Can
the greatest difficulty in meeting reasonable
expenses on that salary. I realise of course
that this is a matter on which I must be
guided by your judgment, but I am anxious that
candidates should not be attracted from this
country by apparently high salaries only to
find after arrival in Hong Kong that their
pay is not enough for their reasonable needs.
Before dealing with the petition therefore I
should be glad to know whether you could assure
me that a European officer should be able,
without undue hardship, to make ends meet
under present conditions on the emoluments
referred to. In this connection I would
also invite your attention to my telegram
No. 175 restricted of the 11th of February.
2 It may of course be that with the
introduction of revised rates of cost of
living allowance the petitioners are now
satisfied with their financial position.
I should be glad to receive your comments
+
on this particular point since when forwarding the petition to His Majesty it ought to be
mentioned.
3 If you come to the conclusion that the fears which I have expressed are justified it will be necessary to consider giving some increase to this particular class of officer. I agree that this would present considerable difficulty. A special cost of living allowance would be out of the question. An increase in expatriation pay might afford a logical solution, but it would no doubt be impracticable. The only other solution would
ber
That regur
an increase in the minimum of the scale
latter coupe
to $500 per month. Thes would bring the minimum
attached to
up to that attached to the scale of the grade.
on
21076/7/49
-30)
(copy of 30
either to allow
European Sub Impulon
to enter the scale at
month or to
$500
/of
Page 30Page 31
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