CO129-285 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [9-10] — Page 223

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In the price of rice, although the official return shows

no increase, retail dealers actually demand quite 25 per

cent over and above the price obtained in 1895 for the

same staple.

4.

As to the question of house-rent, there

appeurs to be no necessity for a marshalling of figures to

prove the assertion that it has now been for some time so

high as to be entirely disproportionate with the average

rate of pay drawn by us. The forcible remarks of a

gentleman largely interested in landed property in Hongkong,

made at the last annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce,

are more likely to demonstrate the hardship we suffer than

any observations we might make on the subject.

Mr. Granville Sharp's words verbatim:-

5.

advanced and was pleased to sanction an increase of pay in

the case of officers in Singapore similarily circumstanced

as we are in Hongkong, Moreover, the increase was made

"a permanent and pensionable one", as was done a few years

ago in the case of the subordinate members of the Ceylon

Civil Service.

8.

The Banks and the leading mercantile firma

of Hongkong have already granted applications from their employés for increases to their salaries, and in forwarding

our petition, we do so in the perfect confidence that the

Government will be found equally willing to meet the reason-

able request of its servants.

We quote

9.

I find,

"People have to live here upon $50 a month. and I believe many of you find it much easier to spend $50 a day than $50 a month, and if people are to be

taxed for everything, what is to become of the poor

people who live in $25 a month houses".

Now for some years past, all Civil Servants

of Hongkong, domiciled in a country having a gold currency, have been compensated for the increased cost of living we

now again complain of in the form of an addition to their salaries denominated the "Exchange Compensation".

6.

Although in our case it might be suggested that we are affected in a less degree than the "domiciled" officers, nevertheless, it should be readily conceded that to some serious extent we are, and have been, affected by

the low rate of the dollar.

7.

The case of the two branches of public

And we officers in Singapore is anologous with our own. have learnt that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has recognised the justice of the arguments we have just

advanced

We beg, in conclusion, to request you to be

so good as to place our letter before the Acting Governor,

in order that, supported with your recommendations, is

Excellency might be pleused to sanction the increase asked

for at an early date.

We have,

&C,

(sd.) E. ". d'Aquino'

& others.