CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 369

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below 2/-, salaries are to be paid according to the

average rate of exchange for the preceding month as

haretofore.

7. By this means the British officials once more

obtained a substantial increase of salary which, in

the probable event of the rate of exchange rising, as

it did last year, to 2.39 marks, represents an increase

on their former salary of 19.5% Even at the present

rate of 2.315 marks it represents an increment of

15.75 %

How necessary such a rise in salary is in view

of the increase during recent years in the cost of

living at Hongkong is fully illustrated by a statement

communicated by the officials to their Government show-

ing the prices of the chief articles of food for the

years 1902 and 1906;-

1902

1906

£ s.d.

1 lb. beef

1 lb. bread

0.14

0.05

5.8

£ s.d.

2.8

0.20

1

0.06

s.d:4

1.6

1 box of butter

0.50

10

0.70

1.6.9

1 ton of coal

9.50

15.10

15.00 1.13.9

1 dozen eggs

0.18

3.6

0.20

5.4

1 lb. flour

0.05

1 0.06

1.6

1 pint of fresh milk 0.16

3.2

0.24

6.5

1