CO129-558-3 Levy on Salaries- petition from Chinese Civil Servants 3-1-1936 - 19-12-1936 — Page 210

b. CONFIDENTIAL.

AIR MAIL.

208

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

6th March, 1936.

Sir,

In continuation of my Confidential air-mail

despatch of the 24th February, 1936, on the subject of the

levy on Government salaries, I have the honour to forward

herewith the petition from 556 sterling-paid officers of

the Government service referred to in paragraph 5 of that

despatch. Individual protests addressed either to the

Colonial Secretary or myself have been received from certain

other officers who for one reason or another have not signed

the petition.

2. The memorandum enclosed with my despatch of 24th February, 1936, set out the seriousness of the present financial position, the necessity for calling on the

Government service to bear some share of the financial burden

suddenly, but it is hoped temporarily, imposed upon the Colonial Treasury by economic and exchange conditions, and the reasons for adopting a tapering form of levy in anticipation of a progressive rise in the cost of living. Since that despatch was written I have received from the

Colonial Treasurer a revised estimate of the financial

position on the 31st December, 1935. Revenue in 1935 unexpectedly exceeded the estimate by about $300,000 and expenditure fell short of it by some $700,000. The result is that revenue and expenditure for 1935 will have approximately balanced, though the final figures cannot be

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

J.H. THOMAS, M.P.

&C.,

&C.,

&C.

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