Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 608

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Enclosure No. 1.

(Chairman, Salaries Committee to Acting Colenial Secretary.)

HONGKONG, 26th July, 1900.

SIR,-On behalf of the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor "to enquire into and report on the Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony," I have now the honour to enclose a Report on this matter with Recommendations for a re-adjustment of Salaries.

I have the honour to be.

Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G.,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

R. M. GRAY,

Chairman of the Committee to enquire into Salaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony.

REPORT.

We, the Members of the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor "to enquire into and report on the ralaries of Subordinate Officers in the Civil Service of the Colony" have accordingly the honour to submit the following Report, together with recommendations for an increase of remuneration in the majority of

cases.

2. In apportioning the amount of increase we have taken into consideration the recent allowance made by the Secretary of State to the higher Officials, and in making our recommendations, although we have to a certain extent allowed the individual merits of the case and length of service to weigh with us, we have prin- cipally been guided by the enhanced cost of living at the present time.

3. In order to arrive at a fair decision we have given an opportunity to all the subordinate Officers, whose names have been submitted to us by the Govern- ment, to state their cases personally before us, have examined all letters and docu- ments sent to us on the subject, and have interrogated the Heads of each Depart- ment concerning their stuffs.

4. The Salaries of the different departments do not appear to have been modelled on any given plan, but to have grown into their present unequal position according to the gradual development of the department, and the pressure brought to bear in each case for an increase.

5. We are of opinion that it is not only just. but also sound policy for the Government to more adequately remunerate their old and tried servants, and to pay for responsible positions a sufficient salary to attract good men, but where Juniors who have joined the service within the last year are in receipt of $4 per month or more, we have not seen our way to recommend any immediate increase. We think that it should be the object of Government to stimulate the efforts of its servants by promotion according to deserts.

6. In dealing with this matter of Salaries, we have merely made our recom- mendations on cach individual case of remuneration in the same shape in which in was put before us.

7. Although it does not come within the scope of our enquiry to remark upon the management of a Department, that enquiry has given us the opportunity of an insight into the working of the various Departments, which we consider has enabled us to form a reasonable judgment on the subject, and we therefore take the liberty of making the following remarks about the management of the Post Office, which