241717-1937-Supplementary-Draft-Bill--Sterling-Salaries-Conversion — Page 1

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Draft Bill.

No. S. 409.-The following Bill is published for general information-

[No. 32-23.11.37.-1.]

A BILL

Short title.

Interpreta-

tion.

Ordinance No. 15 of

1908.

Rate at which sterling

salaries are to be paid in this

Colony.

Power of legislature to grant exemptions by resolu- tion.

Saving of rights of Crown. Cf.

Colonial Regulations 20 & 21 and

INTITULED

An Ordinance to fix the rate at which the sterling salaries

of public officers shall be paid in this Colony.

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Sterling Salaries Conversion Ordinance, 1937.

2. In this Ordinance---

"Treasury rate" means the rate of exchange of sterling for dollars determined for any month by the Colonial Treasurer from the average of the daily opening demand rates of exchange in London during a certain period in accordance with the General Orders of the Hong Kong Government.

"Widows' and Orphans' Pension Contribution" means the contribution payable in any month by and deducted from the salary of any officer under the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Ordinance, 1908.

3. After deduction of the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Contribution, if any, which shall be calculated at the Treasury rate, and subject to the provisions of section 4, the re- mainder of the salaries of all public officers of the Hong Kong Government service which are expressed in terms of sterling, whatever the amount, shall be converted, if paid in the Colony, at the Treasury rate if such rate exceeds one shilling and threepence to the dollar; but if such rate does not exceed one shilling and threepence to the dollar then at the rate of one shilling and threepence to the dollar or sixteen dollars to the pound sterling: Provided that the salaries of officers absent from the Colony on leave for a period exceeding three months or absent from the Colony on duty for any period shall, if paid in the Colony, be paid at the Treasury Rate.

4. It shall be lawful for the Legislative Council by resolution to exempt either wholly or partially from the operation of this Ordinance, or any part thereof, any officer or any class or description of officer. Any such resolution, if so expressed, may be retrospective in operation.

5. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be deemed to recognize any rights whatsoever against the Crown or be deemed to imply that the holding of any appointment or the payment of salary constitutes a contract between the Crown Hong Kong and any of its servants or that any public office is held

otherwise than during His Majesty's pleasure.

General

Orders 1

10

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