§ Mr. EVERARDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that civil servants serving in Hong Kong, recruited on a sterling basis, are now paid on the basis of half at the true exchange and half at the artificial exchange; whether civil servants now being recruited are to be paid on the same basis on arrival in Hong Kong; whether a remission to meet the anticipated deficit will be considered; and generally what steps he has taken to meet the position of civil servants serving in Hong Kong arising out of rate-of-exchange difficulties?
§ Dr. SHIELSThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, but civil servants now being recruited are informed of the rates for converting sterling salaries into dollars. In view of the serious financial position of the Hong Kong Government, no change in the conversion rates is possible at present, but a Commission has been sent to Hong Kong to review the currency position and the whole matter will be reconsidered on receipt of the Commission's report.