CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6] — Page 445

COPY.

Fonclosure 1.

442

Public Works Department,

Sir,

38861

RECO

Hongkong, 1st. May, 1918.

REG 10 AUG 18

With reference to your letter of 26th.

ultimo, no mention is made of the terms on which it is

proposed I should be retained in the service of the Colony,

and with regard to this question I should like to draw

attention to the following facts:-

There is an implied contract that an

officer will draw his pension from the age of 55, failing

any specific reason to the contrary. In my case such

reason apparently does not exist, as it is proposed to

retain me in the service, even against my original inten-

-tion. Such being so, I request that my present appoint-

-ment be determined on the 4th, July next, the date on

which I shall attain the age of 55, and that my pension

be fixed as one from that day, and that from that date my

appointment be a temporary one. My salary would naturally

be not less than that which I would be entitled to receive

if I continued on the permanent staff, vis:- $855 per

month (whichincludes contribution to Widows' and Orphans'

Fund) to the 22nd. August and $885 per month from that

date (stipulated increment) being roughly the equivalent

of the salary I would receive in the ordinary course.

I may point out that I shall suffer

great pecuniary loss owing to the high cost of living in

this Colony, and to the fact that I shall be delayed in

commencing my private practice, but at the same time I

have no objection to continuing my services on a temporary

basis seeing that His Excellency is of opinion that they

are necessary to the Colony, and perhaps the Empire,

The Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G.,

Director of Public Works.

during