CO129-572-8 Leave and passage regulations 4-2-1938 - 30-12-1938 — Page 18

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copy.

The Honourable,

The Colonial Secretary,

Hong Kong.

LONDON,

24th November 1938.

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Sir,

We, the undersigned, have the honour to address you with

reference to a circular letter of the 1st September 1938,

received by us from the Crown Agents for the Colonies, relating

to the payment of pensions under the Widows' and Orphans'

Pensions Ordinances of Hong Kong. We are all retired officers

of the Hong Kong Government service, at one time on dollar

salaries, whose respective widows, in the event of our deaths,

would be entitled under the Ordinances to the pensions regis-

tered under our names. We enclose a copy of the letter,

omitting only the actual pension amounts.

2. We cannot help expressing our surprise, both that we

have been vouchsafed no explanation of the recent decision,

and also that it was made without our being given any oppor-

tunity of showing cause against an order which affects us So

adversely. The Government, however, were evidently not informed

and we are confident that

of the implications of their action,

when the relevant considerations have been placed before them

the decision will be reversed.

3. Summarised very briefly, our main arguments are that

we are entitled to widows! pensions at the rate of 3/-,

(1) because we have for 36 years been promised that rate and

have acted on that promise, and (2) because for part of the

time we in fact paid our contributions to the widows' and

orphans' pension scheme in units of 3/- and not in current

dollars, and that therefore to refuse the 3/- rate now would

be both a breach of trust and a breach of contract. We have

spoken thus frankly because we believe that the Government did

not appreciate the true position when they introduced the

financial resolution of the 1st June 1938.