CO129-601-1 Salaries Commission- currency basis of emolument 9-1-1948 - 5-6-1948 — Page 4

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the ex-sterling officer should know what his salary

amount to in sterling when his expenses are to be made entirely in that currency.

id. Ci

on Com a farsina.

B

13.1.48.

Extract from 5.5.

from 5.5. General Orders.

I have discussed this with Mr. Whittle.

We do not think that Government should commit itself

thin

to guaranteeja

to guaranteej a fixed or minimum rate of exchange for

expatriate Civil Servants, since it might result in

placing them in a privileged position as compared,

for instance, with employees of private concerns

etc. Moreover, salaries in Hong Kong are high in

comparison with salary for similar posts in this

country and Hong Kong officials spending their leave

here or receiving pensions based on Hong Kong

salaries certainly derive some benefit in consequence

and there is therefore some margin which will allow

a reduction in the sterling value of their salaries

without causing hardship.

On the other hand, it would be manifestly

unfair to these officers if the value of the Hong

Kong dollar fell to such an extent as to cause

hardship and if such a situation arose or appeared

likely to arise, it would certainly be necessary to

take steps to meet it. One possible course would be

the payment of an exchange compensation allowance.

In the meantime, I think that the best

course would be to stick to the arrangement which

has been adopted in Malaya.

JE Kme

M. Polman

15th January, 1948.

Mr. Butters

in. Whittle

The Maft the Treasing has been sein

I will be sun

y M. Moyle.

that the suggestion