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as I am informed is the case in the Straits Settlements.
(b).
Even if there were it would not
be in the same degree detrimental to their health since
Hongkong is not, a tropical Colony like the Straits Settle-
-ments and there are many places within easy reach in which
Officers (or their wives and families) can easily obtain
a temperate climate on short leave.
(c).
The sea voyage from Hongkong to
England is somewhat longer (and more expensive) than from
the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States.
I am, however, myself of opinion
that the period of leave (12 months) is too long and tends
to make an Officer lose touch with his work. There is also
a tendency to take advantage of accumulated half-pay leave,
in order to take leave more frequently than is desirable.
I consider that only in the rarest cases and on the
strongest grounds should leave be allowed to exceed 12
months, and though I should like to see a revision of the
leave rules under which the total leave should not exceed
9 months of which 4 should be on full pay, I recognise the
difficulty which would arise in regard to the remuneration
of the Officer actually performing the duties of the
absentee. This difficulty will in part be met by the
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