Sessional_Paper_1913 — Page 32

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In view of the above facts and of the fact that the average rate of exchange for the payment of salaries on a sterling basis for the ten years ending 31st December, 1911, was- is. 10d., the Governor recommended that as from 1st January, 1913, 80% of sterling salaries, in which are included dollar salaries with exchange compensation, should be paid at a fixed rate of exchange of 1s. 9d. and that 20% be regarded as sterling salary and be paid at the average Hongkong demand rate from the 15th of the preceding month to the 15th of the month of payment.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies in a despatch under date 8th February, 1913, approved the foregoing proposals subject to their being liable to re-consideration at the end of every three years in view of the possibility that the exchange value of the dollar might in the future rise and remain so high as to make the arrangement a source of serious embar- rassment to the Government, Mr. Harcourt further reserved to himself and his successors in office the right to re-consider the system as soon as any steps were taken to place either the Chinese or the Hongkong currency on a gold basis.

5–10.—Overseers, Public Works Department, Sanitary Inspectors, Wardmasters,

Medical Department, Warders, Prison Department, etc.

In a despatch under date 22nd November, (No. 2), His Excellency dealt with the applications from (2) Overseers in the Public Works Department, (ż) Wardmasters, Medical Department, (iii) Principal Warders and Warders in the Gaol, (iv) Sanitary Inspectors and . () certain miscellaneous recommendations.

5.-Overseers, Public Works Department.

The existing scales for Overseers were :—

1st Class Overseers,

2nd Class Overseers,

..£240-£270 by £15. ....£165-£225 by £15

A list of changes in the staff during the previous 5 years showed that the scale for Overseers of the 1st class had not proved adequate to prevent the resignation of four valu- able men and that in 5 years there had been eight dismissals and eleven resignations in a staff of 10 2nd class Overseers.

The Governor considered that if the recommendation for altering the rate of exchange- at which sterling salaries are paid were adopted and if the quarters which were occupied by some of the 1st class Overseers on payment of rent and the quarters which he had recom- mended should be built for them, were granted to them rent free, the position of the 1st class men would be sufficiently improved. It was however evidently necessary further to improve the position of the 2nd class men: they were skilled: the initial salary of the class was too low to attract such men and the increment too slow to keep them in the Depart- ment. The Governor therefore recommended that their scale should be raised to £200-£230- by £10" as from 1st January, 1913. The recommendation involved an increase of £350 on the Estimates for 1913.

6.- Wardmasters, Medical Department.

The existing scale of salaries was £100-£150 by £20 with free (bachelor) quarters,. fuel and light. Out of a staff of 5 there had been in the course of 5 years 3 resignations, 2 dismissals and no transfers to other departments. The men joined the department with a view to promotion in other branches of the service. This did not seem desirable and the Governor therefore recommended that the scale be altered to £110-£180 by £10 and that an endeavour should be made to provide married quarters for at least 2 of the staff. The recommendation involved an increase of about £65 in the expenditure for 1913.

7.-Principal Warders and Warders, Prison Department.

The salary of Principal Warders was £168-£204 by £61 and of Warders £96-£144 by £12' and all were supplied with free quarters, fuel and light. There were 6 married quarters, 3 of which were for Principal Warders and 1 for the Chief Warder. In view of the fact that promotion in the department was very limited the Governor considered that the scales. of salary should be revised as follows:-

10 Warders,

10 Warders,

3 Principal Warders,..

£ 96-£144 by £12. .£156-£180 by £12.

£200-£220 by £10".