Government House, Hong Kong, 15 April, 1881.
My Lord,
On the receipt of your Lordship's despatch No. 36 of the 24th of September, 1880, I telegraphed to Your Lordship suggesting that Mr. Lowcock should not be appointed to the Legislative Council.
...
Mr. J.M. Lewis's habit of allowing him to remain as local head of Gibb Livingston & Co., he would from his position be qualified for a seat in Council, whatever may be for his interest in the Colony as to which I know nothing when absent.
Mr. Johnson is a well-known man, but I do not think he is fit to sit in the Council while his partner Mr. Keswick is still in England.
Mr. Dalrymple is a good man, a sensible Scotchman who would do well in the Council.
As for Messrs. Bell-Irving & Sassoon, I can say nothing about them; they were not leaders of the Community in my day, whatever they may have become since.
But a Director of the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation is no great test of our fitness for other things than the value of a man's signature.
...
My answer is based on the foregoing. I do not ask for an answer. I probably hope that Mr. Hayes will be confirmed as a permanent member in consequence of this despatch.
I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's obedient servant,
[Signature]
To the Right Honourable the Earl of Kimberley, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Page 18/6
His Excellency's letter of June 18.
No. 38.