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Nence there was no one to do the duty of Assistant Surveyor General or Assistant Engineer, and I was much embarrassed as to how I could get the work carried on.
3.
Fortunately Mr John Clarke, a gentleman regularly educated as a Civil Engineer and formerly Engineer to the Municipal Council at Shanghai, where he received a salary of £1,300 per annum with the right to private practice, has recently returned to China and anxious to establish himself at Hongkong, for a year has consented to undertake the duties of Assistant Surveyor General and Assistant Engineer, receiving the half salary of the former, and the pay of the latter viz: a guinea per day.
4.
At the same time it is agreed that the prohibition against private practice cannot be maintained against an Officer like Mr. Clarke as enforced in such cases. Mr. Clarke however agrees to give 8 hours a day to the work which he has to do, and as he is recommended to me as a gentleman of superior acquirements I believe the arrangement likely to be beneficial to the Colony and I therefore request your Lordship's sanction of it.
I have the honour to be, My Lord Duke, Your Grace's most obedient humble servant,
Frederick Wright Bruce
Governor