1.431.
Sir,
I am directed by Sir [Roper?] acting Governor to inform you that a Despatch has been received from the Secretary of State giving you order to repay any salary paid to you on his account since 31st July last, and I am to enquire if you have received any communication from Mr Thornton.
Mr. A. S. Watson.
Sir Roper ...
[Illegible text, possibly due to OCR errors]
The [illegible] approves the matter & that he has been called to explain the circumstance.
Mr. Mercer,
Hongkong, 2 December 1893.
The Duke of Newcastle.
No 216
Inclosure
Received N. 129 of 9th October, on the subject of Mr. Kouton's half salary.
Replying to this Despatch...
28.1/2
Page information is kept as is, assuming the original had "Page XX" format, but it is not present here.
The text has been reformatted into paragraphs and minor corrections made for spacing and punctuation. Illegible text is left as is, with an indication that it is possibly due to OCR errors.
However, to follow the exact output format as requested (HTML usingfor paragraphs), the rewritten response is:
1.431.
Sir,
I am directed by Sir Roper acting Governor to inform you that a Despatch has been received from the Secretary of State giving you order to repay any salary paid to you on his account since 31st July last, and I am to enquire if you have received any communication from Mr Thornton.
Mr. A. S. Watson.
Sir Roper ...
Lurratte approves the matter & that he has been called to Explain the circumstance: slame img t refun Mnr. Mercer
Hongkong, 2 December 1893
The Duke of Newcastle.
No216
1 Inclosure
Preived N. 129 of 9th October, on the subject of Mr. Kouton's half salary.
Replying to this Grace's Jess
28.1/2
In my ... my genous