CO129-464 - Public Offices - 1920 — Page 11

LEH

It is understood from a report which has been received from the Senior Naval Officer, Hong Kong, in regard to the pay of the afore-mentioned workmen, that the corresponding employees of the Colonial Government have been granted a war increase amounting to 20% of their gross salaries, and that the salaries are fixed in sterling convertible into local currency

on the following basis, viz:-

80% at 1/94 to the dollar, 20% at the current rate.

It is also reported that the employees of the Colonial Government have made an application for a fur ther

increase in their emoluments in consequence of the oost of living at Hong Kong and that this application is now before the Secretary of State.

My Lords consider it desirable in dealing with the petition before them to take account of any increases in emoluments which the Secretary of State may have found it necessary to grant to the corresponding employees of the Civil Government on account of the rise in the cost of living in the Colony, and I am accordingly to request that you will be good enough to favour them with particulars as to:-

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(1) the substantive weekly rates of pay of the European employees of the Hong Kong Government who might be regarded as comparable in point of status and duties performed to the European workmen in the

the Hong Kong Dockyard; also as to whether the rates are nominally in sterling, and on what basis, if any they are convertible into local currency;

(2) the war increases granted and the dates from which they have been severally applied; and

(3) whether the Secretary of State comtemplates granting any further increases in the near future and if so,

of what amount.

As the petitioners are pressing for an early decision on their application and the matter has been taken up by the members of Parliament of the constituencies

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to which the several petitioners belong, and also by certain Trade Unions, I an further to add that My Lords would be glad to have a reply as soon as convenient.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,