CO129-468 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [6-8] — Page 32

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since June 1914, was "at least 30 per centum! We, your

petitioners have been in communication with the Manager of the

Principal Hotel in Hongkong, who we understand supplied the

Commission with information as to the cost of living, and are

informed by him that since the end of the year 1918 there has

been a further rise of at least 15 per centum and that he

anticipates a still further increase of at least 25 per centum

in the course of the next two years. A copy of our letter to

and the reply received from the Manager of the Hotel are attached.

In June 1914 our Salaries were insufficient, without the

most rigid economy, to enable us to make ends meet. It would

thus seem that our Salaries in Dollars should be at least 45

per centum higher than that paid in Dollars in June 1914

whereas the New Scale actually shews a decrease of 11 per

centun, with a maximum increase of 20 per centum, averaging

8.85 per centum increase on the Scale of Salaries and Duty Pay

actually paid in Dollars, in June 1914.

7. We, your petitioners, humbly submit that any Scale of

Salaries should be based on the average necessary expenditure

of a married man. After careful examination we are strongly of

opinion that the minimum in come on which Civil Engineers on the

Staff of the Public Works Department, of Hongkong who necessari-

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ly require a very high standard of general as well as of

specialised or professional education can commence married

life in this Colony is $500 per month on an incremental scheme

or in Sterling £600 per annum at the rate of 2/- to the dollar.

This amount does not include any provision for the cost of

passages when proceeding on leave nor provision for house rent.

Civil Engineers in this Department, arrive from England at the

average age of 26 years. We respectfully submit that they should

be in a position to marry at 30 years of age and it follows

therefore that the general scheme of Salaries should be such as to

assure him an income after 4 years service of $500 per month or in

Sterling £600 per annum paid at the rate of 2/- to the Dollar.

(3).