the grant of Exchange Compensation Allowance, and to refer to the opinion expressed my despatch No 290 of the 1st October, 1895, in regard to a mar similar memorial, which I am not disposed to modify.
I have the honour to be, Your Most Obedient Humble Servant, Wam Riberry
1922795 Enclosure To the Right Honourable, Mr Joseph Chamberlain, MP. Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,
The Humble Petition of the Undersigned, Portuguese subordinates officers in the employ of the Government of Hong Kong Respectfully sheweth-
1.- That your petitioners are all members of the Public Service respectively holding offices in the various departments of the Government Colony of Hong Kong requiring honesty, diligence, and zeal in the performance assigned to them.
2. That on the 15th July 1895, your petitioners addressed a memorial, to His Excellency Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., the Governor of the Colony, and on the 23rd September of the same year forwarded a petition through His Excellency's courtesy to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, both praying for the privilege of drawing "exchange compensation" which certain numbers of the Public Service, have been receiving since the 1st January, 1884.
3. To the first representation above referred to, His Excellency directed a reply to be sent to your petitioners, duly received, that it was not in His Excellency's power to grant exchange compensation,