PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TLC.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
86
remarks on the proposals contained in the scheme, basing them on the views of the Committee.
As regards the proposed salaries of Chief Justice, Colonial Secretary, l'uisne Judge and Attorney-General, I am of opinion that these salaries ought to be equal to those paid in the Straits Settlements, remembering in the case of the Colonial Secretary here that he has not a house supplied as at Singapore.
Class 1. The Principal Civil Medical Officer has been included in this class, as his duties are now of a very onerous and responsible nature. The privilege of free quarters has been withdrawn.
Class II. House allowances for the Assistant Surgeons and the Medical Officer of Health have been incorporated with their salaries.
Class IV. The Assistant Postmaster-General has been placed in this class, as the appointment will probably in future fall to one of the Cadet class.
Class V. The Assistant Superintendents of Police have been placed in this class, as these posts will usually be filled by Cadets. The privilege of free quarters makes these ollices equivalent to a Class IV. office. The Marine Surveyors have been put on an incremental salary, as also the Sunitary Surveyor and the Postmaster at Shanghai,
15. With reference to some of the departmental salaries, I may say that the Post Office salaries have recently been revised, owing to the recommendations of the Unofficial Salaries Committee, and the Sterling salaries are based upon those recom- mendations. The Lighthouse Keepers in the Harbour, Department have been given triennial increments, and similar salaries have been fixed in the case of cach Light- house. The salaries of the Medical Department are based to a large extent on the sularies proposed by the Straits Settlements, Ration, light, and fuel allowances are to be merged in salaries. The salaries of the Chief Inspectors of Police have been increased, so as to put them on a fairer footing as compared with similar Officers in the Singapore Police. The Constables have been put on an initial salary of £100, as it is thought that an impetus will thereby be given to the recruiting of a good class of Englishmen. The present system of dollar salaries and Exchange Compensation causes confusion among likely applicants. The Inspectors of the Sanitary Depart- ment have been reclassed, three classes having been merged into two. The Senior Inspectors now take the place of the first class.
16. Having gone through the details of the scheme which has been drawn up under your instructions, I have now the honour to invite your reconsideration of the conclusion arrived at in paragraph 4 of your despatch under reference. In that paragraph you stated that as then advised you did not consider that the Civil Servants of Hong Kong should receive the same increase as that given to Officers in the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States. In my confidential despatch of the 25th October, I have given what I consider to be strong reasons for my belief that the present and prospective financial position of Hong Kong is decidedly stronger than that of either of the sister Dependencies. It is true that on account of the frequent visitations of plague, the heavy outlay on sanitary and other works, and the taking over of the New Territory, Hong Kong has been debited with a very large expenditure, which the Straits Settlements and the Native States have not found necessary. But in my opinion nothing more clearly demonstrates the security of the financial position of this Colony than the case with which all demands for extraordinary expenditure have been met without any increase in taxation, and without the necessity of incurring a new public debt. In your despatch to the Straits Settlements, No. 77, of 1st March (paragraph 2) you stated your opinion that the financial position of that Colony and the Federated Malay States justified the grant of a general increase of salaries. The facts set forth in my confidential despatch‡ already referred to will, I believe, serve to show that Hong Kong is in a position to spend quite as much money on its adminis- trative machinery as either of the Dependencies I have mentioned; and for the reasons I adduced in that despatch I consider it undesirable that the Public Service of Hong Kong should be made less attractive from a pecuniary point of view than Singapore or the Native States. It must be remembered that even an equalisation of salaries does not by any means equalize the conditions in which the Civil Servants of Hong Kong and Singapore respectively are living, as the cost of house rent and food is greater in Hong Kong, and the additional distance from England makes the journey more expensive in the event of being obliged to take leave. The Commission, which was appointed last year by Sir William Gascoigne to enquire into the reasons for the high price of food was not able to accomplish any amelioration of a state of affairs
‡ No. 12.
• No. 32.
† No. 41.
87
which, after all, was, and is, chiefly due to the working of perfectly natural economic forces.
17. Perhaps, in continuation of the comparison between the conditions pre- vailing at Hong Kong and Singapore so far as they concern Government servants, I may mention the fact that in the Straits Settlements (as in the Indian Empire) Civil Servants have a right to free Medical attendance. This right is not possessed by the Civil Servants of Hong Kong in general, and the difference which this makes can readily be understood to weigh very seriously with those who contemplate the prospects of a lifetime spent in a tropical climate.
18. In view of these facts, I venture to express a hope that you will not withhold from the Officers of this Government an increase of salary similar to that which you have conferred or are about to confer upon the Officers of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States.
