CO129-526-12 Proposals to raise additional revenue due to revised salary schemes- etc. 16-6-1930 - 23-2-1931 — Page 26

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become considerably greater than now.

We therefore submit that, broadly speaking,

Government servants are already much more favourably

placed than those from whom it is proposed to levy

additional revenue in order to augment Government salaries

and allowances.

IV. General.

At present the whole position of Government pay is

confused. In addition to nominal salaries, there are all

manner of allowances, for rent, conveyance, language

proficiency, charge allowances and special duty pay.

Servants are not certain of the amount they are to

receive in local currency, and neither can the Government

accurately estimate its costs. We believe that the pay

of the public servants of Hongkong should be quoted in

Hongkong currency, else the Government as an employer sets

itself apart from local economic conditions and is not

directly interested in their effects. Posts could still

be made attractive if quoted in dollars, and we would

point out that the risks of exchange movement are common

to the whole Colony, and will remain so for as long as the

currency of Hongkong is allowed to rest on a fluctuating

silver basis. Special hardship could be met when it arises,

as it always has been and undoubtedly will be.

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