No.77.
398
Government House.
Hong-Kong, 28th March, 1899.
MAY 19
Sir,
41/9.
With reference to your despatch No.26 of the 31st January last, I have the honour to recommend that Sergeant William Robertson be allowed to retain his Police privileges, as Assistant Engineer in the Fire Brigade, for the reasons stated in the enclosed extract from a letter from the Captain Superintendent of Police.
2. The privileges relate to the grant of bonus or passage, leave, and pension, and Mr. May points out that a rising Police Officer would not accept the appointment in the Fire Brigade, if it entailed the forfeiture of those privileges.
3. There is also the question of economy involved in this recommendation, as in the event of a suitable Police Officer not offering himself, an Assistant Engineer would have to be obtained from home at a salary of some $150 a month, and not improbably quarters would have to be provided for a married man.
4. I therefore beg to submit that the appointment be regarded as one subject to the conditions of service.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
&c.
800.