Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 21st April, 1909.
C.O. 19727
Sir,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant stating that Mr. Shelton Hooper wished his opinion that Mr. Bowen-Rowlands is not physically fit for the arduous duties of Secretary of the Sanitary Board, made known to the Government.
In reply I am to state that Mr. Bowen-Rowlands has not been absent from duty on account of sickness since 1906. The Government, therefore, see no reason why Mr. Bowen-Rowlands should not be capable of discharging the duties of Secretary to the Sanitary Board in a satisfactory way. It is not feasible, nor would it be just to Mr. Bowen-Rowlands to cancel the appointment on a mere hypothesis, but if the Board should later have any reason to complain of the manner in which Mr. Bowen-Rowlands's duties are discharged their complaint will be duly considered in accordance with the rules of the Service.
I have etc.,
(Sd.) F. H. May,
Colonial Secretary.
The Head, Sanitary Department.