TNAG-1107-FCO40-1358-Inspection-of-the-British-Trade-Commission--Hong-Kong--in-Fe-1981 — Page 51

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

Miss D J Walker

Research and Estimates Unit Personnel Services Department FCO

LONDON SW1

XEG 414/2

ADM 410/6

30 July 1980

ASSESSMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS

9

Thank you for your letter of 15 July. I do appreciate

the trouble you have taken to answer the query in my letter of 18 June about the calculations of our marking for temperature/ humidity.

2 I recognise that when assessing this factor as a qualification for Difficult Post Allowance (DPA) it is logical to work on an annual basis given that the most debilitating type of climate is a combination of consistent high temperatures and high relative humidity but I have two thoughts on which I should welcome some further comments.

3

First it is disappointing to learn that the PSA work on the same supposition when calculating the THI for the purpose of deciding whether one is entitled to air conditioning in living rooms etc. It seems illogical not to base such decisions on the worst conditions (provided of course they persist for more than a short period) of high temperature/ humidity such as afflict Hong Kong from May to September. To take the annual average seems rather like arguing that no heating is necessary in rooms other than occupied bedrooms in the UK from November to February because they are adequately warm from May to September. Has anyone ever challenged the PSA on this?

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

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