Geld is rach J copy marked with the position the officer, and cach receipt form similarly marked.
The Governor has never had anything to do with secret documents intended for naval officers. There are sent out by the Admiralty!
He reasons for not acceding to the request for a wider distribution are given by the Committee in their Remarks No 218 R para 3. These remarks were probably not before the Council when he signed this despatch, acknowledgement of their receipt in 28166 is dated 6 days later.
To Gov. despatch boy calling his attention to para 3 of Cove Remarks 218R, informing him as at A above, requesting him to issue the documents to the officers whose names appear on the schemes appointments and receipt forms, and to have the inclosed duplicate receipt forthy. The original signed by the Staff Officers (A) and (B), receipt form for the former officer has not been returned to the CO. but that for the latter is comply signed by the Harbour Master herewith.
A. J. Clawson 28/10/99
Rust od 30
HONG-KONG
SECRET
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
6/9/99.
356
26166
REC REGE 16 OCT
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your secret despatch of June 27th, enclosing 10 copies of the Hong-Kong Defence Scheme, revised to December 1898. I enclose receipts for copies No 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30. No 18 is in my possession. Copy No 15 has been transmitted to Captain Jellicoe R.N. at present absent from the port with the flag-ship of the Commander-in-Chief. The receipt for this copy will be transmitted to you as soon as received.
At the same time I have the honour to invite your notice to the letter addressed to me by Major-General Black on the 10th December 1898, a copy of which I enclosed to you in my secret despatch of the 16th December in which the number of copies of the revised scheme asked for was 14, exclusive of the Governor's copy. As Major-General Gascoigne assures me that that number is urgently required & absolutely necessary, I would ask that the 5 additional copies may be supplied. The officers for whom these further copies are asked are as shown in the second enclosure hereto.
With reference to your secret despatch of ...