CO129-339 - Acting Governor May Governor Nathan - 1907 [1-3] — Page 510

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

506

It is not possible to compare either the price of goods or the amount of salary in a colony where the currency fluctuates in value with the price of goods or amount of salary in other Colonies where there are no exchange fluctuations. For even if the comment concerning the cost of living were favourable when the dollar was at 1/-, it has ceased to be favourable when the dollar is at "/4d. We submit that the only way of stating the case is that the price paid for goods to-day in Hongkong does not compare favourably with the price paid for similar goods 2 years ago; because the purchasing value of the salaries paid to Civil Servants to-day compared very unfavourably with the value of those paid 2 years ago. But even taking the dollar at 1/-, both rent and the price of commodities in Hongkong are considerably higher than that in other Colonies, some of which some of us have had experience. Hongkong is probably the dearest Crown Colony in the Empire, and this is so even with the dollar at 1/-. There are many things which tend to make it so; the expenses of living are far higher than in any other Colony and they are enormously increased by many causes; the chief of which is the rapid deterioration owing to the climate of clothes, books and stores: So far as European tradesmen are concerned the price of goods has for long been at the rate of one dollar to one shilling charged in England, and there is no sign of any alteration being made in this respect. This excessive scale of profit is accounted for in part by high rents and rapid deterioration of goods. It compares unfavourably with prices in other Colonies within our experience; even where customs duties are charged, which at most add 10% to the price. High rent is the keynote of the situation, and it is certain that if rents are high everything else will be high in proportion. The considerable rise in wages paid to Chinese servants is in fact partly due to the enhanced rents which they themselves have to pay for their families.

It is reasonable that the Secretary of State should realize that rates of salaries paid in the Colony, rents for

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506 It is not possible to compare either the price of goods or the amount of salary in a colony where the currency fluctuates in value with the price of goods or amount of salary in other Colonies where there are no exchange fluctuations. For even if the comment concerning the cost of living were favourable when the dollar was at 1/-, it has ceased to be favourable when the dollar is at "/4d. We submit that the only way of stating the case is that the price paid for goods to-day in Hongkong does not compare favourably with the price paid for similar goods 2 years ago; because the purchasing value of the salaries paid to Civil Servants to-day compared very unfavourably with the value of those paid 2 years ago. But even taking the dollar at 1/-, both rent and the price of commodities in Hongkong are considerably higher than that in other Colonies, some of which some of us have had experience. Hongkong is probably the dearest Crown Colony in the Empire, and this is so even with the dollar at 1/-. There are many things which tend to make it so; the expenses of living are far higher than in any other Colony and they are enormously increased by many causes; the chief of which is the rapid deterioration owing to the climate of clothes, books and stores: So far as European tradesmen are concerned the price of goods has for long been at the rate of one dollar to one shilling charged in England, and there is no sign of any alteration being made in this respect. This excessive scale of profit is accounted for in part by high rents and rapid deterioration of goods. It compares unfavourably with prices in other Colonies within our experience; even where customs duties are charged, which at most add 10% to the price. High rent is the keynote of the situation, and it is certain that if rents are high everything else will be high in proportion. The considerable rise in wages paid to Chinese servants is in fact partly due to the enhanced rents which they themselves have to pay for their families. It is reasonable that the Secretary of State should realize that rates of salaries paid in the Colony, rents for Page 510 Page 511

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506 Ї possible to compare either the price of goods or the rount of calary in a colony where the currency fluctuates in value with the price of goods or amount of salary in other Colorien there there are no exchange fluctuations. For even if the comment con rere favourable when the dollar mer at 1/F, it her coered to be favourable when the doller is at "/pt. We cubmit that the only way of stating the case in that the price paid for mode to-day in liongkong does not compare favourably with the price poié for calories goode 2 years ago; because the purchacing value of th paid to Civil Servante to-dny compared very unfavourably with the value of those paid 2 yours ago. But even tiding the dollar at 1/ both rent and the price of commodities in lonskons are considerably higher than that in other Colorier, of which cer of us have had experience. Hongkong is probably, the detrect Cram Colony in the inpire, and this even with the doller et 1/ There are many things which tend to make it ro:- the extenser of living are for higher then in my other Colony and they are enomously increased by many crurer: the chief of thich ir the rapid deterioration oring to the climate of clother, booke end ctores: So far ac turopern tredechen are concomed the price of goods has for long been at the rate of one dollar to one chilli charged in England, and there is no sign of any alteration bein- Lade in this respect. This excercive scale of profit is accounted for in part by high rents and rapid deterioration of good. It compares unfevourably with prices in other Colonier within our experience:even where curto e dutier ure cherred, which at moet mid 10% to the price. alt rent ie the key note of the cituation, and it is certain that if rentc are hich every thing elce will be hich in proportion. The conriderable rice in wyger paid to Chinese cervantr in in fact partly due to the enhanced rents which they themselves have to pay for their familiec. It in re thin rhould realize that r lvireble that the Lecretary of (teta Se ne paid in the Colony, Kents for Page 510Page 511

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506

possible to compare either the price of goods or the rount of calary in a colony where the currency fluctuates in value with

the price of goods or amount of salary in other Colorien there

there are no exchange fluctuations. For even if the comment con

rere favourable when the dollar mer at 1/F, it her coered to be favourable when the doller is at "/pt. We cubmit that the only way of stating the case in that the price paid for mode to-day in liongkong does not compare favourably with the price poié for

calories goode 2 years ago; because the purchacing value of th paid to Civil Servante to-dny compared very unfavourably with the value of those paid 2 yours ago. But even tiding the dollar at 1/ both rent and the price of commodities in lonskons are considerably higher than that in other Colorier, of which cer of us have had experience. Hongkong is probably, the detrect Cram Colony in the inpire, and this even with the doller et 1/ There are many things which tend to make it ro:- the extenser of living are for higher then in my other Colony and they are enomously increased by many crurer: the chief of thich ir the rapid deterioration oring to the climate of clother, booke end ctores: So far ac turopern tredechen are concomed the price of goods has for long been at the rate of one dollar to one chilli charged in England, and there is no sign of any alteration bein- Lade in this respect. This excercive scale of profit is accounted for in part by high rents and rapid deterioration of good. It compares unfevourably with prices in other Colonier within our experience:even where curto e dutier ure cherred, which at moet mid 10% to the price. alt rent ie the key note of the cituation, and it is certain that if rentc are hich every thing elce will be hich in proportion. The conriderable rice in wyger paid to Chinese cervantr in in fact partly due to the enhanced rents which they themselves have to pay for

their familiec.

It in re thin

rhould realize that r

lvireble that the Lecretary of (teta Se ne paid in the Colony, Kents for

Page 510Page 511

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