The Secretary of State has ordered, and to aid more competent than I am by their experience and knowledge of affairs in such an investigation. I accept this Excellency's assurance that the abandonment of the enquiry by the Committee (the only one alluded to) is not necessarily tantamount to the abandonment of all enquiry. I feel confident His Excellency will continue the good work he has commenced, but unfortunately this departmental enquiry is one in which neither the public, nor apparently, the Secretary of State, have complete confidence in.
I have moved three times for a Committee of Enquiry, once before His Excellency's arrival in Hong Kong, and twice since, and I have taken an active part in promoting the Memorial and Petition of January last to the Secretary of State, after I was aware that Sir William Robinson was alive to the necessity for retrenchment, and was making enquiries, and preparing schemes. But permit me to state that there is no ground whatever for your assertion that I did so because I knew of further economies that might be effected which were unknown to the Governor, or because I thought a Committee the only means by which I could make my recommendations heard. I did so because I thought, and still think, a public independent enquiry conducted by persons in the main unconnected with Government service, is the best instrument for ascertaining all the facts connected with the working of the Government departments, the opinions of all competent persons as to possible improvements and economies, and of placing on record for the information of future Governors and Colonial Secretaries.