CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950 — Page 275

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271

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on 53832/1/48 (Cost- 1 Laving Allowances)

Extract from Confidential despatch No. 300

from the Governor Hong Kong to the

Secretary of State dated 11th

December, 1948.

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15.

Naturally I do not view lightly this further considerable addition to personal emoluments, but it is, I fear, inevitable and is the price which must be paid if the Colony is to have a contented Government service. It should be possible to meet these additional charges in respect of the last quarter of the present financial year and still show a surplus on 31st March, 1949. Nor do I anticipate any very great difficulty in providing for the increased cost in 1949/50, but I will deal with this matter in greater detail in my next quarterly report on the Colony's finances.

I am, as you are aware, endeavouring to reduce the total cost of personal emoluments by the elimination of staff wherever such a step appears possible, and reductions effected, or about to be effected, amount to some 350 employees with a resulting saving in salaries of at least $350,000 per annum. trust that, with the assistance of the Efficiency Expert who will shortly visit the Colony, further reductions in staff may be found possible.

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