CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 235

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for the Civil Service and other posts. As to these

latter, I defer observations, save as below, till I have

seen what he has to say,

As to the Special' posts. I think the rates suggested by the Commission are absurdly high. The Chief Justice's job is a very easy one.

As a rule a Chief Justice doesn't entertain much and have never understood why he should be paid more than the Colonial Secretary, I would fix them both at $20,000, or if it is thought necessary to continue to pay the Chief Justice

more I would give him $22,000. To pay him half as much

as the Governor and £200 more than the Colonial

Secretary now receives for administering the Government would be absurd (Note that the Chief Justice was Chairman of the Commission). I seeno reason for paying so much to the Puisne Judge and Acting Governor. In my opinion $15,000 would be ample for the Puisne Judge but as that is the suggested maximum of the Chief Magistrate I

suppose the Puisne Judge must be paid more. him $15,500 and the Acting Governor $16,000.

I see no objection to the new appointments proposed by Mr. Severn.

annual.

I would pay

As to Schedule II, I would make all increments

The Principal Civil Medical Officer might get

$10,000 500

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12,000, The Director of Public Works

should be paid the same as Class I of the Civil Service,

H

I think $12,000 500 15,000. I see no reason for giving him so high a salary as is proposed

Assistants should get $9,000 · 500

The

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10,000.

The Railway manager's work is so small that

it is absurd to pay him the salary proposed, A fixed salary of $10,000 is ample.

(5).

question.

I have not touched above on the House Rent

I don't quite understand the Commission's recommendation, hy should the rent allowance be the same as the rent which would be charged for a Government

house?

Hong Kong should follow Ceylon by providing

as possible houses for as many of its officers at 6% of their

salaries.

For those for whom houses can't be provided I think that the Government should pay half the actual rent paid by the man, provided that the head of his department (or the Governor where the case is that of the Head himself) is satisfied that the rent paid is

reasonable for a house suitable for a man of his

standing. I think, however, that this allowance should

not be made to men drawing over $12,000 a year, (Over $12,000 a year should include $12,000 if that is part of an incremental scale e. g in the case of Class I of the

Civil Service but a man who rises from $10,000 to

$12,000 should continue to draw the allowance otherwise

his final increment would mean a loss of money).

R. E. S.

19/6/19.

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