CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3] — Page 538

C.0.

11269

RECO

Ed 10 APR

535

No. 81

Government House,

HongKong, 8th March, 1900.

Sir,

35037

9719

With reference to paragraph 6 of your des-

patch No. 280 of the 8th. December last, relative to the salaries of certain officers in the Civil Service of this Colony, I, have the honour to bring to your notice the case of Mr. W. Chatham, Assistant Director of Public Works, and to state that in antici- pation of your confirmation I have allowed his name to he placed among those who will draw the maximum salaries attached to their offices, as soon as the Legislative Council shall have voted the necessary funds.

2. Mr. Chatham was appointed to the post he

now holds only in 1898, by your despatch No.135 of the 26th. May of that year, and strictly speaking would not earn his first increment till 1901. Had Mr. Chatham, however; remaiňed añ Executive Engineer, he would now be entitled to the maximum salary of $4,800 which in accordance with the terms of the ilth. paragraph of your recent despatch, will be drawn by his junior,

Mr. Tooker..

3. I, have therefore considered it equitable

and in accordance with the spirit of your despatch to allow Mr. Chatham, who is a meritorious officer of long service, to draw

ét

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M. P.

&c.

800.

&c.