NOX CONFIDENTIAL
2
23
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
15th September, 1938.
Enclosure No.1
Ausd.
Sir,
With reference to my confidential despatch
dated 31st August, 1938, regarding the payment of pensions
to retired officers living in India at the current rate of
exchange between Hong Kong and India instead of at the
privileged rate of Hong Kong $100 Rupees 112 which has
been in force since 1930, I have the honour to forward
herewith for your consideration a petition submitted by
Indian officers on the permanent establishment in the
Hong Kong Civil Service, requesting that the proposed
alteration to the rate of exchange may be postponed pending
the consideration of certain other grievances.
2.
It is not at present known what these other
grievances may be and I see no reason at present to think
that there is any case for improving the general conditions
of service for Indian officers. It may perhaps be
material to observe that apart from policemen, prison
warders and a few interpreters there is no particular
reason why Indians, domiciled in India, who are costly
in leave and passages, should be engaged here in Government
posts in preference to equally qualified Chinese.
3.
A further petition has been addressed to the
Colonial Secretary on the same subject by the Indian Staff
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,
队
&c., &c., &c.