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sacrificed unless leave be granted. While I cannot deny the urgency of
these cases
they fill
me with anxiety
in anticipating the simultaneous
three Head of Department
removal of the
from the Colony.
I can replace
Mr. Mercer by
Mr Hillier which will leave a blank
which
in the Chief Magistrate's Office I shall have infinite difficulty in filling up - Moreover Mr Hillier has expressed to me his earnest desire to quit the Colonial and to be transferred to the Consular service where his lingual requirements would be of special value. Should he be nominated by Lord Clarendon
to the Siamese Consulship (as is
possible) I have urgently to request that a Gentleman competent to discharge satisfactorily the Duties of Chief Magistrate may come out without delay.
As
regard
the Surveyor's
Department, I believe I shall be enabled with the Assistance of Captain Cowper to conduct the Public Service without inconvenience, Mr Cleverly's claim to relief is strong and I doubt if he can
safely pass another Summer in Hongkong.
I enclose a private note I have from Mr. Reinhacker. He is
an invaluable Public Servant and