SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY TO HON. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 24th July, 1893.
In reply to your letter of the 22nd instant, received this morning, I am directed to inform you that the Committee referred to therein will consist of His Honour the Chief Justice (Chairman), the Honourable Harbour Master, the Honourable Mr. Chater, yourself, and the Captain Superintendent of Police.
I have the honour to be,
The Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD,
&c., &c., &c.
May I venture to suggest for His Excellency's consideration the withdrawal from the Committee of the Honourable the Harbour Master's name, and the substitution of an unofficial member of Council in his place. It seems to me that the Committee so constituted would be what the Marquis of Ripon intended to grant us, and what would be acceptable to the public. I should have no hesitation in acting on such a Committee.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
DEAR SIR,
HON. T. H. WHITEHEAD TO COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Government House, Hongkong, 28th July, 1893.
Before replying to your official letter of the 25th instant, His Excellency the Governor would be glad to know if you would consent to serve on the Retrenchment Committee if it is constituted as follows:- Chairman, The Chief Justice; Official member, Mr. F. H. May; Unofficial members, Honourable C. P. Chater, Honourable T. H. Whitehead.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary.
SIR,
Hongkong, 25th July, 1893.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 24th instant informing me, by direction of His Excellency the Governor, of the composition of the Committee of Enquiry into the expenditure of the colony, of which I have been appointed a member.
I greatly regret to say that I cannot accept the appointment. I am very sorry that I cannot take part in any Committee or Commission on the subject which does not consist in the main of members unconnected with the Government service. I agree on the whole with His Excellency the Governor in his opinion expressed in the 17th paragraph of his despatch of the 17th January last to the Right Honourable the Marquis of Ripon, that the best possible Commission would be one consisting entirely of persons unconnected with the Colony; but if we cannot have such a thoroughly independent and unprejudiced body to conduct the investigation, then we should have what the unofficial members of Council have unanimously asked for, now four times in succession, with the full approval and support of the community-that is, a Committee or Commission of the character and composition of that appointed to look into the Treasury frauds. When I moved for such a Committee I did so with a full knowledge of the work to be done, and of the difficulties to be encountered, difficulties in no way diminished by the declared opposition of His Excellency and of yourself to any enquiry. I was fully prepared to take part, if requested, in the labours of any Committee appointed in the terms of my motion and of our petition to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. I am ready to form part of such a Committee now; but I have seen no reason to change my opinion, that to be of practical value a majority of the members should be persons unconnected with the Government service.
To Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD, M.L.C.
I remain,
Yours very truly,
J. T. STERLING, A.D.C.
HON. T. H. WHITEHEAD TO THE A.D.C.
Captain J. T. STERLING, A.D.C.,
DEAR SIR,
Government House.
Hongkong, 29th July, 1893.
Before replying to your note of yesterday afternoon may I venture to suggest for the consideration of His Excellency the grave inconveniences attending the working of a Committee of four. Frequently the responsibility of giving a casting vote would necessarily be thrown on the Chairman, and I scarcely think he should be placed in such a position. I have not seen the Chief Justice, but I am of opinion he would not like it. May I ask His Excellency if it would not be possible to put on the Committee a lay member, say Mr. Ede, who has considerable interests in Hongkong, has had a long experience in the Colony, is a very practical business man, and possessed of a wide knowledge of office work? Such a member would be of great service, and could render vast assistance. Would His Excellency not think it well to ask by wire for authority from the Secretary of State to put some lay member on the Commission, though I think it is unnecessary to do so?
I remain,
Yours very truly,
T. H. WHITEHEAD,