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9
that I.
to education. I am confident that Your Lordship will agree I should decline to be guilty, at the
close
of my career, of the inconsistency of abandoning the system of Competitive examinations, merely because it may be theoretically disliked by a few irresponsible persons without practical experience
in Colonial Administration.
5
But if it should be virtually decided for some reason not yet explained, that other persons, at the distance of half the globe, are better qualified than the Governor and the Executive Council on the spot, to make arrangements for the selection of a few Indo-Portuguese and Chinese Clerks, with salaries under £100 a year, for the local service of Hongkong, I need scarcely assure Your Lordship that I shall
be only too happy to abandon this petty patronage. I will loyally carry out any express directions of the Secretary of State in this or in other matter. I would submit, with great respect, that in the event
of ... supposed