:
183
L.
37302
17302
telegram of the 27th July, 1920. In this connection I should like to bring to Your Lordship's notice the services of Mr. E. R. Hallifax, to whose influence and persevering energy a satisfactory settlement of this wide-spread dispute was largely due.
In the case of the other non-clerical Chinese staff, the increase has averaged from 25 to 30% over pre-war rates. Your telegram of the 30th July, 1920, directed that the alterations made should be reported by mail; and it will perhaps be sufficient, in view of the very large number of changes involved, if the Estimates for 1920 and for 1921 are compared, it being borne in mind that allowances of all kinds have been as far as possible merged in salary.
9.
A sum of $100,000 has been included under Miscellaneous Services, Special Allowances on Salaries, to cover an average increase of 25% on the salaries of the Asiatic Clerical Service, the scheme for which will shortly be completed; a report regarding it will be forwarded.
The rate of exchange for sterling payments during 1921 was fixed at 38.4d. after consultation with the Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation $10.70 to £1 was adopted as the basis of exchange for the calculation of the dollar equivalent of sterling salaries payable locally.
10.
Details of the total revenue and expenditure and of the general financial position are given in the open- ing paragraphs of my address to the Legislative Council. For
the reasons which I have stated towards the conclusion of
that address, I am of opinion that the financial position may be considered satisfactory. Detailed proposals for now
taxation have not yet been formulated but it will be observed
that it is intended to increase stamp duties, various licence
fees and the charge for excess water supply and meter rents so as to counterbalance the anticipated further fell in the receipts from the sale of opium. The figures entered in the
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