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How: to Mercer
Sir
Royal Engineer Office
Hong Kong. 6th September 1864
I have the hour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 2757, of the 25th Ult., and enclosures of same date relative to a remonstrance on the part of a certain Surveyor and Architect (Mr. Wurstorfer) to the employment of Engineer Officers and Clerks of Works on Colonial works &c., alleging that such employment is antagonistic to private enterprise.
I am surprised at the arguments used to prevent the employment of able and useful government Officers, Civil and Military, in assisting Colonial projects, public and private.
It has been the custom here to afford all opportunity to the Colonial governments both by the employment of Officers and Clerks of Works, &c. & Privates, of the Royal Engineer Department, when their Services could be spared. This system found at work when I took the command, and it has been continued by me, and I would strongly recommend its continuance where practicable and for the following simple reasons.
1. The Colony gets the services of practical men of known character.
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2.
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J
How how I
Colonial Secretary).