C. O.
1276
RECO
183
10-JAN 03)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
January 9,
1903.
I have the honour to reply to your letter of
October 24 last (42357/02) (which I acknowledged demi-
officially from Mentone on October 30) inviting me to
assist the Secretary of State in selecting a successor to
Mr. C. Ford, Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforest-
ation Department, Hong Kong.
2. I have had the opportunity of discussing the
position with Mr. Ford and I gather from him as well as
from your letter that the Hong Kong Government is desirous
of securing the services of a scientific man of a
similar type to the Director of the Botanical Department
of Ceylon and the Straits Settlements who would take rank
in the Colony with the heads of other departments.
3. While the salary offered is beyond what would be
necessary for a man with merely horticultural acquirements
Trobus, Esq., C. B.,
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S. W.