41733
Oriqual
Dear Mr. Serpell,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
61
18th October, 1946.
I spoke to Mr. James by telephone on the 23rd August about the Governor of Hong Kong's wish to appoint a regular Army officer, Major H.F.G. Chauvin, to a post of Assistant Labour Officer in the Labour Department of the Hong Kong Government. If the War Office agreed we proposed to offer Major Chauvin a temporary appointment on agreement for two tours at a salary of £800 in an incremental salary scale of £800 to £1050. As before the war this work was undertaken by one of the administrative officers seconded for the purpose and the last holder of the post was drawing a salary of £1150 Mr. James was satisfied that Treasury authority was not required for the temporary appointment of Major Chauvin on these terms.
2.
The Governor has now, however, asked us to reconsider the proposal to appoint Major Chauvin for two tours only and recommends that the appointment should be made permanent and pensionable, and that it should carry a salary scale similar to that of an Administrative Officer, namely £520 per annum for two years probation, then £570 to £1,050 per annum by four increments of £25, one of 230, one of £100, five of £30 and two of £50.
3.
This proposal seems to us most reasonable especially in view of the Governor's previous statement
D.R. SERPELL, ESQ., 0.B.E.,
TREASURY.
that