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72797/30
TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of
State for the Colonies.
Dated 21st June.
(Received, Colonial Office, 10.35 a.m.k 21st June, 1930).
No.55. Confidential. Your telegram 26th May No.18.
S
Salaries Commission. Resolution passed in Legislative Council
on 19th June voted 1,628,917 dollars in respect of the current
year in addition to sun already provided in Estimates to give
sffect as from 1st January 1930 to Salaries Report as further
modified in two points mentioned below.
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Chow and Lauder being members of the Commission abstained from
voting: other whofficials opposed some favoured revision of salaries
but considered it inexpedient at the present time owing to the effect
of the low dollar. Modifications nocepted by Goverment are first
conversion of revised sterling salaries being at current rate of
exchange fall in value of the dollar resulting in increase in dollars received bysterling officers increase being at present only partially reflected by rise in local cost of living. At prevailing exchange
rate sterling salaries are therefore considered adequate without
any high cost of living allowances and Government agree to hold
allowances in abeyance for further consideration. Saving estimated
at 665,800 dollers. It will probably be paceasary to adopt a graduated
scale of allowances if the dollar recovers or local cost of living
rizes appreciably but it is important in the meantime that no definite
rubes of allowances should be mentioned in recruiting new staff.
Second modification consists of the retention of ten years
service qualification for rent allowance of local dollar paid officers
above lowest grade abolition of which was recommended in paragre in
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