I have, &c.,
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor, &c.
Enclosure in No. 46.
CLASSIFIED SALARIES.
Equiva- lent
Appointment.
Present Inore- Salary. mente.
Romarks. Salary for
3. Dollar Offloer.
Proposed Salary.
Tri. ennial Jnore. ment.
Remarks.
Equivalent Sterling Salary of presant Uficer.
STAFF.
$
£
£
18,503
1,770
2,000
3,025
10,800
1,472
1,700
1,620
***
8,400
1,112
1,600
1,380
*
***
8,400
1,112
1,400
Chief Justice
Colonial Secretary
Attorney-General- Puisne Judge
CLASS I.
Dirinion L
Diretor of Public Works 7,200-7,800 600 in 3
years.
Divizion II.
Colonial Treasurer
Registrar-General
Pirat Magistrate ... Captain
I
1,880
|953 -1,035 | 1,000–1,200 | Two of
1,080-1,170
£100.
***
[171100-7,20) | 000 Tren,
nially. 6,000-7,200
6,000-7,200
Superintendent (100-7,200 of Police,
Principal Civil Medical 4,800-8,000
Officer.
795-965 800-1,000
705-055 800-1,000 "
825-990
825-900
+
+
Free Quartere.
Free Quarters.
795-955 800-1,000
795-955 800-1,000
plus Quarters.
19
635-795 800-1,000
plus
ti
Free Quarters.
No Quarters.
860-1,030
850-1,030 plus Quarters. 820-1,000.
Quarters
£120.
***
Division III.
Harbour Master
» [ .BU +£,00 | 500 Trien Registrar of Supreme 4,600-5,100
Court.
nially.
M
495-705 780-900
635-715
780-900
Two of £60.
840-1,050
(4/9 pension).
CLABB II.
Division 1.
Inspector of Sohools
Land Offer
Pastinastor-General
... 4,900-5,400
H
*
19
636-715
715
660-720
Two of
660-720
"
655-715
660-720
ม
C35-715
660-790
...
*** 5,400
4,800-5,400 Head Master of Queen's 4,800-5,400
College.
£90.
Page 330Page 331
88
88
89
Equiva- lunt
Tri.
Appointment.
Present Salary.
Incre- munte.
Proposed
ennial
Equivalent Sterling
Equiva-
Remarks. Salary for
Remarks.
3. Dollar
Salary.
Incre-
menta.
Salary of present
Appointment.
Officer.
Officer.
Present Incre. Salary. mente.
Jent Romarka. Salary for 3. Dollar Officer.
Tri-
Proposel ennial Salary. Incre- ments.
Remarke.
CLARY IT-ulit.
$
8
*
£
Division Iconit.
Local Auditor
***
***
4,00)-5,400 || 300 Trion.
nially.
635-715
660-720
Two of
Arsistant Director
of 4,800-5,400
035-715 C60-720
£30.
*
10
Public Works.
Second Magistrate
**
1,800-5,400)
G33-715 660-720
+1
Assistaut Colonia) Sevro-4,800-3,400 |
tary.
655-715 660-720
Division II,
One Exventive Engineer.....) 4,200-4,900
Assistant Surgeons ...3,600-1,200
O
$720 for Quarters.
Melial Offer of Health, 3,600-1,200
11
8790 for
Quarters,
Assistant Medical Officer 3,600–4,200 |
of Health.
H
$720 for
Quarters.
385-635
475-555 plus 72 for Quarters. 175-555 plus 72 for Quarters. 175-655 plus 72 for Quarters.
600-060
600-060
No
Quarters,
600-60
No
11
Quarters,
600-660
No
I
Quarters.
CLASS III.
Division I
Assessor of Rates...
"
| 3,600-4,200
476-565
540-600
12
"
**
Assistant Registrar-
General. Government Marina Sur-|3,600–4,200
veyor. Crown Solicitor
Deputy-Registrar and Ap-[3,600 -4,200
praiser.
Deputy Registrar und Ae-3,600-4,200
countant.
Second Master, Queen's/9,000–4,208)|
College.
Health Olleer of Port | 3,600-1,200|
-
| 3,000- 4,200
470-555 510-600
470-535 | 640–600 ·
n
4,200
Unpension- 540
able.
600
Equivalent Sterling Salary of present
Officer.
CLASS V. cont.
Second Assistant Marine
8
2,700
100
£2
Å
£
837
360-420
90
Surveyor.
Chief Assistant, Observa-[2,100-2,700 300 Trien.
tory.
