CO129-558-3 Levy on Salaries- petition from Chinese Civil Servants 3-1-1936 - 19-12-1936 — Page 128

3.

1261

12.

Careful enquiry by your Petitioners shows

that not less than ninety per cent of the Civil Servants

which they represent are married and have families and

they admit that in regard to the small percentage of

unmarried officers, found mainly on the very lowest scale

of remuneration, the incidence of the increased cost of

living does not fall so heavily.

13. It was, therefore, with great dismay that your

Petitioners read the contents of a Circular, issued on

the 20th December, 1935, by the Colonial Secretary, to

the effect that the Government was considering the imposi-

tion of a temporary levy on all Government salaries

whether on a dollar or sterling basis.

14.

The extent of this levy was disclosed by a

Circular issued later on the 20th January, 1936, by

which the dollar paid salaries were effected as from

the 1st January, 1936, as follows:-

No levy on salaries not exceeding $240 per

annum.

On salaries above $240 per annum,

first $1,000, 8% on the next $1,500,

4% on the

12% on the

next $2,500, and 15% on the remaining portion

of salary above $5,000.

15.

The Circular quoted in the last paragraph

intimated that this levy would be reduced by substituting

3%, 6%, 10% and 12% respectively for the reductions

which were to take effect immediately, and it was further

intimated that the levy would be on net salaries that

is to say, after Widows and Orphans Pension Contributions

had been deducted.