CONFIDENTIAL.
sir,
15
13133
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG.
30 JAN ||
4th January 1911.
Gov.39087/10
6.39098/10
You.39810%
TO THE,
I had the honour to telegraph to you
on December the 20th. asking whether I might submit
my recommendations to you for the successor to Sir
Henry May in the appointment of Colonial Secretary.
On receipt of your reply dated December the 24th.
informing me that you would be glad to consider my
recommendation I at once drafted a despatch and
telegraphed to you asking that its arrival should be
awaited since it was difficult to properly explain
the reasons for my proposals in a telegram. I was, however, approached by the Un-official Members of the Legislative Council who desired to lay their views before me, but owing to the intervention of the Christmas and New Year's holidays and to certain differences of opinion among themselves, together with other causes to which I shall presently refer I greatly regret that I have been unable to address you until today. I am however sending a copy of this despatch by Siberian mail to minimise the delay as
far as possible.
2
A deputation from the Unofficial Members consisting of Sir Paul Chater, Mr Hewitt and Mr Keswick waited upon me on the 30th ultimo to infog me that they had held several meetings on the subject They handed me a Memorandum which read as follows:-
"The Un-official
RIGHT HONOURABLE.
LEWIS V. HARCOURT.
M.P.
SECRETARY OF STATE for the COLONIES.