12
rate of dollar-sterling exchange for pensions.
S. It will be seen from my minute of the 2nd February and from the draft which I prepared on the same date (not sent) that I suggested that, whereas future recruits to the Hong Kong service might satisfactorily be dealt with by the application of "the Government rate" (as was ultimately agreed to in (9) for all), officers at present in the service might be given the sort of guarantee the Governor now asks for. (My suggestion went further than the Governor's in that I propose to cover leave salaries as well as pensions). The basis for my suggestion for a differentiation between the two classes of officers was that there is differentiation in treatment in this respect, according to date of appointment, in Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States General Orders, (relevant extracts filed at (3) and (4)).
6.I have had a telephone conversation with Mr. Serpell about (11) and his first reaction to the proposal therein is that it is a "non-starter". I however told him that we might decide to put it.
7. I must confess to being out of my depth in exchange matters (nor was it my impression that Mr. Serpell was entirely within his). I think we must take Finance Department advice. I apologise for having sat on these papers for some time.
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Теми
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31.3.48.
Minin
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discussed with Ona Whittle
Ms/48
With regard to para. 3 of the Governor's
telegram, I don't think that there can be any question
/of