CO129-511-12 Staff list for Hong Kong- approval for staff increase in Colonial Secretary's Office 15-6-1928 - 15-6-1928 — Page 8

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Secretary's Office. In addition to these 14 officers,

use is being made of the service of some 14 probationers in Class 6A, who are really necessary

for the performance of the essential work of the office and who cannot be spared for assignment to other departments when recruits are required. Under this practice of regarding the probationers as clerks sight has been lost of the main object for which the system was introduced, namely the training of clerks for service in other departments. The change has taken place gradually, but has become much more pronounced under the stress of recent demands on

the Office.

I propose to recognise the necessity for a staff of the size actually employed, and I have given instructions that the position shall be more accurately shown in the Appendix to the 1929 Estimates. It is obvious, however, that there is an undue proportion of very junior clerks employed in the Office, and it is proposed as opportunity occurs to increase the numbers in the higher classes, making a corresponding reduction in the Class 6 appointments by transfers between other departments and by promotion of some of the most efficient of the present staff.

In order that there may be a reserve of

probationers really available for service when

vacancies occur in other departments, I propose also to

make provision for the attachment to the Colonial

four

Secretary's Office for training or probationers in

addition to the staff as stated above.

9.

The salaries of the four additional

probationers for the remainder of this year would

amount to approximately 1,000, and a further $1,000

would