300
5.
We beg most respectfully to take this opportunity
to quote an extract from a report dated the 14th November,
1889 by the Acting Colonial Secretary of Hongkong (the late ir. Alfred Lister) in his report on the Secretary
of State's despatch No. 189 of the 4th October, 1889 on
the proposed appointment of an independent auditor for
the Colony of Hongkong. For what was true in 1889 we
respectfully submit is equally true in 1921. Paragraph
No. 9 of the report reads "Finally, I come to the ques-
"tion of expense. The late Dr. Stewart has shown that no
"reduction of staff could be effected in the Audit office
"itself: if accounts are to be sent home, I should rather
"expect an increase. With great deference to the Secre-
"tary of State, it cannot be supposed that an independent "Auditor can be maintained here permanently on any such
salary as $3,500 a year. A Committee of Civil Servants,
"appointed to consider the question of Salaries in con-
"nection with the decreased value of the dollar, has just
"proved to demonstration that a married officer, in the
"position of a Head of Department, cannot live here in
"the most moderate comfort on a less salary than $6,900
• a year.
The conclusions of this committee are support-
"ed by the un-oìficial members of Council and the most
"experienced residents here. It is both useless and
to "undesirable to try/ignore undesirable facts. We should
*be told, and told justly, that an officer in the position
• of an independent Auditor must be a man of good educa-
*tion and of a certain social standing. He would either
'come married or would marry here. And if we should
"attempt to establish such an oilicer on a less salary
"than is paid to other Heads of Departments (who have
"just proved that their present pay is not nearly
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.