CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5] — Page 443

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Hon. Colonial Secretary,

The contributors in Hongkong could be asked by

a circular sent to the Heads of Departments, stating the conditions and asking whether they agree to an actuarial investigation on mortality experience and rate of withdraw- als. Very few contributors would understand what is meant, and it would be hopeless to try and inform them. The results of such an investigation could not I think be of much use, the number of cards to be sent in would not be sufficiently large (Hongkong is a small service) and since the war, it appears that the conditions of living have altered to a large extent. A greater proportion of Govern- ment officials are married, Increased salaries, free quarters, cheap quarters or rent allowances and free passages and other causes have all tended to remove the hardships of married live. As the service becomes more married, it

has a large effect on reducing the number of withdrawals.

The work of sending in the cards would not be very great.

(Sd.) C. McI. Messer,

Colonial Treasurer.

24th March, 1921.