12... should propose to confine the appointment of Registrar General; is allowed Iris added to $1,440, the
$1,800 a year.
pay attached to the Office of Registration Clerk, which it is now proposed to abolish,
· Year, equivalent would give $3,240 a year at the present rate of exchange to nearly £600 in English money. Iris is certainly not an extravagant remuneration for the discharge of such important and delicate duties, requiring special qualifications.
11. I ought to add that Mr. Northcote, the Second Clerk, has had only about nine years' service, while Mr Osmund has had above 25 years' service; and that, owing to his imperfect acquaintance with Chinese and for other reasons, his promotion would not be attended with the advantages which would accrue, were Mr Mitchell-Innes and Mr Osmund to get the appointment, which I now respectfully submit for Consideration. Moreover, it will be recollected that the Civil Service Cadets here correspond to the so-called Covenanted Service of British India, and have a preferential claim to the higher offices in the Colony
(Signed) E. Stewart, Registrar General
Registrar General's Office
Hong Kong, 12th April, 1887.