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DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO BE LIMITED TO THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH ITS CONTENTS
TOP SECRET
7349IN
WARNING: This is an unparaphrased version of a secret cypher & confident!345le* message, and the text must first be paraphrased* if it is essential to communicate it to persons outside British or Allied Government Services.
(*NOTE: Messages shown as having been sent in a One-Time Pad: "O.T.P." are excepted from this rule.)
231234Z/Sept.
From: 0. in C. Hong Kong.
Date 23.9.45.
Recd: 2312,
C.C.M. (Naval) Flag Officers Secret by W/T.
Addressed: War Office.
IMMEDIATE
For Civil Affairs, Admiralty pass to War Office.
In spite of control of rice at 20 cents per catty rpt catty basic cost of living continues abnormally high owing to scarcity of essentials like One Hong Kong firewood, peanut oil, nest and fish. dollar per day was fixed as standard. wage for unskilled labour in advance re-establishment of Hong Kong dollar currency. Figures now available as result of investigations suggest basic living wage as nearer three dollars per day. Prices fluctuate with slight tendency to decline but in meantime am forced to consider temporary high cost of living allowance for Government and essential workers. As immediate move propose granting high cost of living allowance to all subordinate employees other then European (including casual daily labour) of 100 per cent subject to maximum allowance of two rpt two hundred Hong Kong dollars.
Allowance will be kept under continual review and warning given that it is temporary and liable to change. Regard one hundred rpt 100 per cent for lower paid porsonnel as minimum required to meet present situation and after consideration have decided op allowance rather than alternatives such as (?food) rice or wholesale relief which we lack staff to administer.
Would appreciate your carly observations as I have to act almost immediately.
D.F.S.L.
P.A.S.(L)
D of P (2) (3) M (16) for W.0.
D
231 2342.
Advance Copy sent
M Branch for W.0、
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