THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MARCH 18, 1932. 251
10. It will be seen therefore that under the conditions of today, the adoption of a common method of entry for the whole Service is likely to prove generally advantageous, not only to the Colonial Service as a whole, but to each of its component elements. It is further clear that the two main arguments used in the past for the retention of the competitive examination, .e. (i) that the selection system was difficult to defend against charges of partiality and (2) that it did not produce a sufficiently high standard of intellectual ability, can no longer be substantiated. On the other hand the selection system has been proved to possess distinct advantages both in widening the field of choice and in enabling weight to be given more easily to qualifications which are of great importance in the candidates to be selected. The results of the change can, of course, only be judged from experience, but I feel that there is every reason to look upon. the future with confidence.
11. Assuming then that the change was to be made, there were convincing argu- ments for making it immediately. In the ordinary way I should have wished to give as long notice as possible of such a decision but it was brought to my notice that the temporary reduction of other openings for young men, owing to the existing financial depression, would enable the selection of candidates for the Colonial Service in 1932 to be carried out under peculiarly favourable conditions, and that the initial difficulties which must inevitably attend any radical change of system would thus be reduced to a minimum. On the other hand, should the change be postponed, it was quite possible that an exceptionally favourable opportunity for establishing the position of the Colonial Service as a first class career might have been missed. I did not feel justified in taking so serious a risk and accordingly felt it necessary to treat the matter as one of urgency and to announce the change in time for it to be introduced in connection with the selection of candidates in 1932.
12. As this despatch will, no doubt, be of interest to officials and to members of the public in the territories immediately affected by the decision, I have to request that it may be published locally in such a manner as may commend itself to you.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble servant.
(Sgd.) P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER.