CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 555

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+ CONFIDENTIAL.

My Lord,

30539

POVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 31st. March, 1919,

530

Gr 2857/85

Enclosure 1.

61/6260/12.

with reference to Mr. Long's telegram of

the 24th. December, and Your Lordship's Confidential Despatch of the 18th. January, I have the honour to enclose the Proclamation appointing a Commission to conduct an enquiry regarding the emoluments of the Public Service of the Colony.

2.

In selecting the Commission I was mindful

of the importance attached by Mr. Long to appointing members of moderate views, and I consider that I was very fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Montague Ede and Mr. Robert Shewan. These gentlemen are at the head of two of the largest commercial undertakings in the Colony, the Union Insurance Society of Canton, and Messrs. Showan, Tomes and Company, and they have for years past taken the greatest interest in the

question of the cost of living and the manner in which the various classes and nationalities employed in the Colony should be remunerated. I would refer to the scheme for a

Portuguese reservation forwarded in my Despatch No. 178 of the

3rd. May, 1912, which was the work of Mr. Ede. Owing to

serious ill-health their stay in the Colony was only a short

one, and I an very grateful to them for complying with my request to serve. Mr. Shewan actually left the Colony before the report was finished and Mr. Ede intends to lewe on the 22nd. April. Mr. Landale as head of the firm of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company has also had much experience

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

&c..

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

80..

&c...

both