465
gain by this assimilation of the services is
that the rate of promotion will be more or less
equal throughout. I do not think it is
necessary to enlarge upon the abstract justice
of this policy.
144 Zor
The position of the Hong Kong cadets
mus therefore be looked at broadly, in com-
ist
parison with the position of cadets in the
Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay
States, he fore it can be said that they have
been unfairly treated as regards the deferment
of their promotion to substantive appointments;
this
and from water point of view, I fail to find
mequalities
any real grievance, or any additi
ex-
cept such as are bound to arise from time to
time owing to the irregular occurrence of op-
portunities for promotion. One out of two
1897 cadets, and one out of two 1899 cadets,
have received substantive appointments. in
Hong Kong; and the situation is much the same
in the Straits Settlements and the Federated
Malay