CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12] — Page 139

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GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 29th. October, 1917.

Gov

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Sir,

Referring to Mr. Bonar Lay's Despatch

15 No. 200 of the 31st. July, 1915, and to previous correspondence

You 73478 15

on the subject of the employment of native drossors in the Medical Department, I have the honour to stato that, after consultation with the Principal Civil Medical Officer, I have decided to separate the duties of Wardmaster and dresser which, under the Schere outlined in my Despatch No. 42 of the 4th. February, 1915, it was proposed to combine.

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The approved establishment of dressers is six. There are four vacancies in European Wardmasters Posts which are now filled by Chinese, and I propose to retain separately from and in addition to these three Chinese dress- -ers who will not ordinarily do Wardmasters' work; the present staff of six dressers being reduced as vacancies occur.

Under the original schane it was proposed

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to provide the dressers, if possible, with quarters. But quarters are not available, and I have accordingly provided in the Estimates for 1918 a house allowance for each dresser at the rate of $60 per annum. The dressers will receive $300 on appointment and they will eventually rise to $1,200, as pro- -vided under the original scheme, drawing thirteen annual increments of 860 and finally two biennial increments of $60.

ICHT HONOURABLE

&c.,

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

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&o...

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