4
the ex-sterling officer should know what his salary
amount to in sterling when his expenses are to be made entirely in that currency.
id. Ci
on Com a farsina.
B
13.1.48.
Extract from 5.5.
from 5.5. General Orders.
I have discussed this with Mr. Whittle.
We do not think that Government should commit itself
thin
to guaranteeja
to guaranteej a fixed or minimum rate of exchange for
expatriate Civil Servants, since it might result in
placing them in a privileged position as compared,
for instance, with employees of private concerns
etc. Moreover, salaries in Hong Kong are high in
comparison with salary for similar posts in this
country and Hong Kong officials spending their leave
here or receiving pensions based on Hong Kong
salaries certainly derive some benefit in consequence
and there is therefore some margin which will allow
a reduction in the sterling value of their salaries
without causing hardship.
On the other hand, it would be manifestly
unfair to these officers if the value of the Hong
Kong dollar fell to such an extent as to cause
hardship and if such a situation arose or appeared
likely to arise, it would certainly be necessary to
take steps to meet it. One possible course would be
the payment of an exchange compensation allowance.
In the meantime, I think that the best
course would be to stick to the arrangement which
has been adopted in Malaya.
JE Kme
M. Polman
15th January, 1948.
Mr. Butters
in. Whittle
The Maft the Treasing has been sein
I will be sun
y M. Moyle.
that the suggestion