CO129-282 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [3-4] — Page 156

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

155

the rank of Asst. Warder,Guards who have no knowledge of

English. It is true I have done so on condition that they

study English and pass an examination in due course to my

satisfaction. But it is doubtful whether they will be able

to fulfil this condition.

#

It is impossible for the Asst. Warders to pro-

perly discharge their duties without a knowledge of, at any

rate, Colloquial English, and it is desirable that they should

be able to read and write the language to some extent also.

My experience of the last seven months forces

me to the conviction that except in rare cases, the pay of

the Indian Gaol Staff will not attract the class of candi-

dates that is required.

Candidates offering themselves as Guards are

not of a good stamp, and are much inferior in intellectual

attainments and physique to the candidates that presented

themselves when the pay of the Indian Police and the Indian

Gaol Staff was more on an equality.

I am therefore compelled in the interests of

the Gaol Department to recommend that the Indian Gaol Staff

be granted the privilege of remitting half their salary to

India at the rate of 44 cents to the rupee.

This will entail an expenditure of some

$1,800 per annum at the present rate of exchange.

The only way in which this extra expenditure

བL---་"P*w

can

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.