Enclosure 2.
To
C.O.
24849
Bref 14 JUL 04
60
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies.
The Humble Petition of the Undersigned Hospital Warders, Assistant Warders and Guards of Victoria Gaol.
Respectfully sheweth as follows:-
1. Your Petitioners are natives of India on the Staff of Victoria Gaol.
2. The present rates of pay of your Petitioners are as follows:-
2 Hospital Warders..... $30 per month.
4 1st Class Assistant Warders.. 25 do.
4 2nd do. 22 do.
26 3rd do. 18 do.
16 do. 14 do.
5 1st Class Guards.. 18 do.
18 2nd Class Guards.. 16 do.
In addition free quarters are provided, but no rations or allowance in lieu of rations or any allowance of the nature of exchange compensation.
3. The currency of India being now on a gold basis and your Petitioners having to remit a substantial proportion of their pay to India for the support of their families; the recent fall in exchange has pressed very hardly upon them. This fall, as is well known to Your Excellency, has coincided with a great rise in the price of the necessaries of life in Hongkong, so that the purchasing power of your Petitioners' salaries has been gravely reduced in the course of the last 5 years.
4. Exchange Compensation in one form or another is, your Petitioners believe, made to all or nearly all natives of gold using countries in the employ of the Government of Hongkong except to your Petitioners.
5. For instance in the Police Force, all ranks are allowed to remit half their pay to India at the rate of 227 rupees to $100 whereas the market rate last year barely averaged 130 and is now only a little higher. The pay of a 3rd Class Indian Constable is $12.50 and $1.50 ration allowance = $14.00 or the same as...
COPY.
Enclosure 2.
To
C. 0.
24849
Bref 14 JUL 04)
60
His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies.
The Humble Petition of the Undersigned Hospital Warders, Assist-
ant Warders and Guards of Victoria Gaol.
Respectfully sheweth as follows:-
1. Your Petitioners are natives of India on the Staff of Victoria Gaol.
2. The present rates of pay of your Petitioners are as fol-
:lows:-
2 Hospital Warders.....
4 1st. Class Assistant Warders..
4 2nd.
26 3rd.
do.
do.
.$30 per month.
25
do.
22
do.
18
do.
16
do.
14 do.
5 1st. Class Guards..
18 2nd. Class Guards..
In addition free quarters are provided, but no rations or al- lowance in lieu of rations or any alloance of the nature of exchange compensation.
3. The currency of India being now on a gold basis and your Petitioners having to remit a substantial proportion of their pay to India for the support of their families; the recent fall in exchange has pressed very hardly upon them. This fall, as is well known to Your Excellency, has coincided with a great rise in the price of the necessaries of life in Hongkong, so that the purchasing power of your Petitioners' salaries has been gravely reduced in the course of the last 5 years.
4. Exchange Compensation in one form or another is, your Petitioners believe, made to all or nearly all natives of gold using countries in the employ of the Government of Hongkong except to your Petitioners.
5. For instance in the Police Force, all ranks are allowed to remit half their pay to India at the rate of 227 rupees to $100 whereas the market rate last year barely averaged 130 and is now only a little higher. The pay of a 3rd. Class Indian Con- :stable is $12.50 and $1.50 ration allowance - $14.00.or the same
.as
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