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Chinese National dollar has declined. In other places the figures would probably be even more startling. During this period the offi- cial exchange rate for Hongkong dollars has only changed from 4.65 to 4.91
In this connection, I invite attention to Foreign Office telegram 470 of 4th April. The second part of that telegram which deals with Chinese Hongkong officials sets out the Colonial Office's policy at that date. It is stated that an unemployment award will be considered in the case of officers holding permanent pensionable posts, and that assistance necessary for relief may be given to any Chinese officers of the Hongkong Government whether claiming to be pensionable or not.
This telegram was of course sent long before it had been decided to establish June 30th, 1942, as the notice date, and I do not know whether the Colonial Office considers that the treat- ment it is now giving is a final settlement of its obligations to- wards Hongkong Civil servants, or whether the provisions of this telegram still stand.
In the case of officers not on the permanent pension- able establishment, I think that the treatment given is adequate, although there may be cases where long service, British birth or other considerations would warrant further assistance in the form of relief loans. This can best be determined on an individual basis.
Officers on the permanent establishment with long
service appear to me to have a claim for further assistance, if the Colonial Office still regards its pension obligations as binding. Those who were drawing pensions before the hostilities are being allowed to continue to do so, but so far only one officer (Luk Tsun Fai, who was 62) has been allowed to retire on pension with effect from 30th September, 1942.
I have forwarded particulars of the service of various officers over 50 or with exceptionally long service who have requested me to ask if the Colonial Office would consider granting them their pensions, but it is probably too soon to expect replies on these individual cases as yet.
If, however, the Colonial Office is prepared to pension of those over a certain ge or with a certain length of service, I suggest that as it will take a considerable time to determine the exact amount payable in each individual caso, a general authority should be given to us to make an advance not exceeding so many months salary against their pension to those thus qualified.
The desirability of making a final liquidation of Government obligations to all officers on the permanent staff is bound up to a large extent with the future status of Hongkong. If such officers will be required for service once more within a short period, it might not be advisable to pension off those who are under say 45 or 50, although if this was done, it would always be possible to readjust the salaries of those re-engaged after the reoccupation of Hongkong.