Received only late in the afternoon of the day before the Mail steamer's departure, and required some words of comment upon its contents, the Veterinaries were informed that it could not be forwarded by the then outgoing mail.
However, I take the earliest opportunity of appending some remarks in explanation.
The Society fell into an error at the very commencement by assuming that the Note for the admission of Attorneys in England and Wales might be made applicable to, and observed in, the Colony of Hong Kong, a fallacy requiring to be exposed.
The reference to the remarks of the late Chief Justice and Attorney-General is altogether incorrect, as will be seen by the Attorney General's letter of 15 May, Enclosure No.4 in my Despatch above quoted. The Ordinance is sufficiently stringent, by providing an adequate and appropriate examination, in order to prevent the admission of incompetent candidates to the Roll, and I have no fear of the influx of any who are not perfectly equal in position and respectability.