CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4] — Page 23

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applied to the Government of HongKong that a passage to England might be granted to him by a steamship leaving this Colony on

the 23rd day of April next, but on the 23rd day of January 1912

your petitioner was informed by the directions of the Colonial

Secretary that he was himself responsible for his own passage.

8. Your petitioner was further informed on the said 23rd

day of January 1912 by the directions of the Colonial Secretary

that his pension in HongKong would be payable at the rate of one twelfth of $1225 per month with no allowance for exchange.

7. The salary drawn by your petitioner immediately prior

to his retirement was paid to him at the rate of 3a. to the dollar

while the present rate of exchange is less than 26. to the dollar. If therefore the pension granted to your petitioner is paid to him at the current rate of exchange only during the period which must elapse before he is able to leave the Colony for England, he will receive during such period but little more than half the amount which he would be entitled to be paid in England; and, instead of receiving thirty five sixtieths of the salary paid to him prior to his retirement, he will receive but little more than twenty sixtieths thereof.

8. The increased cost of living in the Colony has for some time past been recognised by the Government of HongKong and relief in the form of an addition to their salary has accordingly been given to many officers in the service of the Government. One twelfth of $1225 which it is proposed to pay your petitioner each month pending his departure from the Colony will be very insufficient for the purpose of paying his living expenses.

9. Your petitionér respcetfully submits that the regulation which provides that officers living in any Asiatic country draw their pension at the market rate of exchange was not intended to, and does not, apply to an Ex-Government servant of British

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