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No.252.
Sir,
Government House,
Hong-Kong, 10th July, 1901.
In continuation of my despatch No.141 of the 6th of last April, I have the honour to submit the following proposals for the reorganization of the subordinate staff of the Colonial Secretary's Office.
2. The Colonial Secretary is strongly of opinion that the time has come when the important duties of the First Clerk and Clerk to the Clerk of Councils should no longer be entrusted to the charge of an officer obtained locally. The services of a really able Clerk are much required, and for that purpose I am of opinion that it is very desirable to obtain from home a Clerk who has had experience of office work and the keeping of records, preferably a Clerk from the second division of the Home Civil Service. If appointed, such Clerk should be placed in the first class of the subordinate Civil Service, as classified in my despatch No.202 of the 3rd ultimo, with the title of Chief Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office. His salary would therefore be $2,400 rising to $3,000 by $120 biennially. He should be an unmarried man and should enter into a contract with the Crown Agents to serve for 10 years in the Colonial Secretary's Office at Hong-Kong.
3.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
&C.
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