AWV 10
160
0.
290.
Government, Hong Kong, 13th October, 1899.
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Sir,
With reference to your Despatch No. 189 of the 29th August, I have the honour to inform you that the statements contained in Mr. Lewis's letter forwarded to you under cover of my Despatch No. 186 of the 5th July, are correct, but there are a great many members of the Civil Service of Hongkong who are equal sufferers from the cause of insufficient pay, as will be seen on reference to my Despatch No. 199 of the 27th July, 1899 forwarding a petition from the members of the Civil Service praying that a Committee might be appointed to enquire into the question of salaries.
2. I, therefore, propose to take no steps with regard to this particular case until I have received a reply to
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RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
&c., &c., &c.