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Bar and as, in consequence, I have yet some considerable time to remain - I beg respectfully to resign the appointment I hold, of the First Superintendentship of the Kowloon Magistracy, and in beg leave to tender my sincere thanks for the kind considerations I have invariably received from the hands of Her Majesty's Government.
Should Your Lordship be pleased to accept my resignation, I would humbly ask to be relieved of the obligation of refunding Government the amount of half pay drawn by me during my furlough leave. In soliciting this, I venture to offer the following considerations.
(1) I have been in the Colonial Government service of Hongkong in various capacities and responsible positions for nearly 15 years, having entered the service in July, 1861, and I have performed my various onerous duties in a manner which, I have reason to believe, has gained the unanimous approval and satisfaction of all the superior officers under whom I have served.
(2) During the whole of the said fifteen years, with the exception of the period of my present leave, and of about six weeks on vacation leave while I was in China, I was in active service, and was never absent from my duties.
(3) By the Rules and Regulations for Her Majesty's Colonial service, it is provided that leave granted to a Colonial officer in ordinary cases not exceeding one-sixth of the officer's resident service, and which leave is on half-pay, may be extended to 24 months in favor of an officer serving in a Colony like Hongkong. The same Rules and Regulations, provision is also made for granting pension or retiring allowance to such an officer who has discharged the duties of his situation with diligence and fidelity.
I do not intend, My Lord, to apply for pension or retiring allowance.