§ 14. Mr. GUY (for Captain PETER MACDONALD)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any further consideration has now been given to the reduction in the effective pay received by officers of the Royal Navy on the China station, in view of the depreciation of the Chinese dollar in terms of pounds sterling; and whether, in view of the fact that the rates of allowances to Army officers on China stations have been increased on this account, he can state whether equally sympathetic treatment can be accorded to naval officers?
§ The CIVIL LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)A scheme of exchange concession to meet the depreciation of the Chinese dollar was announced by telegram on the 25th May, and is now in operation throughout the area in which the Hong Kong dollar is current. The scheme is designed to compensate for changes in the dollar by paying, in dollars at a standard rate of 2s., that fixed proportion of the pay which is estimated to be spent on the station. The case of military personnel is met by modifying 342 from time to time the rates of colonial allowance payable on the station, and it is therefore not possible to make any exact comparison between the two systems. I am satisfied, however, that the naval scheme gives fully adequate compensation.