CO129-532-3 Mui Tsai system 4-12-1930 - 9-11-1931 — Page 18

$

ridiculous by Western standards, but as the

Governor says, they are not so when compared

with the ordinary standard of living in the

Colony. It is true that that standard is

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regrettably low, but it is not to be increased

by measures of this sort. Since, therefore,

any increase must necessarily be small, I should

be inclined to leave rates as at present fixed,

since any change might call attention to the

matter once more and give rise to criticism.

however, the matter is again raised in

Parliament, it may be necessary to make the

increase suggested as practicable by the

Governor.

If,

The Governor says in paragraph 4 that

although the sterling value of the dollar

has fallen, prices in Hong Kong have not yet

been very much affected. This is, no doubt,

true, and I think we should not be too much

concerned about short-period changes in the

sterling equivalent of the maximum wages fixed,

in these days of large and sudden exchange

movements. At the time the rates were fixed,

the dollar was worth something approaching 2/-

At the time the matter was last raised in Parliament

it was worth about 1/-; it is now worth about

1/4d and nobody can say what it will be worth

by the time any instructions to change the

rate can reach Hong Kong.

H