CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6] — Page 241

No.255

Hongkong.

236

'mo 9505

Sir,

2.

Government House,

Hongkong, 19th. May, 1903.

0.0. 22915

I'd

22 JUN 031

I have the honour to acknowledge the re-

ceipt of your Despatch No. 134 of the 7th. ultimo relating to

the rates of pay drawn by certain junior Cadets therein nameâ.

I am disposed to concur in the opinion

expressed in paragraph 5 that the necessity of continuing to

employ Unpassed Cadets in substantive appointments during the

last two years was regrettable, but I fear that in the circum-

stances no other arrangement was practicable without introducing

outside Officers into the Service at a much higher rate of

pay than was deemed sufficient for junior Cadets. All the

Officers referred to in your Despatch are now Passed Cadets,

and I hope that it will be unnecessary to employ the only two

Unpassed Cadets now in the Service - Messrs. Fletcher and Orme

until they have finished their course of study in Canton. I

would point out, however, that the policy of employing Cadets

in connection with the Land Court has proved both economical

and satisfactory. As suggested by you in paragraph ? I will,

when either of the posts of Registrar again becomes vacant,

consider whether the salary of the post might not be fixed at

$2,400, of which a Passed or Unpassed Cadet who held the post

would draw half, together with half his pay as Cadet. At HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

&C...

&C..

present