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have stated in the Colonial Secretary's letter above quoted, I consider that a retrenchment Committee composed of residents in Hongkong would be manifestly incomplete and incongruous if it did not comprise Mr. Whitehead as one of its members. Besides, in view of the part which he has taken in obtaining Your Lordship's decision that a Committee should be appointed, and of the statements which he has made regarding the practicability of effecting large economies in the public expenditure, presumably additional to those which I have already had the honour of submitting to Your Lordship, the Government is in my opinion justified in insisting on his serving on any Committee that may be appointed, as a condition of such appointment. On the other hand, he declines to join
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