R.R.B.57/42
My dear Fisher,
COPY
72
Refugee Relief Department of H.B.M. Embassy,
Tang Fung Yee Wang Lo,
Ng Li Ting.
Kukong.
2nd December, 1942.
Petition from Chinese Civil Servants of Hongkong Government on the Permanent Establishment: I forward herewith petition I have received from the Chinese civil servants on the permanent establishment of the Hongkong Government. A Copy of this petition was sent by them to Kweilin for signature by the civil ser- vants there, but I am forwarding it without waiting for their signatures.
For sometime I have felt that in a few months time it would be necessary for us to commence to give relief to Hongkong Government servants who have failed to find work after receiving their "final settlement". As you know, a large number of civil servants, particularly those from the Junior Clerical Service, are finding it extremely difficult to adapt themselves to life in China. Their previous training does not fit them for work in Chinese Government institutions and it is true to say that we have only been able to place a few of these men with exceptional qualifications. The re- mainder have had little chance of getting employment unless they have had relatives or friends in Chinese Government or military circles. Technical staff, such as doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers have had less difficulty in finding jobs, but there are numerous cases in which such people are too old to be able to compete successfully for positions.
As a general rule, Hongkong Government servants lack that knowledge of the Chinese language which is required in Govern- ment offices in China. The majority of them can only speak Cantonese and English and are useless outside a Cantonese speaking area. The salaries offered are in many cases .completely inadequate to meet a man's legitimate financial requirements for the maintenance of himself and his family even at a very reduced standard of living.
It is perfectly true that although the treatment they have received is extremely generous on paper and in terms of ster- ling, when converted into Chinese National currency and related to the ever rising cost of living, the relief afforded is not sufficient to maintain them for long even at a standard of living greatly reduced from that which they enjoyed in Hongkong. The "final settlement" was intended to give them sufficient money to maintain them until they were able to adapt themselves to new conditions and find employ- ment. In most cases they have failed to find employment and with commodity prices always on the increase they will soon be in serious difficulties. The attached table of commodity prices in Kukong from January, 1942 to November 1942 shows how the purchasing power of the