Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 607

603

Enclosure No. L.

Enclosure No. 2. Enclosure No. 3,

Enclosure No. 4.

Enclosure No. 5.

HONGKONG,

No. 1901

32

CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING INCREASE OF SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE COLONY.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

No. 440.

(Governor to Secretary of State.)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 3rd October, 1900.

SIR,-! have now the honour to transmit for your consideration the enclosed copy of the Report of the Committee which I appointed to enquire intò the salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of this Colony, together with copy of a Memorandum thereon by the Acting Colonial Secretary, and of a Scheme for the classification of certain of the salaries dealt with by the Committee, which has been based partly on the scheme approvel in Lord Ripon's Des atch No. 270 of the 28th of November, 1892, and partly on the recoinmendations of the Commit ee, also a Summary shewing the increase in expenditure which will result if the increases in salaries recommended by the Committee are approved.

The Shanghai Branch Post Office which is being re-organised, and the Praya Reclamation Office have been excepted from the Summary.

2. Subject to the modifications suggested by the Acting Colonial Secretary, I approve generally of the increases recommended by the Committee, but I regard the Classified Scheme of Salaries, submited herein, as preferable and I recommend that the rates of pay therein suggested should be now substituted for the Com- mittee's recommendations where practicable, and intro lucel in the future as oppor- tunity offers.

The maxima of the salaries in the Classified Scheme amant in the total to $65,880 while the maxima of the same salaries increased as recommended by the Committee aggregate $70,400.

3. The Committee have made special reference in their report to the Post Office in Hongkong and Branch Office in Shanghai,

Their recommendations for increases to the salaries of the Post Office Staff in Hongkong were referred to the Acting Postmaster General. I enclose copy of ย letter from Mr Lewis on the subject. It will be observed that Mr. Lewis, like the Committee, recommends the engagement of trained Clerks from home; I con- sider that the proposal is worthy of consideration, and would suggest that the Postmaster General who is on leave in England be consulted on the subject.

I have already addressed you in my despatch No. 395 of the 30th of August regarding the extra Clerks and Assistant Marine Officers referred to by Mr. Lewis. I have also recently addressed you on the subject of the Shanghai Post Office, and I am at present awaiting a report upon the working of that office from the Local Auditor who has just returned from Shanghai.

4. With regard to paragraph 10 of the report I have to remark that there is no hour set apart for luncheon in the Government Service, and that no Clerk can claim that office hours are fixed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It rests entirely with Heads of Departments who are responsible for the proper carrying out of the work under them at what hours their respective offices open and close. In the majority of Departments work begins before 10 a.m. and is carried on considerably after 4 p.m.

As regards Mr. Shewan's rider I do not think the question need be raised. Moreover, Officers who draw exchange compensation do not as a rule do the same work as others.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P..

&c.,

fo..

&c.

H. A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.