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@ducational officers two months more full pay leave, count-
-ing school vacations, in every period of six years than
ordinary civil officers. At that time these officers had 4
months' vacation leave in every two years. If they took
this leave as it became due during 6 years' residence they
could only have two months' full pay leave when taking the
half-pay leave in England to which they became entitled
after this residence. Education officers who had two months
full pay leave corresponding to the school vacations in each
year of residence became entitled on the new ruling to 4
months' full pay leave when taking their half-pay leave in
England. Against this advantage had to be set the fact that
vacation leave not in connection with half-pay leave could
be made use of by other than education officers for visits
to Japan and more remote countries while the shortness of
the school vacations did not allow this te education
officers. A new condition of affairs was, however, created
by Lord Ripon's Despatch No. 200 dated the 14th. December,
17953
93 1893, which laid down that the period of vacation leave at
Hongkong would in future, as in the Straits Settlements
and other Colonies, not exceed three months in every two
years. The Despatch went on to say that this new rule would
not of course apply to officers already in the service but
that