Sec.File No.1/1681/48.
SAVINGRAM
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
From the Governor, Hong Kong.
Date
No.
July, 1949.
STAFF
CONFIDENTIAL
(Continued)
2
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51
5.
With regard to the points raised in your confidential
(31) on '45. telegram No.676 of 3rd June, I confirm that in view of the revised
rates of Cost of Living Allowance introduced with effect from 1/1/49, I am satisfied as to the adequacy of the petitioners' total emoluments, compared generally with those of other officers in the service, even in the case of Police Sub-Inspectors on or near the minimum of the scale. I would point out, however, that none of the petitioners is on the minimum of the scale, that each received credit for previous experience in his home police force, and that in recruiting Sub- Inspectors from United Kingdom forces for service in this Colony it would be unusual to obtain a married officer at the minimum of the scale.
6.
No such conditions exist in this Colony as would be comparable with those referred to in the second sentence of para. 199 of the Report of the Malayan Salaries Commission.
7.
I will reply separately in the near future to your telegram
Information Bureau of the Royal Empire Society that it is not possible for a married European to live satisfactorily in this Colony on under $2,000 per month. I wish to say here, however, that this figure now represents emoluments of $1080 per month basic salary plus $650 Cost of Living Allowance Scale B plus $280 Expatriation Pay (total $2010 per month). You have conveyed approval for appointments to be made without your prior authority to non-unified service posts for which the salary scales begin at under $1080 per month, and generally speaking, there is no lack of European candidates in this Colony for suitable posts with scales beginning at under $1080 per month. A large number of expatriate officers live and by post-war standards they live reasonably satisfactorily on emoluments of less than $2,000 per month. An important factor which the Royal Empire Society could not be expected to take into consideration is the provision for expatriate Government officers of accommodation at reasonable rentals. In this respect, I would add that departmental quarters in the Police Force have been deliberately graded lower than is usual for rental purposes, because the officers concerned are obliged to live near their place of work. I confirm, therefore, that European Police Officers can live satisfactorily, at present, by post-war standards, on emoluments of less than $2,000 per month.
(30) on '48 No.175 of 12th February on the subject of the statement by the
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KSK:T/Enclosure.
Mr.
No comments yet.
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