X CONFIDENTIAL.
:200112)
Sa
Sir,
8
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG,
22nd March, 1939.
I have the honour to inform you that the
Commissioner of Prisons has recently reported the immediate desirability of an increase in the salaries of the officers in charge of the Female Prison at Lai Chi Kok. I enclose an extract, dealing with that subject, from a report made by him on the Female Prison in September
last.
2.
I am in full agreement with the Commissioner of Prisons that the salary paid to the Matron who, as he states, is in entire charge of the prison, subject only to the supervision of the Commissioner on his periodical visits, is grossly inadequate for her responsibilities. The same applies to a lesser degree to her immediate assistants, but after discussion it has been agreed that the salaries offered to the wardresses are not inadequate, having regard to their qualifications and to the salaries paid to other female employees of the Government, including the nursing staff of the Medical Department.
3.
I seek your approval, therefore, for the adoption, with effect from 1st January, 1939, of the
following scales for the Latron, Assistant latron, and Principal Wardress:-
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,
&C.
&C.
&C.,