CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12] — Page 373

Special Appointments.

As regards the posts of Colonial Secretary,

Chief Justice, Attorney-General and Pulane Judge it will

be seen that Sir E.Stubbs has

proposals considerably.

'cut' the Commission's

I presume we should maintain

the salary of the Chief Justice as higher than that of the Colonial Secretary, and we can accept the suggested scale of $20,000, 24,000, 18,000 and 16,000 for these. (Sir E.Stubbe suggests $16,000 or $16,500 for the last).

As regards the other details, ?adopt 3ir

354

"The currency of Hong Kong is a silver

dollar currency, the exchange value of the dollar with

sterling varying with the price of silver.

The

>

C

salaries fixed in sterling are paid to officers actual- ly serving in Hong Kong at a rate of conversion fixed by the Government. The rate is now 2/- the dollar

but is liable to alteration"

+

For officers paying visits to Chine and

possibly Japan the Government rate of conversion might be applied but only on the approval of the Government

in each case.

E.Stubbs' proposals en bloc.

H.B.

18.2.20.

Exchange. I very much prefer the alternative recommended by the Commission, i.e. to continue to fix

salaries in sterling and to convert into dollars

locally at 2 shillings to the 2. It is, I think, most inadvisable to commit ourselves to the payment of

salaries expressed in dollars, because it is impossible

to set away entirely from the aerffirthat a man who is Ais entitled to have them paid to him at Hong Kong when

entitled to a so many

he is on leave of absence and the claim to receive

pension locally in dollars is still stronger. (If Sir

E. Stubba' scheme were accepted, the whole machinery

for granting pensione would have to be revised). I

strongly recommend therefore that all appointments

now expressed in sterling should continue to be ex-

pressed in sterling, and that when appointments in

sterling are offered the following statement should be added:-

"The

the clain to ww pousin locally in bin Judia has infor been on a de thee bar tyka allows ?

Jam

to prvinuts

Cl

Leave Conditions. I agree with Mr.Beckett.

Inform him how the matter standa

Passages.

in Malaya as proposed and also as to the recent Ceylon

contributory scheme. I agree that in any case

Governor should be told that we would not sanction a

scheme for more than 5 years.

House Allowances.

I agree with Mr.Beckett.

It would be desirable however to lay down a limit

to the Government contribution of e.g, a contribution equal to not more than 6% of the officer's emolumenta.

Acting Appointments. I agree with Mr.Beckett.

I agree that classes may be

abolished, except Class I, and there should certainly

Cade tships.

be efficiency bars as proposed.

Police Probationers. Again I agree as to

I don't much like increments and efficiency bars. cutting down the initial pay to £275 but I think there should be some difference between Police Probationers and Cadete as in Malaya, in view of the difference in

age.

I would leave it to Governor to put the Probationers down a little or the Cadets up a little.

I agree. The Governor

Staff Appointments.

might