Sessional_Paper_1889 — Page 321

919

No. 23

89..

HONGKONG.

SALARIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS,

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

Report of the Commission appointed by His Excellency Governor Sir G. WILLIAM DES VEUX, K.C.M.G., to consider the question of an increase to the Salaries of Public Officers.

COUNCIL CHAMBER,

HONGKONG, 13th December, 1889.

1. At a meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 26th April last, His Excellency the Governor appointed the Colonial Secretary, the late Dr. STEWART, and the Un-official Members of the Council a Commission to enquire into and report on the subject of a general increase to the Salaries of the Members of the Civil Service on account of the decrease in the purchasing power of the dollar. On the 15th November His Excellency appointed the Acting Chief Justice to act on the Commission in place of the late Dr. STEWART.

2. The Commission met on the 1st of May, and decided to issue a Circular to all Officers in the Service, requesting them to furnish particulars under the following headings:-

1st. Salary and Emoluments,

2nd. Rent,

3rd. Servants' wages,

4th. Price of principal articles of consumption,

5th. Other items of expenditure,

in the years 1874, 1879,

1884, and 1889, re spectively.

"

3. On the 24th of June the Commission re-assembled to consider the reports received.

4. The information obtained will be found in Appendix I.

5. After due consideration the following conclusions were unanimously arrived at;

(a.) As regards Cost of Living generally, the Commission are unanimously of opinion that, within the last ten years, it has increased 20 per cent. for Europeans and 10 per cent. for Chinese. Clothing alone is perhaps cheaper than it was in former years, but that is the sole exception.

(b.) In the matter of Rent, the Commission find that it has increased from 100 to 150 per cent. for European houses, and 100 per cent. for Chinese houses. Instances known to Members personally were quoted and discussed. One member mentioned a property known to him, which, in 1874, was worth $150,000, and is now worth $350,000 in consequence of the rise in rent. Another member mentioned the case of his own offices, for which, in 1884, he paid $500 a month, and now in 1889 he is paying $600 a month. As regards Chinese property, instances were quoted of shops, which, a few years ago, fetched from $30 to $40 a month, and were now. bringing in from $60 to $70 a month. In the case of Chinese employés, rooms which could be had, a few years ago, for $4 a month, could not be obtained now less than $5 or $9 a month,