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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
CO. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC.-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |
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no objection to offer to the proposal, which is substantially in accordance with existing rules.
7. The recommendation as regards leave of absence in paragraph 10 is one that I can support, but I consider that extensions of leave should be provided for beyond nine months without salary. I am also strongly of opinion that it is desir- able to introduce the system, which I think has existed for many years in the Consular Service, of allowing a certain period, not reckoned as leave, for the journey to and from the United Kingdom or other places of domicile. This period would
be fixed for each Colony from time to time to accord with changes in means of travel. With regard to the pay to be drawn by an acting officer, I recommend that the rule which I understand is in force in the Straits Settlements should be adopted whereby an officer draws the minimum salary of the post in which he is acting.
8. I agree with the principle of free passages being granted to Government officers when proceeding on long leave and on retirement, and I consider that the grant of such a privilege on fairly liberal lines, as recommended by the Commis- sioners in paragraph 11 and Schedule III, would go far to remedy the alleged inadequacy of salaries, just as the merging of duty pay in salary would result in a much needed increase in pensions.
9. I agree with paragraphs 12, 13, and 14 of the report, subject to a proposal regarding pensions generally that I will submit in a separate despatch, but I may remark that the provision suggested in paragraph 14 as to Police Pensions is already in force.
10. I also agree generally with the recommendations in paragraphs 15, 16 and 17 of the report.
11. Mr. Messer has concurred in the recommendation in paragraph 18 that certain financial officers should be certificated Chartered Accountants. If Govern- ment accounts continue to be kept in their present form, I do not consider that the officers mentioned need necessarily be Chartered Accountants. It would no doubt be desirable to have one or more officers with such a qualification in the service, if they could be obtained at the salaries offered, but not otherwise.
11 (a). I do not agree with the proposal in paragraph 19, though it is most desir- able that the Royal Observatory and the Harbour Officer should work together in the closest harmony in all matters relating to the safety of shipping using the port. 12. With regard to paragraph 20, I consider that the present arrangements for the promotion of officers and the discipline of the service should be maintained.
18. I do not agree with the recommendation in paragraph 21. This report will have to be considered by Your Lordship in connexion with reports from else- where, and whatever decisions are come to it appears to me that it would be very undesirable to disturb the temporary arrangements at present in force for granting relief throughout the Service. I recommend, however, that the temporary arrange- ments should continue until the 31st December next, at any rate.
14. In recognition of the care and energy displayed by Mr. Bullock as Secre- tary to the Commission, I approved of the payment to him of a sum of $300, and also of the payment of $150 to Mr. O'Sullivan, who acted as shorthand reporter.
15. As regards Schedules I. and II., I can only repeat what I have already written in paragraph 4 of this despatch, that it would be well to retain the existing division of all officers paid in sterling into two parts, the first containing posts open to cadet officers, and the second containing all other posts. The salaries of the four posts placed in a special class by the Commissioners I do not wish to comment on, as they are staff appointments.
As regards the salaries of officers in Part I., if payment at the rate of 28. to the dollar, the abolition of duty pay and the grant of free passages are approved, I would amend the salaries recommended as follows:-
First class-£1,200 to £1,500 by annual increments of £50. Second class £900 to £1,100 by annual increments of £50. Third class-£700 to £800 by annual increments of £25. Fourth class-£500 to £800 by annual increments of £25. Passed Cadet-£400.
Unpassed Cadet-£300.
In the first class I would place all those mentioned in Schedule I., with the exception
of the Crown Solicitor. In the second class all those mentioned with the exception of the Auditor. Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Harbour Master, and I would add the Director of the Probate Registry (new post).
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In the third class I would place the following:-
The First Assistant to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court.
Superintendent in Public Works Department (new post). District Officer, South (new post).
Assistant Treasurer and Assessor (new post).
Assistant Land Officer.
In the fourth class I would place :--
First Clerk, Magistracy.
Secretary, Sanitary Board.
Assistant Superintendent of Imports and Exports (new post).
Assistant Postmaster-General.
Second Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court.
16. In the above appointments open to cadet officers it will be observed that
I have suggested the creation of several new posts, while other posts have been omitted. The first new post I have called "Director of the Probate Registry," and have placed it in the second class. It is very important that there should be a cadet officer of considerable experience in this office, who would devote his whole time to the work with the aid of an assistant, who would also be Second Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court. The Government is undoubtedly losing a very large sum every year owing to the constant changes in the officers who supervise the work of Probate. If two cadet officers with a sound knowledge of Chinese and some legal ability could go thoroughly into the investigation of Chinese estates it is not improbable that the increased revenue would amount to as much as half- a-million dollars a year.
The second new post I have proposed is that of Superintendent in the Public Works Department in the third class. It is very desirable in my opinion that the Director of Public Works should have the assistance of an experienced cadet officer to conduct the office work of his department and supervise the accounts, stores and correspondence. The Director and his Assistants would thus be relieved of much unnecessary work which they should not be called upon to perform. This officer would have a technical assistant. The post could be created on the retirement of the present Superintendent of Accounts. Correspondence and Stores, which will take place shortly, and the latter post would be abolished
The third new post is that of District Officer, South, in place of the present Assistant District Officer. I am of opinion that this officer should have his head- quarters at Cheung Chau (Dumbbell Island), where there is a large Chinese com- munity, and during the summer months a considerable number of Europeans.
The fourth new post is that of Assistant Treasurer and Assessor in the third class. It is very desirable that there should be a cadet officer in the Treasury to perform the duties of Treasurer during the temporary absence of the head of the department, and who would also do the work of Assessor, the present post of Assessor being abolished.
Governor's Despatch Confidential of 3rd
January, 1917.
Secretary of State's Despatch Confidential of *14th March, 1917.*
The fifth new post is the Assistant Superintendent of Imports and Exports. This post has already formed the subject of correspondence with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as noted in the margin, and
is eminently one which should be filled by a cadet officer.
17. I propose to address your Lordship as regards the officers in Part II. of the sterling scheme, and as regards non-European subordinates in another despatch.
In the meantime I enclose six more copies of the report.
I have, &c.,
CLAUD SEVERN,
Officer Administering the Government.
*12223: not printed.
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