CO129-612-4 Administrative Service- proposal to increase establishment 18-5-1947 - 22-12-1947 — Page 14

Wt. 23364/665. 8/47. 50,000. S. & ~

54265/2/47.

C. O

Mr.

Wallace

Mr. Whittle 574

Mr.

Butten sii

· Permt. U.S. of S.

Dosp. 7/4

Mr.

myle 7/11.

for

Parly. U.S. Si

Mr..

D. M.

DRAFT.

Your Reference..

MCDOUGALL, ESQ., c. M.G.,

COLONIAL SECRETARY,

HONG KONG.

FURTHER ACTION.

Secretary of State.

4th November 194?

For Mr. Mayle's signature.

Dear McDougall,

1. We have been studying Hong Kong's

Staff despatch No. 107 of the 3rd September

which asks for approval for an immediate

increase from 35 to 48 in the authorised

establishment of Administrative Officers

in the Colony.

a

2. It seems to us that this is not

a very happy moment to approach the

Treasury for concurrence in such a proposal.

In the first place, in connection with the

increases in emoluments proposed by the

Salaries Commission and elsewhere, it has

been indicated by the Commission and by

ves

yourself that there is need for a survey of the public services with a view to

reorganisation and probable reduction of

numbers; it would be difficult to justify

an increase in permanent establishment

before such an examination was carried out

the point is in fact precisely made in the

Memorandum on the Estimates for 1947-48,

where it is written "it is most desirable

to avoid any further increases in establishment