-277-837 860-420
30
Heal Mistress, Bol, Public 2,400-8,000
School.
nially.
Four Senior Assistant 2,400-3,000||
Masters.
Postmaster, Shanghai
3,000
| ::
817-890 360-420
317-808 300-420
30
30
Free Quarters.
396
***
***
First Clerk, Magistracy |2,160-2,400 ||| 66 Bien-
nially. Apothecary and Analyst.. 2,100-9,000 360 Trien-
nially. Assistant Superintendent | 2,100-3,000
of Gaol, Sanitary Surveyor
286-317
360-420
360-420
30
80
Free
Quarters,
"
1
=
3,000-9,900 8:0
Annually.
Salary con- sidered by Salurien
317-396
317-996
36-30 360-420
800-420
NO
"
10-120
30
"}}
BU
Committee.
CLASH VI.
nially.
Two Assistant Engineers... | 1,80-)-2,400 800 Trien. First Assistant, Observa-1,800-2,400 |
wory,
Assistant Superintendent,
Botanicat and Af. Do
1,020
partment.
Four
Junior
Masters.
Assistant 1,800-2,400 30 Trien-
nially.
$600 for Quarters, Balary raised by Salaries' Committee.
UNCLASSIFIED.
A. Polonial Secretary's Office.
Pissed Cadet
***
234-317
270-330
30
236-317 270-980
313
30
270-830
€
238-317
970-330
90
Free
Quarters.
Empassed Carlet
First Clark
B. Local Auditor's Department.
Check
...
---
1,500
Temporary
476-55 540-400
470-555 540-000
476-355
640-600
470-565 510-600
Second Health Offleer of 3,600-4.200
Port.
Deputy Superintendent of 3,600–4.200 |
Police.
Pi
Free Quarters.
Colonial Veterinary Sur-13,000-4,200;
gen.
Secretary, Sanitary Board | 3,800–4,200|
T
470-565 540-1100
470-555 640-800
470-565 540-800
Salary 478-565 540-600 recently raised.
90
80
18 3 3 2 2 2 2 8
SU
CLANN JV.
Three Executive Engineers 3,000–3,600)
"
Superintendent of
conne
Ac-| 3,000-3,600) Public
396-476 440-500
396-476 410-500
30
30
JI
Works Department.
General.
Assistant Postmaster - 31,000
Assistant Harbour Master|3,000-3,600| 300 Trien-
396
440-500
396-470 440-500
Superintendent, Botanical|3,000–3,600
partment.
Chief Interpreter...
3,600
Assistant Land Offloer
3,600
Director of Observatory..... | 3,000–3,600
and Afforestation Pe
utally.
Free
390-470
440-500
11
Quarters.
=
500 476
440-500
1
門
476
440-500
SU
470
440-500
30
2 2 2 2
C. Public Works Department.
M
30
No
Quart.ra.
80
30
300-350
225
850-430
-
Alren ly approved. Alrondy approved.
20 An- 0.0,T. 19.9,0)|
200
nually.
1
Principal Land Surveyor
2,400
Land Bailiff
**
2,100
1 [
First Class Overseers, 2 at
1,800
10.
do,
2 at
1,680
Free
Do.
30,
2 at
1,500
|
פעם
Quarters.
80
Second Class Ovorsoora, li at
1,440
Do,
da.
Tat
1,200
317
Salary raised
278
300-900
200-900
31
རྒྱ?
20
by Balaries
Committee.
238
Salaries con
222
210-250
20
aldered and
raised
by Salaries'
Committee.
100
160-200
20
130
D. Post Office,
Accountant
**
Frea Quarters.
317 396
360-420
SU
Free
Quarters,
017-890
317
317 396
360-420
80
360-420
30
804-420
30
Superintendent,
|2,160-2,400 | 80 Bien- Money 2,160-2,400
286-317
280-330
nially,
H
Order Office.
Considered
280-317
280-330
tion Branch..
Superintendent, Registra-1,800-2,100
Senior Clerk
Supervisors
by Salaries'
238-276
230-280
כן
Committee,
1,800-2,100
1,800-2,160
120
New Ap.
288-280
238-270 230-280
250-280
24
25
25
225
བྷ ཤྲུ བྷཱུ ཀླི ཎྜཱ
95
Yearly.
pointment.
CLASS V.
Two Assistant Superin-2,400-38,000| 300 Trien-
tendents of Pullo,
Six Assistant Enginvera... 2010-3,000||
nially.
Principal Land Surveyor...
2,40
Assistant Marine Surveyor|2,500-3,000| 300 Trien-
nelly
12169
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