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Enclosure Is.
to Despatch No. 267 of the C
0.
23rd. June, 1903,
-
31332
Public Works Office, Hongkong, 10th. June, 1903.
RECD
JUN 23 1903
I have the honour to make the following proposals with regard to giving effect to the recommendations of the Public Works Commission.
I do not propose that Mr. Tooker should be appointed to this post, because, even assuming that he were, in all other respects qualified to fill it, the statement made by Dr. Manson (§. 8. P. 32, No. 198 of 1899) regarding his "liability to break down under the strain of work and responsibility" would debar me from making such a proposal. It is therefore needless for me to discuss his qualifications.
I recommend however that Mr. J. F. Boulton, who has been engaged for the past 13 years in carrying out the Praya Reclamation Scheme, should be appointed to the vacancy. Of Mr. Boulton's ability to fill it, I have no doubt, he is a capable and hard-working Officer and possesses from local experience, which is of much value in such a position.
It is highly desirable that I should be relieved, as early as possible, of a portion of the duties which I now have to perform, as a considerable amount of work is in arrears on account of my inability to find time to overtake it and there is such important work in prospect, as the outcome of the Experts' visit, which will involve large expenditure and call for serious consideration.
As the Praya Reclamation Scheme is nearly completed, except as regards the adjustment of the accounts, it will be quite possible to at once transfer Mr. Boulton to the appointment for which I now recommend him. I may also point out that, as another important Reclamation scheme will probably be undertaken shortly in front of the Eastern District of the City, it will be of great assistance to have Mr. Boulton's services as Assistant Director of Public Works, seeing that the direction of the work will devolve principally upon him.
Mr. Boulton has longer service than Mr. Tooker and was originally in receipt of the same amount of salary and it was
ToGently
The Honourable
E. L. F. C., Colonial Secretary.
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