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5. Personally I am of opinion that an average salary of $750 would be suffi- cient, but I find it difficult to arrive at this result without disregarding what I understand to be considered as desirable by Your Lordship, viz., that periodical increments should be provided for every class, and that the lowest salary in each class should exceed the maximum salary of the class immediately below it.

6. I submit this scheme for Your Lordship's approval, though I should prefer one shewing an average salary of $750 a year instead of $823. I concur in the opinion expressed by Your Lordship that it is undesirable to create an inter- mediate class between the civil service proper and the Portuguese staff of clerks by importing Englishmen to fill certain of the clerkships; and I think that Your. Lordship will agree that for native Portuguese and Chinese the salaries proposed are, if not excessive, at all events abundantly liberal. For such clerks Hongkong is not a specially expensive place; climatic influences do not affect them in the same way as they affect Englishmen; they are free from the expense which has to be incurred by Englishmen in remitting money to their families in England and paying for passages when they have to go on leave; and in many ways they are able to live much more cheaply, as well as more comfortably, than Englishmen occupying corresponding positions in the Colony.

7. The scheme, if sanctioned, would of course not affect vested interests: it would not be retrospective, but would be introduced gradually on the occurrence of vacancies. The question of reducing the number of clerks employed must also be a work of time it requires further consideration, and is in any case dependent on the opportunity of vacancies.

8. The scheme does not include Interpreters, Translators, and Chinese Writers. They stand on a different footing and must be dealt with separately on their merits; but I may here note that I am of opinion that some of the Interpreters are paid too much, and some, if not all, of the Chinese writers too little.

9. Pending a reply to this despatch I defer taking action on Your Lordship's despatch No. 113 of 3rd ultimo, relating to the salaries to be assigned to the 3rd and 4th clerks in the Treasury.

I have the honour to be,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,

WILLIAM ROBINSON,

Governor.

Minute by the Colonial Secretary to the Governor.

CLERICAL ESTABLISHMENT.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

In despatch No. 72 of 1891 the Secretary of State suggested the framing of a scheme for the classification of clerical salaries on a uniform system and provision of periodical increments in the case of certain posts so as to obviate the necessity for giving personal allowances.

With 488 the Treasurer submitted a scheme, providing periodical increments in all cases.

It was sent to the Secretary of State with despatch No. 88 of 15th

March last.

You subsequently requested the Secretary of State to defer decision on it until he had heard from you further.

The Treasurer's scheme provides for 63 clerks, and shews a slight estimated increase of expenditure over the total of the existing salaries of the clerks in ques- tion. There are in all, excluding Interpreters, Chinese writers, &c., &c., who may

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