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I have the honour to request the sanction of Your Lordship to the temporary appointment of Mr. Ross as Postmaster-General, Mr. Ross having had previous experience of the working of this important Department and no other Cadet Officer being available to take charge of it.
3. In connection with the extension of leave granted to Mr. C. McI. Messer, of which I was informed by Your Lordship's Despatch No. 6 of 1906, and this extension of leave to Mr. Ross I have the honour to suggest to Your Lordship the advisability, in view of the smallness of the Cadet Civil Service at Hongkong making it difficult to supply Officers to take the place of those whose absence has not been anticipated, of adhering to the principle laid down in Lord Knutsford's Despatch No. 262 of the 12th November, 1890, that applications for extension of leave should not be granted without previous reference to the Colony.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Matthew
Governor, &c.
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