CO129-599-1 Salaries Commission 8-12-1947 - 22-12-1947 — Page 370

370

Commission, namely 1 January, 1947, should be

adopted. Any representations based on assurances

referred to above might be answered by referring

to the general financial situation and to the

proposals as affording reasonable relief, having

regard to that situation. In the case of assurances

which contained the words "if possible", it might

be pointed out that those words referred especially

to the financial situation.

7. The last sentence but one of proposed

message has been included as it is thought that it

might assist you. Outstanding points which have

been raised here regarding salaries and allowances

should be settled within next three months, but I

appreciate that in fixing date to be given in this

sentence it will be necessary also to allow time

for new salaries and allowances to be calculated

locally and for arrangements to be made for payment

of arrears. If you feel that it is not possible to

give a date at this moment, or that the date would

be so far ahead that there would be no advantage in

mentioning it, I should of course have no objection

to this sentence of the announcement being omitted.

8. As regards payment of arrears I suggest

that as payment of whole amount in case would tend

to increase present inflation, substantial part of

arrears should be paid in savings certificates, or

possibly in holdings in proposed Hong Kong Loan.

You will no doubt consider and decide whether it is

desirable to make any reference to this possibility

in proposed announcement.

h

(Governor General only & Please paso copy to

Governa

as

No 1244

Immediali &

Page 370Page 371