DRAFT.
The Officer Administering the Government has to give precedence over the Colonial Secretary or Attorney General, yet he will have to be careful not to create a precedent that could be counted against him in the future.
The Officers of the Service, whatever their rank may be at any future time appointed to a seat in the Executive Council, and whose service may happen to be longer than that of the Treasurer.
I have …
AM. Mitchell-Innes, Treasurer.
D. M. Goodman, Act. Colonial Secretary.
174 Hong Kong 14247 General
MINUTE. Mr. Lucas 25. Mr. Fairfield. Mr. Wingfield. Mr. Brumaton. Mr. Meade. Sir R. Herbert. Baron de Worms. Lord Knutsford.
25 July 38. 29 July 91.
I have the honour to act:
the receipt of your despatch no.
a copy of a letter from the Treasurer, Mr. Mitchell Innes, complaining of the precedence given to Mr. Deane, Captain Superintendent of Police, and Mr. Lockhart, Registrar General, in the Executive Council.
Mr. Mitchell Innes should be informed that having regard to the words of Section IV of the Royal Instructions, "The members of the Executive Council…"