Colonial Secretary's Office,
21st October 1888
Director General of the Army Medical Department,
With reference to your letter of 12th April wherein I stated that I was unable to amend my report on the Sanitary condition of Hongkong, and that in consequence I withheld the same,
I have the honor to acquaint you that on reconsidering the subject I decided unofficially to show the précis of Mr. Price, the Surveyor General of Hong Kong, who is at present in London, and as I now find from the attached copy of a letter sent for my perusal that the matter has been officially made use of, I deem it my duty to again transmit the Report on the Sanitary condition of Hongkong, which you will observe has been somewhat modified without in any way weakening its purpose.
Had I been aware that official use would have been made of the copy of my report sent for the perusal of Mr. Price, I would certainly have forwarded you the original at once, and therefore hope that you will not consider my action in this matter as irregular, or that I intended in any way to act independently of you as the Head of my Department.
I have the honor to be,
Your obedient Servant,
(sd) W. Marsham White,
Colonial Secretary,
Sanitary Board & Medical Officers