Sessional_Paper_1929 — Page 111

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(b) In any other case, the emoluments which he would receive if his case,

fell under (2) above.

We consider these provisions form a right and proper basis on which acting pay should be allowed, but that, if possible, officers should not be appointed to perform the duties of two distinct offices at the same time. We recommend, however, that absence on long leave should mean absence on leave for a period exceeding two months or for any period prior to retirement.

163. But there are several local matters which require consideration and have been provided for in the present General Orders. We now proceed to deal with them.

Under General Order Nos. 92 (2) and 25 (11) a Cadet Officer of Class II who acts as Treasurer, Secretary for Chinese Affairs, First Magistrate, Director of Education or Crown Solicitor receives additional salary of £50 or £100 a year according as his substantive salary exceeds or does not exceed £900 per annum; while under General Order No. 92 (3) a Cadet Officer of Class II who acts in a Staff or other office outside the Cadet Service receives half his substantive salary and half the initial salary of the office in which he is acting. We consider it unnecessary to make these special provisions and that the Cadet Officer should come under the general rule mentioned in the last preceding paragraph. The proviso which limits the pay drawn to the minimum emoluments of the senior office is, in our opinion, an adequate safeguard against overpayment.

A Cadet Officer of Class II is, also, under General Order Nos. 92 (2) and 95 (11), granted additional salary of £50 a year while he performs the duties of certain posts of considerable responsibility. We agree that that provision should remain and would place the salary bar, on reaching which the additional salary ceases to be payable, at £1,100 per annum which corresponds fairly with the present bar which is at £900 per annum.

(b) Charge Allowances (or Duty Allowances or Pay).

164. These allowances are paid as follows:—

Harbour Department, Marine Surveyors' Office :—

2 Senior Assistant Surveyors: Duty Pay £50 each.

Prisons Department :---

1 Chief Warder: Charge Allowance $600.

Public Works Department:-

Architectural, Engineer in Charge

Drainage, Engineer in Charge

Electrical, Engineer in Charge

General Works, Engineer in Charge

Port Development, Engineer in Charge

Roads, Piers, Bridges, etc., Engineer in Charge

Valuations & Resumptions, Engineer in Charge Crown Lands-Superintendent

Surveys Superintendent

Kowloon-Canton Railway :-

Traffic Manager, Charge Allowance $1,000.

Charge Allowances of $2,400 each.

Charge Allowances

of $1,200 each.

Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charge. Allowance $1,500.

We have been unable to discover any reason for the grant of these allowances. They are confined to the four departments above mentioned and are payable to officers in charge of sub-departments; and on that ground should be equally payable to a master in charge of a school, a doctor in charge of a hospital, or a custodian of a bathing beach.