under
which
Temporary
vacancies
at present filled.
Hong Kong should
be
abandoned, and I can
well
understand
that
Page 403
the question of
DRAFT.
the
change
of
method of filling
acting appointments
has frequently engaged
The
attention
of my
predecessors;
it has
been noted
that
to
some extent
the
late officers have
been removed from their
own proper appointment,
and
you
in Hong Kong have led
the way
in this regard;
the existing system
has been viewed
with disfavour;
but although my
predecessors have
been inclined
to adopt some
such alteration
as that advocated by you,
4. It is
understood
because
mechanically
that junior
officers would be placed
in charge of the higher
offices to
the exclusion
of