Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 150

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I base my application on the fact that the rent of a suitable house in Hong- kong has within recent years gone up considerably and is still rising, and that my coming to this Colony at this time, the salary appointed to my office will be much reduced after paying rent. At present I pay $44.90 per month for the house I rent in a distant suburb, which entails a further monthly charge on me of $5 for a Ferry ticket.

I would take this opportunity of mentioning that the salary of Assistant Postmaster General compared with the salary that I drew in St. Vincent is, when converted into gold currency, practically the same, and that here the cost of living in every way is considerably higher.

I am grateful, indeed, to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, for having been pleased to promote me to a more prosperous and rising Colony, but I feel sure that I shall not be allowed while receiving such promotion to suffer pecuniary loss or to be unfortunately placed in a position to become embarrassed.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

E. CORNEWALL LEWIS, Assistant Postmaster General.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

(Secretary to State to Governor.)

HONGKONG.

No. 169.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

29th August, 1899.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 166 of the 5th ultimo, forwarding copy of a letter from Mr. E. C. Lewis, Assistant Postmaster General, applying for the grant of a house allowance.

2. I should be glad if you would favour me with your views upon this application; but unless you consider this an exceptionally strong case, I am not disposed to entertain it at present.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

Governor

Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

No. 290.

SIR,

(Governor to Secretary of State.)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 13th October, 1899.

With reference to your despatch No. 169 of the 29th August, I have the honour to inform you that the statements contained in Mr. Lewis's letter forwarded to you under cover of my despatch No. 166 of the 5th July last are correct, but there are a great many members of the Civil Service of Hongkong who are equal sufferers from the cause of insufficient pay, as will be seen on reference to my despatch No. 199 of the 27th July, 1899, forwarding a petition from the members of the Civil Service praying that a Committee night be appointed to inquire into the question of salaries.

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