No.
.464.
Government House,
20th October,
229
HongKong, 20October, 1900.
sir,
14037
I have the honour to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your despatch No.210 of the 3rd.July last, stating
that you are prepared to approve of the post of Registrar Gen-
eral being separated from that of the Colonial Secretary if
I am of opinion that such an arrangement is desirable, and re-
questing to be informed whether I consider the appointment
of Registrar General should be restored as a separate office
or whether the duties could be discharged by the holder of
some other post.
2. After having given the matter my sare
ful consideration I have arrived at the conclusion that it
would not be possible tdcombine the duties of Inspector of
Schools, Registrar General and Head of the Interpretation and
Translation Department in one officer, and that as there is no
other office with which that of the Registrar General could
be amalgamated, it will be necessary to restore that post as a
separate office,it being understood that the officer appoint- #d as Registrar General will have to supervise the Interpre-
tation
and Translation Department, the establishment of which
he Right Honourable
you
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN,M.P.
40..