This is by no means the whole disgraceful story. In the British army an officer's allowances are in ratio to his rank. A major. for instance. receives more for his expenses than a subaltern. If we are not mistaken, a subaltern living in hotel at $7 a day would be unable to foot the bill even were he to contribute every penny of his pay as well as the army allowance of $2.30. There is no use, however, to labour the point. He has no means of obtaining that pay locally. as he can only think in terms of two dollars and a half.
But why should such a situation exist at all? Tt is scandalous. yot we understand that the military authorities in Hongkong have indicated that in their opinion a Labour Corps officer should contribute from his pay to his maintenance. We shall not attempt to analyse this frame of mind.
This is a case for some strong action being adopted immediately to arouse out the officials at Home. For their edification and for local information we may mention that some of the officers here are in such straits that they are ready to ask relief from the Consulate as destitute Britons. Immediate protest is called for in the strongest telegraphic form from every British association. These officers want no charity; they want justice.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.