CO129-511-6 Salaries and conditions of service of government staff 27-4-1928 - 2-11-1928 — Page 18

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of service of officers of the Clerical Service with

those obtaining in local commercial houses, both

Chinese and European, and of deciding whether the

Government rates were adequate.

As a result of these

enquiries the Government is satisfied that baking into

account the various factors of pension rights, medical

attendance, housing and rent allowances, leave etc., the conditions of Government service compare favourably with those obtaining elsewhere in the Colony; and the large number of applicants of high standard for Government posts strongly supports the view that the scales of salary are generally speaking adequate.

4. It is stated in paragraph 7 of the petition that advancement is slow and that promotion generally is governed by length of service rather than by merit. The rate of promotion has recently been increased by the adoption of a programme which provides for an annually increasing number of posts in the higher grades of service. In selecting officers for promotion to higher posts the attempt is made to give due weight both to length of service and to special ability, and so far as possible only those officers will receive promotion who are considered suitable for the responsibilities attaching to the higher posts. But it must be remembered that the accelerated promotion of officers of special ability may at times involve the passing over for promotion of officers with long and faithful service and the task of selection therefore is a difficult one.

The scheme of exchange allowances for

5.

officers on sterling rates of pay is a temporary

expedient,