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the affairs of this Colony during the past four years, has
commanded the respect and admiration not only of the Brit-
-ish, but also to a very marked degree of the Chinese
Community,
and it was therefore our intention before the
expiry of his term of office, to have expressed the hope
that you, Sir, might see fit to recommend His Majesty to
extend Sir F. Lugard's appointment as Governor of Hongkong
for a further period of two years beyond its normal
expiration in 1913.
The considerations which have led you to propose
the early transfer of Sir F. Lugara to West Africa, are
unknown to us: but we respectfully submit that unless the
reasons for this proposed transfer are of such Imperial
importance as to override this Colony's claims, he should
not be removed from his present office.
If however,
notwithstanding this our urgent representation, it is
still found necessary to transfer Sir F.Lugard to Nigeria,
then we are of opinion that it is imperative, for reasons
above given, that a man should be appointed as Governor
who possesses a thorough grasp of this Colony's local
conditions and of its important undertakings, who has
also the confidence of the Chinese community and is well-
-versed in dealing with Chinese Officials & people.