Sessional_Paper_1905 — Page 773

No. 33

1905

HONGKONG.

MEMORANDUM ON THE ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 1906.

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

Note.-18. 8d., as for 1905, has been taken throughout these Estimates as the rate of conversion for sterling salaries, and as the basis for payment of exchange compensation.

REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.

PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS.

Extra Chinese Writer (Temporary:)—The holder of this temporary appoint- ment is Mr. LAU TSZ PENG who was originally engaged as Expert in New Territory Land Cases. After the closing of the Land Court he was employed in this Office on $75 a month, the equivalent of his former salary, as an understudy to Mr. Au, the First Chinese Writer, who contemplates retirement some time next year. As the date of the latter's resignation has not been definitely fixed, salaries for these two posts are provided for the whole year.

Interpretation Sub-Department.-All the Interpreters who have passed the prescribed examination have been placed in the Grading Scheme as from 1st January, 1906, it being the intention gradually to bring all the posts in the Inter- pretation Sub-Department into this scheme. There are at present thirteen 3rd Class and two 2nd Class Interpreters who have so qualified, and the increase involved in 1906 by these changes is $1,737.

Translator. The salary for the 1st Grade of the Grading Scheme has been inserted. The present incumbent who is on the temporary establishment is receiving $90 a month, and the higher salary will not be drawn unless he has passed the prescribed examination, or until a properly qualified man has been appointed.

AUDIT DEPARTMENT.

In order to secure uniformity throughout the Estimates the rate taken for this Department for the conversion of sterling into dollars is 1s. 8., instead of Is. 10d. as adopted by the Exchequer and Audit Department.

TREASURY.

A.-Treasurer's Office.

PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS.

2 Clerks, Grade V.-These are departmentally styled the 9th and 10th Clerks. The latter is a new post, created for checking the large number of counterfoil-books in use in all departments, and for general assistance in the Office. Both these clerks were given the maximum of the grade which is equivalent to the salaries of clerks doing similar work in other departments, as there has been difficulty in getting competent men for less.