€81
20
-
184
I then had to act as a Contractor for the Govern-
ment in addition to my other duties and I completed the work and the building was opened for use on the 15th Jan- uary, 1912, seven months after I received instructions.
Even when the works were left with me to complete, it was impossible to carry out the work with any degree of economy, owing to Mr. Chatham's interference and the con- ditions then prevailing, I was also hampered by a series of unnecessary minutes from Mr. Chatham who appeared to be looking for and trying to raise difficulties.
21.
I will not in this letter cite the intrigue, since the 15th June, 1911, (the date when the works were left with me to complete) that Mr. Chatham, as Director of Public Works, resorted to with subordinate officers, neither will I cite the series of minutes that emanated from his hands with a view of extricating himself from the position in which he had placed himself in, I will merely say that I have never received replies to communications dating back years that were passed to Mr. Chatham with request to for- ward to the Government of Hongkong •
•
It seems strange to my mind that Mr. Chatham should be allowed to take advantage of his official position to resort to intrigue and to write a series of minutes with the hope of placing the blame upon other shoulders. Such methods would never be tolerated in a business house.
This is an instance of how Government works are conducted in British Dominions beyond the Seas, in Hongkong.
I submit such methods are hardly creditable to officers directly representing the British Empire.