CO129-569-13 Staffing of the Post Office Department 17-6-1938 - 10-10-1938 — Page 7

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671938

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Colonial Secretary's Office.

Hong Phong.

23rd September, 1938.

My dear Gent,

2 In your official despatch No.256 of 11th August, 1938, approval was conveyed for certain proposals

for an increase of personnel in the Post Office "subject

to the approval of the Legislative Council also being

obtained". This has put us in something of a quandary

since, as stated in paragraph 3 of our official despatch

No.488 of 17th June, 1938, the increase in personnel will

not cause any excess on the personal emoluments sub-head,

the extra expense being met by savings within the sub-head,

and it is contrary to usual practice to seek the authority

of the Legislature for variations of posts, salaries, etc.

within the sub-head. It may be that it was thought that

as a rather substantial increase was involved here approval

of Council ought to be obtained contrary to the usual

practice but we are still rather at a loss as to how the

approval is to be sought as no actual supplementary vote

is required. We shall be grateful therefore for guidance.

2.

It is possible that the qualification the

despatch refers only to 1939. The increased personnel will

of course be shown in the estimates for that year and will

accordingly be submitted to the Legislature for approval.

G.E.J.GENT, ESQ., 0.B.E.,

COLONIAL OFFICE.

Yours ever,

بر

5. Came

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