training, and sales when it is borne in mind that a large portion of his time must be devoted to his duties as an Executive and Legislative Councillor.
3. I believe that in a recent despatch addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong doubts were expressed as to the advisability of employing Englishmen in clerical posts in the Colony, it being apprehended that such Officers might, in time, look for preferment to the higher posts in the Service, intended for Officers selected by special examination in England—viz: Cadets. I quite admit that this apprehension might be justified in the case of the Appointment of an English resident, but even if one such could be found, which I much doubt, able and willing to fill the post in question, I should, under the circumstances, be prepared to approve it if offered to him.
4. The class of Officer I have in view is that occupying what I believe is known as the second class post in the public Department in this country, and I imagine it would not be difficult to come to a clear understanding with such an Officer as to the position he would fill in the Colonial Service.
5. I do not consider that so important a post as that which the First Clerk now occupies should be any longer held by a Portuguese Officer, though Portuguese clerks are frequently excellent at routine work; neither they nor Eurasians in the Colony are, as a rule, able to act on their own responsibility, or to effectively supervise subordinates. I may mention that the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank have now decided to fill their positions of trust with English clerks in preference to those of Portuguese or other nationality.
6. The post is not suitable one for a Cadet, as he would first have to be thoroughly trained in bookkeeping and other details, and would thus be in a worse position than his fellows who are constantly being called upon to act as Assistant Head of the more or less important Departments, which, if his special attainments were to be systematically utilised, he could very seldom be allowed to do.
7. The present occupant of the post is a Portuguese, of more than sixty years of age, who, though doubtless very useful in former days, when the work of the Treasury was of a much more simple nature, is, in my opinion, hardly up to the work now required of him.
8. The pay drawn by him is $3,552 (equivalent to about £500), $960 of which is a personal allowance.
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GR1178/1922/32(III)
The Assistant, who is attached to the Treasury draws $3,600, but, as he is on a 3 years agreement, is not entitled to pension. If he joins the permanent staff, as I believe he contemplates doing, and is then allowed to draw the same pay as at present, it would seem necessary to ultimately raise the pay of the First Clerk (an Englishman) to the same figure, as the work he...