assistant Superintendent of Police. Any change in this
respect made on behalf of the Indian contingent, would
have to apply equally to all contingents, and the
Governor does not suggest that there is any necessity
for a change.
(b) The Rate of Payment of Pensions.
In 3 on this file, we approved the Governor's
proposal for the payment of pensions in India at the
current
social rate of exchange, i.e. approximately
HK$ 100 = Rs.83, instead of the artificial rate of
payment at HK 100 Rs.112 adopted in 1930. The
=
petitioners now ask that the
old rate should be
maintained;
Page
Page
9
maintained; but it has been established that there
is no longer any justification for the payment of
pensions at an artifically high rate.
An
advanad
argument site by the petitioners in
support of their claims is that, whereas a European
Officer can earn a full pension after about 25 years'
service, an Indian Officer must serve for about 35
years. But, as the Governor points out, this applies
to all non-European contingents of the Force, and is
based on the fact that Europeans, unlike their
Asiatic Colleagues, have to serve in a climate which
is totally different from that of their native country.
? reply that after due consideration of the
petitioners' requests, the Secretary of State is
unaware of any reason for altering the existing basis
of assessing the pensions of the Indian Officers of
the Hong Kong Police Force, and sees no justification
for restoring the old rate of exchange for the payment
of pensions in India which was adopted in 1930. Ask
that the petitioners may be informed accordingly, and
express regret for the delay in replying.
As regards the
Convus in rake
the petition to
A. N. Galsworthy
1.6.39.
dollar (Rasere
is nothing
thus
прись на нов
decision reached on No/
made clear in para 2
429
2 No4
that
the SIRS Wi not
consider such a claim.
110
age 9
age 9
Page
ge 10
10
As reponds alles being
pension
an
nisesed fo
the fact that the petrihome,
the only Inhin offens of the th
Bout, whose aller
it is
an
AIT
not asscis able
I'mmatiunt point. Al
This Asiaki colleagues in the Police
The Same
-bout
are
й
live in
thony
barracks: I in consegames
thin housing sung smonts and
from these 1
different from
Indian
other offices surring in Depts
other than the Police Dept.
As reponits
the benos of
service neesismy
to qualify for
the forgives
to the
^
a satisfactory
andern
full pension
petitioner's claims.
- Decline to interven,
Express repot that an
deuson has not
been communicate of
Page
D&A.
56:39
atorice.
to the Governor.
Gress
Jom.
чь
3/6
216
ge 10Page 11