CO129-393 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [11] — Page 326

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 3.

closure!

C.0

40736

RECO

318

[Rer! 23 DEC 12

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 22nd. November, 1912.

313

Sir,

I have the honour to transmit for your con-

-sideration the enclosed copy of a Petition from the European Members of the Police Force who enjoy sterling salaries asking for an increase in pay and for other alterations in their conditions of service. This Petition was held over for my consideration and the consideration of it has entailed considerable investigation. This has caused the delay in dealing with it.

2. (a). It will be convenient to deal with the Petition

by paragraphs.

Paragraphs 1 and 2. It is an exaggeration to state that the cost of living in the case of the Petitioners has increased 30 per centum or 40 per centum since 1902. All the European Police are provided with free quarters and free passages to England and back on each occasion of their taking leave of absence. A very careful calculation shows that in the case of European Officers who are provided with free quarters the increase has been about 16 per centum. In the case of the Petitioners it is somewhat less owing to the privilege they enjoy of free passages. I attach a statement showing the rates of pay of Constables, Sergeants, Inspectors and of the ranks corresponding, as far as I can judge, to Chief Inspector in the London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin Police Forces, with some notes as to Pensions and allowances in those Forces. It cannot be said that the salaries in the Hongkong

closure

HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

80..

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

&C..

&c...

Police