CO129-525-3 Estimates 1931 and other financial papers 16-1-1930 - 1-9-1932 — Page 25

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This would only refer to late.

те

Certainly I do not think we should do so unless

the Government definitely took steps to safe-

guard themselves when the revised salaries

were announced by making it clear that the

rate of exchange might be varied from time to

time.

It will be noted, moreover, that

stated to n

various Appointments Pamphlets have been issued

since the revision of salaries stating that

"the local payment of salaries fixed in sterling

is made in dollars converted at the current rate

of exchange." Before the revision of salaries

the rate of conversion was fixed from time to

time by the Government. In the absence of any

such statement in the present editions, it seems

to me to be perfectly clear that officers who

have been furnished with the present conditions

of appointment have received a definite pledge

to have their salaries converted at the current

rate of exchange, whatever it may be.

Unless there is something wrong with

the above reasoning, I think that the Secretary

of State would be placed in a very unfortunate

position if he agreed to an arbitrary alteration

of the rate of exchange on the lines proposed

by the Hong Kong Government. It is just the

sort of case which, unless we are in a position

completely to justify our action, will inevitably

land us in trouble with such bodies as the B..Á.,

which quite properly make it their business to

see that Colonial Governments keep their bargains

with their staff.

I do not see that we can possibly

approve the proposal unless we can be satisfied

that the local Government, in announcing the

revised