CO129-558-3 Levy on Salaries- petition from Chinese Civil Servants 3-1-1936 - 19-12-1936 — Page 129

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16.

In Appendix "A" a salaries scale shows a

selection of minimum and maximum annual emoluments, and

also a table sets out the number of Civil Servants

affected by various grades of pay. From this can be

gathered the numbers and classes of Civil Servants that

are effected by the average percentages of levy. in

this connection the reduction effected by the levy can

better be appreciated in its true perspective by applying

the same not to the whole annual income but to the actual

monthly salaries received, as the calendar month is

the real period for which income and expenditure adjust-

ment has to be made.

17.

Chinese in this Colony find their expenditure

has increased mainly in the following directions:-

(a) As regards food and commodities imported from

China whether direct or through local dealers

an average increase of 26%. These commodities

include fish, tea leaves, eggs, fuel, fowl,

vagetables, peanut oil, clothese and shoes.

(b) An increase of 21% in the cost of remittances to

dependants living in the interior of China.

(c) As regards foreign or non-Chinese commodities

(1) Rice the staple food has increased approximately

28% in price. (This does not include the

best quality of native rice which is considered

an expensive luxury and is not used by

middle class Chinese.)

(ii) Clothing materials and leather

an increase

practically proportionate to the fall in

the dollar.

(iii) Japanese goods which are now largely resorted

to through sheer necessity.

The fall in

the