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compensated in the new scale and conditions.
e. g.
(a) Free furnished quarters.
(b) Free Fuel and Light.
(c) Cruising Launch Allowance.
(d) Hard Lying Allowance.
8. That a Comparative Table of monthly salaries and usual allowances calculated in dollars for
1941, 1946 and 1948, including in all cases the Maximum Ex Patriation Allowance and High Cost of Living
Allowance (although many Officers do not in fact receive these maximum allowances) is attached hereto
marked 'Schedule A'. That the proposed new scales shows the following increases and percentage increases.
Sub-Inspector
Inspector
Chief Inspector
Increase over 1941 scale.
$465 or 118%
Increase over 1946 scale.
$132 or 18% $187 or 19%
79%
$520 or $668 or 79%
$408 or 36%
That if the High Cost of Living Allowance be excluded from the salaries shewn in Table A (and this
allowance is not payable whilst on furlough leave, nor taken into account when assessing pensions) then the
increases of the 1948 salaries over those of 1941 are:-
Sub-Inspector
Inspector
Chief Inspector
81% instead of 118%
as shewn
58%
#1
"
79%
11
11
64%
#!
11
79%
11
12
That the cost of living has increased at least 400% over 1941 prices and that the 1946 Wholesale Prices
Index published by the Government of Hong Kong shewed increases of 704% over prices obtaining in 1938.-
That in support of the above remarks there is attached a Schedule marked "B" being an extract from
the South China Morning Post giving a comparative statement of various essential articles and also an
extract from a Circular letter marked Schedule "C" sent by the Colonial Office discouraging wives from
rejoining their husbands in the service of the Hong Kong Government because of the high cost of living.
9. That all Government charges have been increased considerably, notably fines, to take congnizance of (a) the fall in the purchasing power of the dollar, and (b) the increased prices of commodities.
That in support of this statement is an extract marked "D" from the Hong Kong Government Gazette
reporting the increase of penalties under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance by 300% because the purchasing
value of money has so decreased that the former penalties were no longer deterrents.
And further that by an Ordinance intituled. The Separation and Maintenance Ordinance 1948 (No.42 of 1948) a magistrate may order a husband to pay his wife a sum not exceeding $250.00 per week instead of $50.00 per week authorised by the Separation and Maintenance Ordinance 1935 and by the same Ordinance the weekly allowance for each child was increased to $30.00 instead of $10.00.
10. That the dollar salaries shewn in Schedule A, when converted to Sterling might appear to be large by United Kingdom standards but due consideration must be given to the high prices obtaining here for all commodities, and to the fact that Europeans must save against their furlough leave and eventual retirement,
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