Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 140

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(Enclosure in Governor's Despatch No. 199 dated 27th July, 1899.)

SIR,

HONGKONG, 12th July, 1899.

We, the undersigned members of the Hongkong Civil Service, respectfully beg permission to present for your consideration the following Memorial; in which we set forth that, in view of the steady increase in house rents and the cost of living in this Colony during the last five years, notwithstanding the grant in 1894 of Exchange Compensation at 3/- to the dollar on half-pay while on active service, our present salaries prove now inadequate, and submit that some further relief in this direction appears to be urgently called for, concluding with a prayer that you, Sir, may be pleased to direct that a Committee in this Colony be appointed to enquire into the subject.

2. To justify our action in thus approaching you, Sir, and as evidence of the reality of the loss sustained by us in the last few years, we venture to cite for your information the courses recently adopted by the great Shipping and Mercantile Firms of the East to afford similar relief to their servants, of which the following examples may perhaps be permitted to serve as illustration :-

Chinese Customs, Indoor Service, salaries doubled in 1898, Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. pay in gold,

Jardine, Matheson & Co., and Butterfield & Swire pay some in gold and

others 3/- to $1 on whole salary.

3. We annex a schedule showing in detail the increases in house rents, food supply, clothing, &c. during the last five years. Servants' wages too have advanced considerably, 20 to 25 %.

4. It is evident from the schedule that a very heavy drain on salaries is repre- sented by the necessary expense of a decent house in a healthy locality, and that this expense is nearly double what it was five years ago.

5. Nor should it be overlooked that the increased cost in living thus occasioned is attended with a corresponding gain to the Revenue in the items of Assessed Taxes, Market Fees, &c., the former of which has risen nearly $100,000 in the last four years, being 1894 $457,124 and 1898 $550,802, and may be expected this year to realise nearly $600,000, and $650,000 in 1900.

6. For the reasons above cited we venture to think that we are justified in addressing this Memorial to you, Sir, and would humbly pray that you may be pleased to consider the advisability of appointing a Committee in the Colony to enquire into the subject.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servants,

[Here follow 50 Signatures.]

The Right Honourable

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES,

Downing Street, London, S.W.