20
"in Council for the filling up of such posts in the Civil Service of appointments in
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the Colony
as are at the disposal of
the Governor
2.
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It will be seen that
I intend to exercise the small
patronage at my disposal through
competitive examinations, which
will answer the purpose,
elsewhere, of
here as
(1) securing the best candidates for
the Public Service; and
(2) encouraging public education
generally, and, in particular,
the study of the English language. It will be perceived
that a Knowledge of English will be
the paramount qualification required. This is essential; for it will be recollected that the majority of the candidates here will be Portuguese and Chinese; and that, as I reported
in
my despatch No. 39 of the 23rd April ultimo, out of the eighty-nine
(89) persons occupying
minor clerical and other posts in the
Service of Hongkong, there are only
twelve (12) Englishmen. Great
inconvenience.