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Any addition to staff or changes in their
present rates of pay, except where staff continues to
be employed on the incremental scales of the Hong Kong Civil Service, would require prior authority, whatever
the post.
This
As I have already said we are aiming at centralising
all accounts in connection with the Colony in this
country and we hope that it may prove possible to
arrange for expenditure incurred locally to be audited
on the spot, a certified statement only being sent
home for the purpose of the central accounts.
would save much work in London and ensure a better
control. As soon as possible after the close of each
year the office in London would have to prepare an
account of the receipts and expenditure. We should
hope that it would be possible for the D.C.A. to audit
the central account. An audited copy of this account
together with the D.C.A's report would then be rendered
to you and to the Comptroller and Auditor General to
support the charges in our accounts in respect of the
advances. But, as I have said, the day when these
accounts are likely to be in a suitable form for
presentation is probably a long way ahead and you will,
I am afraid, have to be content to accept the earlier
part of these proposals as sufficient for control、
purposes in the meantime.
As funds are running very low we hope that
you will be able to deal with the matter quickly so that
an initial advance can be made. If you wish to discuss
the matter with us in the first instance, we shall be
very