CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2] — Page 85

No 13.

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Rent 6 FEB 131

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 13th. January, 1913.

84

Sir,

I have the honour to report that for some years past the methods employed to ensure a proper supervision of the Public Works Department Stores have not given satisfaction.

These stores are under the general supervision

2.

of the Superintendent of Accounts, Correspondence, and Stores, and they are under the immediate charge of a Chinese Head Storeman on a fourth grade salary, who has under him five Store--boys of the status practically of coolies. The Head Storeman is responsible for the actual receipt and issue of stores and the Superintendent has to rely upon his judgment and accuracy for the satisfactory per- -formance of this work.

3.

Prior to the close of 1911 the post of Head Storeman was held by a Chinese of exceptional ability, having a good knowledge of English and of book-keeping, who had been

associated with this class of work since the year 1889. The small-

-ness of the emoluments of the appointment makes it impossible to

replace him with a man possessed of a proper training, and in any

event a Chinese is at a disadvantage in dealing with members of the

European Staff.

4.

The total value of the stores is some $250,000

and they are comprised in between two and three thousand separate items. The clerical work connected with them is heavy and if it is to be accurate it is essential that all the receipts and issues at

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

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