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leave to mention the following facts in connection with my past and present service.
I entered the Civil Service in St. Vincent on the 8th. March, 1880, and was appointed in 1885 the Head of a Department viz:- as Colonial Postmaster of that Island. I on several occasions acted as Registrar of the Supreme Court, and also as Provost Marshal in that Island, and was from 1884 to 1899, Deputy Coroner of the Kingstown or First District.
In addition to service in St. Vincent
I have also held the position of Accountant in the Public forks Department, Grenada, for which I was specially selected, and while in Granada was asked by Sir Walter Sandall, the then Governor of the Windward Islands, to take charge of the Past Office there as Acting Colonial Postmaster.
I have every reason to believe that in the several Offices that I held I performed the duties of sach to the entire satisfaction of the Government. I would in the ordinary course of events have stood an equal chance to rise to the best appointment to which an Official could rise, both in respect to position as well as salary.
On my arrival in Hongkong I discovered that I would not be eligible for any of the higher appointments as these were reserved for Cadets. This fact certainly affects my future most seriously. With a young family growing up and needing education, added to the ever increasing cost of living in Hongkong, I will I fear never be able to do anything for them if I remain in Hongkong.
I therefore in drawing attention to
this, to me, dark future, would, while asking to be pardoned for troubling Your Excellency, ask to be allowed most bumbly to seek your recommendation of my application for transfer to a Colony where such conditions as those detailed do not exist, and that I may be appointed to a post equal in rank to that I beld in St. Vincent for close upon
14 years.
I have etc.,
(Sd.) B. Gornewall Lewis.