CO129-629-9 Occupation period pay 1-3-1950 - 31-5-1950 — Page 10

Secret L/M 10/50

SAVINGRAM

To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

From the Governor, Hong Kong.

Date...

No...!60

(29) on 55364/A/49

18

March, 1950.

STAFF

H531.

ル

Copied to:

102

Commissioner General, Singapore

55364/A/50

48

? shd. now

53712 series

go

SECRET

My Secret telegram No.1356 dated 19th December, 1949, and repeated to Commissioner General, Singapore, as No. 364. Back pay.

I have now reconsidered the proposals (to which I had previously agreed in my telegram under reference) in the light of recent discussions with Executive Council at which Council advised that owing to the lapse of time, occupation period pay should not be paid to those officers who resigned from Government service after the establishment of Civil Government and before

In making this recommendation it was pointed out that occupation period pay was originally intended as a morale lifter but that after such a long delay, payment to those concerned would not achieve the original object and intention of the award.

20 3.47the appointment of the Salaries Commission.

2.

The majority of those Government servants who resigned during this period are believed to have left the service late in 1946 in order to take up posts with local commercial firms which were at that time doing a brisk and profitable business. These officers have therefore been away from Government service for nearly 3 years and would be extremely difficult to trace. A public announcement would be necessary and if the proposed payments were made at this time, they would undoubtedly cause justifiable adverse criticism.

3.

The amount involved is quite considerable and is estimated at H.K.$550,000. It would be impossible to complete payments inthe current financial year and if payment were to be made next year it would swell the deficit which already exists on next year's budget.

I regret therefore that in the light of further review I do not consider it advisable to carry out my original decision to effect payment of occupation period pay to those officers who resigned from the service under the circumstances mentioned in my paragraph 1 above.

BIB/aw

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