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of the Executive Council.
The position of this officer was in 1884 definitely fixed by the Royal Instructions, which laid down that the Treasurer of Hongkong was to be a Member of Executive Council with rank and precedence immediately after the Attorney General, thus giving him a position analogous to that held by the Treasurers of Mauritius, Ceylon and the Straits Settlements.
The instructions of 1888 recognised the position of the Treasurer as laid down in 1884, as still existing in the absence of special directions to the contrary.
In 1883, the Executive Council consisted (exclusive of the Governor and the General) of (1) The Colonial Secretary, (2) the Attorney General (both ex-officio), and (3) the Surveyor General (nominated); but in 1884 the Members were (1) the Colonial Secretary, (2) the Attorney General, and (3) the Treasurer (ex-officio), and (4) the Surveyor General and (5) the Registrar General (nominated).
Since that time the Treasurer has always ranked next the Attorney General, while the Registrar General's seat has been vacant from 1886 till April last, the Captain Superintendent of Police being nominated in 1887.
I am aware of no reason for holding that the importance of the Treasurer's office has decreased since the Instructions of 1884; rather it appears to have, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, so much increased as to require the entire time and attention of the Officer holding it. On the other hand, the duties of