Comprehensively and placed on a proper footing but until the liabilities of the Colony and the vested rights of Existing Office holders are clearly understood, it would be impossible either to devise any general scheme such as exists at present in Ceylon, or to provide against the Colony being at any time involved by unexpected demands in financial embarrassments.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord Duke,
Your Grace's
Most obedient Servant,
W. M. G. Molineux
23rd July, 1860
Since writing the above,
I have this day received Your Grace's Despatch No. 40 of the 28th May last, and I wish to add that having some short time ago obtained a copy of the Ceylon Pension Regulations, I at once abandoned all idea of reviving here the System of abatements which I found had been discontinued in that Colony. I think the terms of the Ceylon Scheme are perhaps not quite sufficiently liberal for such a trying Climate as Hong Kong, and when I receive replies to the enquiries contained in this despatch, I hope to be able to submit to Your Grace a pension scheme for the Civil Servants in Hong Kong. I would for my part be disposed to recommend that pensions be granted not only to those from whom abatements have been received;