CO129-462 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [7-10] — Page 58

N? 239.

C

43353

KEPS

R 1 SEP 20

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 21st July, 1920.

Enclosure 1.

nakosure 2.

丸

52

My Lord,

I have the honour to transmit memorials from

the Engineers, Surveyors, Overseers, and Land Bailiffs,

Public Works Department, regarding the revised salaries assigned to their appointments.

2.

3.

I enclose a table showing the salaries for

the senior officers in the department which were paid in 1914, those which were recommended by the Commission, and those which have been approved. It must be remembered that free passages have been granted, that terms for house rent on lines more favourable than those proposed by the Commission are under consideration, and that the salaries draw in dollars in the Colony have recently been increased by 7% if the exchange value of the dollar is not above 4/-.

I am of opinion that the revised emoluments of the senior staff are sufficient. It is true that it is not possible at the present time to engage Engineers at the minimum rate of £400; but in the first place prospective candidates at home do not understand the exchange question or realise how greatly the sterling value of the salary is enhanced in terms of dollars paid in the Colony; and secondly it is a consequence of the war that the shortage of young men with adequate training has for the time being caused demand to outstrip supply, and it may prove to be

E RIGHT HONOURABLE

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

&C..

&c.,

&c.

the