Enclos. in
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS.
30th December, 1901.
0.0
4000
O TEB 12
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 28th inst. in the Council Chamber. Present:---
HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
Major-General Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, K.C. (Attorney-General).
Hon. Commander B. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. C. Mel. MESSER (Acting Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General).
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. J. THURBURN.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI.
Hon. WEI A. YUK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils.)
SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR--Before we proceed to the orders of the day, gentlemen, there is a matter I wish to say a word or two about--namely, a telegram I have received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In October last the estimates of expenditure went home and at that time we were aware that in the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States an increase had been granted in the salaries and emoluments of the officials. However, there was no provision made for any increase here further than that recommended at the time by the Committee. A short time afterwards I received from the Secretary of State a copy of the despatch that had been sent to the Straits Settlements in answer to the representations made by them.
The Secretary of State had determined that in future all appointments the emoluments of which were over $1,200 a year be paid in sterling, as also the salaries of the European police, prison warders and other subordinate positions occupied by Europeans appointed from home, but as regards the present holders of these there were certain exceptional advantages at present, such as the advantage of officials receiving when they are on leave their half pay at 3/3 a dollar, and pension at the same rate.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY--4 on leave and 3/8 on pension.
HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR--Yes. Well, the Secretary of State felt that he could hardly interfere with those advantages enjoyed by the present holders. So as far as the present holders of these were concerned, they received the option whether they would have their salaries in future paid in sterling at what the practical valuation of the sterling was, taking into consideration the possible advantage to pension pay, but that they would have the alternative of an increase not on the pay but that while actually serving in the Colony the compensation allowance for exchange should be given on the whole instead of the half salary. That increase was not to be calculated in either their leave or their pension but was to be a purely local increase while they continued to serve in the Colony, during the lifetime of the present holders. Well, when that came before me, in that despatch the Secretary of State informed me that he did not at present propose to increase the salaries of the officials in Hongkong until he was satisfied as to the financial position of the Colony.
Page 792
Enclos. in
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS.
30th December, 1901.
0.0
4000
O TEB 12
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Conncil was held on the 28th inst. in the Council Chamber. Present:---.
HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
Major-General Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K,C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, K.C. (Attorney- General).
Hon. Commander B. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. C. Mel. MESSER (Acting Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hou. J. THURBURN.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI.
Hon. WRI A. YUK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils.)
SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR--Before we proced to the orders of the day, gentlemou, there is a matter I wish to say a word or two about-namely, a telegram I have received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In October last the estimates of expenditure weut home and at that time we were aware that in the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States au increase had been granted in the salaries and emoluments of the officials. However there was no provision made for any increase here further than that recommended at the time by the Committee. A short time afterwards I received from the Secretary of State a copy of the despatch that had been Straits Settlements in au-
sent
to the swer to the representations made by the The Straits Settlements and Malay States.
that Secretary of State hal determined
shall
in future all appointments the emoluments of which were over $1,20 22 year be paid in sterling, as also the salaries of the European police. pri-on warders and other subordinate positions ocempied by Europeans appointed from home, but as regards the present holders of these there were certain ex- ceptional advantages at present such as the advantage of officials receiving when they are on leave their half pay at 3/3 a dollar, and pension at the same rate.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-4 on leave and 3/8 on pension.
HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR Yes. Well, the Secretary of State felt that he could hardly interfere with those advantages enjoyed by the present holders. So as far as the present holders of these were concerned, they received the option whether they would have their alaries in future paid in sterling at what the practical valuation of the sterling was, tak- ing into consideration the possible advantage to pension pay, but that they would have the alternative of an increase not on the pay but that while actually serving in the Colony the compensation allowance for exchange should be given on the whole instead of the half salary. That increase was not to be, calenlated in either their leave or their pension but was to be a purely local increase while- they continued to serve in the Colony, during the lifetime of th present holders. Well, when that came before me, in that despatch the Secretary of State informed me that ho did not at present propose to increase the salarios of the officials
Hongkong until he was satisfied as to the financial position of
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