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11.
12.
13.
for a period of twenty years or more.
That as a result of representations made on behalf of your
Petitioners in October 1940 the Honourable the Colonial Secretary agreed to send a telegram, if necessary, a
expense of your Petitioners, requesting that action upon the
despatch of the Hong Kong Government should be deferred
pending the receipt of this our Petition.
That your Petitioners are beyond measure bewildered and
perturbed by the action of the HongKong Government in relation
to the appointment of Chief Clerk to the Colonial Secretariat
as this appointment has always been the most coveted and
anxiously sought Special Appointment available to them and in
view of the action taken they are left with no alternative but
to present this humble petition to your Lordship in the belief
and hope that it will receive your Lordship's earnest and
favourable consideration.
That the position in Class I and amongst the senior members
of Class II of the Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff at
the present time is one of acute congestion by reason of the
already large reduction in the number of Special Appointments
and the reduction of Class I appointments to Class II res-
pectively and in particular referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7
hereof whilst on the other hand there has been an increase in
the lower grades. In illustration, your Petitioners wish
respectfully to bring to your Lordship's notice that of your
Petitioners in Class I all are now on their maximum salaries
(four members of this Class having remained on their maximum salaries for from six to nine years) while three of your
Petitioners of Class II have remained on the maximum salary
of that Class for from six to eight years.
14. Your Petitioners humbly submit that the present congestion in
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