CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12] — Page 151

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now proposed, made some thirty to forty years ago, a conséquence of which was that the late Mr.Dyer Ball could never afford to leave Asia, nor could his wife ever enter that continent.

As regards the second point; it is doubtful whether the average man's expense: are in any way increased by reason of the fact that his wife and family are in

England. A man by himself can live quite cheaply in "Tong Kong, especially if he joins a Hess; and his family at home will not infrequently get some assistance from relatives. The cost of housekeeping with a family in "ong Kong is very heavy, and you will no doubt remember that it was for this

reason that a house allowance was given to an officer who

rented a house, but was refused to him if he lived in a hotel

or boarding house. Certain officers of course spend large sums on the education of their children in England, but this does not apply to the large class of subordinate European,

officers for whose children excellent schools are provided

in the Colony.

The argument, that marriage is not a ground for

preferential treatment in respect of personal salary, was

first advanced to Hong Kong by the Colonial Office, and so it

is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon it; especially as

84 of the Hong Kong despatch takes the point that a wife

is not necessarily an officer's only serious liability. But

is there any precedent for the proposal in that paragraph,

that the Governor shall in his personal discretion decide which

sterling commitments of what officers are to be recognised by

a subsidy? Such interference in an officer's private affairs

would hardly be popular in the service.

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