CO129-279 - Public Offices - 1897 — Page 57

shall be at the rate of Forty dollars ($40) per mensem - rising by yearly increments of Ten dollars ($10) per mensem to Sixty dollars ($60) per mensem with furnished quarters, board, and attendance and uniform. Half salary will commence from date of leaving England. Full salary from the date of arrival in the Colony.

A free passage first class shall be provided for the person engaged to Hong Kong and on the satisfactory termination of this engagement, if her services shall then be dispensed with, back to England. And if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Government under Clause 3, the Government shall provide her with a free passage to England, provided that her conduct shall have been satisfactory during her service, and the Government shall in either case pay to her half salary during the time occupied on the voyage home. And in the event of her being compelled at any time during the period of this engagement to resign her appointment and return home owing to illness (not caused by any impropriety of conduct on her part) and producing a Certificate from the Colonial Surgeon to that effect, she shall be provided with a free passage to England.

If the person engaged shall at any time neglect or refuse, or from any cause (other than illness not caused by her own impropriety of conduct) become unable to perform or comply with all or any of the provisions of this Agreement, or all or any of the duties required of her, or all or any of the orders or directions of the Government, or shall in any manner misconduct herself, it shall be lawful for the Government to declare her employment under this Agreement to be at an end, and thereupon her engagement shall cease, and this Agreement shall not have any further prospective operation.

Or force, and all rights and benefits reserved to her shall cease, but without prejudice to the enforcement of existing claims.

7. If the person engaged should fail to proceed to Hong Kong as required, or within the period of Five years from the date of her arrival there, either quit the service of the Government without leave, or relinquish her appointment, or be dismissed or removed from her appointment in consequence of misconduct, she shall refund and repay to the Government, or to the Crown Agents for the Colonies, the amount paid for her passage to Hong Kong. Provided always that nothing herein contained shall bind or oblige the person engaged to repay such passage money if, at the time she shall relinquish her appointment or quit the service of the Government, she shall produce to the Government a Certificate signed by one or more duly qualified Medical Practitioners to the effect that she is unable from bodily or mental infirmity to continue in the performance of her duties.

8. Three months prior to the expiration of this Agreement, the person engaged shall give notice in writing to the Government whether she desires to remain in its employment, and the Government shall thereupon decide whether it will offer her further temporary employment, or place her on the fixed establishment with the regulation privileges as regards leave of absence and retiring allowance on her quitting the public service. In the former case, the re-engagement will be on such terms and for such period as may be mutually agreed. In the latter case, the person engaged will forfeit her right to a return passage to England.