CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5] — Page 107

C.O.

6664

726 FEB 04

106

Hongkong, 8th December 1903.

Inform 10 9% 77

With reference to the report of Mr. Young on 5th April, 1908, we would point out that the only withdrawals from the Fund are those of subscribers who leave Government Service and prefer not to continue their subscriptions.

We think it may be safely asserted that the majority of members only subscribe because it is compulsory on persons joining Government Service. Only 22 retired Officers still subscribe, four of these being Europeans who do so at the full rate they were paying on retirement.

The successors of Officers who leave the Service are compelled to join and are all medically examined on admission to Government Service.

As regards the effect on the Fund of the admission of Chinese, there are scarcely sufficient data to draw conclusions. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to obtain accurate information as to the ages of Chinese and it is not easy to say what is their expectation of life. It has been pointed out that if a Chinese subscriber dies younger than a European, so his widow may also die younger and the claim on the Fund be adjusted.

It should however be noted that whereas practically no Chinese die as Bachelors, it is not unlikely that some of Europeans will do so.

We attach two tables (A) shewing the withdrawals from the Fund and (B) giving some information as to the ages of deceased subscribers.

We have, etc.,

(Sgd.) B. A. M. Johnston,

Arthur Chapman,

The Honourable

B. H. D'Aquino,

S.B.C. Moss,

C. Mcl. Messer.

(F.8.O.)

The Acting Colonial Secretary.