CO129-577-8 Junior Clerical Service- petition for improvements in salaries and conditions of service 6-7-1939 - 19-12-1939 — Page 74

Appendix L.

Notes regarding quarters for Chinese

Subordinate Officers.

1. In 1924 a Committee was appointed to choose sites in Kowloon

for quarters for Chinese Subordinate Officers of the Government.

Two pieces of land at Coronation and Waterloo Roads, in Kowloon,

were earmarked for this purpose. But no provisions were made

in the Estimates.

2.

In 1924 certain flats in Shamshuipo were leased by Government

as quarters for Chinese subordinate officers.

3.

In 1925 14 houses were leased in Percival Street as quarters

for Chinese subordinate officers.

4.

The scheme to provide Chinese subordinate officers with

quarters had proved to be a failure, for the following reasons :-

(A) The localities of these quarters were not suitable.

(B) Only senior officers with more than ten years' continuous

service were eligible for such quarters on payment of 6%

of their salary for rent. On the other hand these

5.

officers were eligible for a rent allowance of between

$15 $25 in lieu of quarters.

-

With such an allowance

plus the 6% which was deducted from his salary if he

took Government quarters, it was found that an officer

could obtain alternative quarters better than those

supplied by Government.

Subordinate officers with less than ten years' continuous

service were without quarters or rent allowance, so that the recom-

mendation of the Salaries Commission, 1929, that a rent allowance

should be given on entry into Government Service was passed over.