CO129-574-6 Hong Kong pensioners in India- rate of exchange 31-8-1938 - 26-10-1938 — Page 23

NOX CONFIDENTIAL

2

23

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

15th September, 1938.

Enclosure No.1

Ausd.

Sir,

With reference to my confidential despatch

dated 31st August, 1938, regarding the payment of pensions

to retired officers living in India at the current rate of

exchange between Hong Kong and India instead of at the

privileged rate of Hong Kong $100 Rupees 112 which has

been in force since 1930, I have the honour to forward

herewith for your consideration a petition submitted by

Indian officers on the permanent establishment in the

Hong Kong Civil Service, requesting that the proposed

alteration to the rate of exchange may be postponed pending

the consideration of certain other grievances.

2.

It is not at present known what these other

grievances may be and I see no reason at present to think

that there is any case for improving the general conditions

of service for Indian officers. It may perhaps be

material to observe that apart from policemen, prison

warders and a few interpreters there is no particular

reason why Indians, domiciled in India, who are costly

in leave and passages, should be engaged here in Government

posts in preference to equally qualified Chinese.

3.

A further petition has been addressed to the

Colonial Secretary on the same subject by the Indian Staff

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

队

&c., &c., &c.