CO129-574-1 Salaries and promotion prospects of women graduate teachers 5-8-1938 - 27-9-1938 — Page 7

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petitions

3.

enclosed show. Now pay has been decreased, and

prospects almost entirely abolished. Only one post carry-

ing a special salary is left out of five.

2.

The reason given in Hong Kong for the introduction of new salary scales was the despatch of (I think) 1935 from Mr. Thomas, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, ask-

ing the Government to conform to the new West African scales.

This despatch said that the Secretary of State could not recommend lower salaries than those paid in West Africa. Yet, although salaries for women teachers in West Africa

are higher than they have ever been in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Government proceeded to cut women teachers'

salaries

the abolition of the four Senior posts with

salary at £750, thus leaving only the Headship of Belilios School with a special salary, being the most drastic, and affecting, not only new entrants, but those who have been

in the service a long time.

3.

The cuts are far more drastic than those in the mens'

salaries, since the same number of men teachers have still

the prospect of 5 super-scale posts. It should also be

noticed that, whereas in England under the Burnham Scale

women teachers reach their maximum salary in fewer years than

the men, in Hong Kong they reach it several years later.