N°
176.
sir.
274513
Red 15 JUN 151
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 6th. May, 1915.
I have the honour to transmit the enclosed application from the Local Auditor for a bonus from Imperial Funds of £100 in consideration of his work during the past 10 years in connection with the audit in Hongkong of the accounts of the Postal Agencies. Mr. Phelips, I may point out, does not refer to the audit on the spot of the accounts of the Agencies.
2.
In connection with Mr. Phelips's application I would refer you to the last part of paragraph 5 of the letter from the General Post Office copy of which was forwarded in your
29447
7/
Despatch No. 273 of the 15th. of September, 1911, and to the minute of the Local Auditor dated the 7th. of February, 1912, copy
·
6793
of which was transmitted in Mr. Severn's despatch No. 49 of the "2"
same date. The audit in Hongkong of the accounts referred to
appears to have been undertaken by Mr. Phelips as a matter of course being in the nature of a check on the accounts of the Hong- -kong Post Office on behalf of the Hongkong Government.
3.
It does not appear to me therefore that Mr. Phelipe has any valid claim to the remuneration he asks for.
4.
I enclose copy of correspondence between the Postmaster-General at Hongkong and the Secretary for the General Post Office, London, concerning gratuities which have been granted, with my concurrence, to the Accountant and to the Superintendent
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P., &0..
&c.,
&C...
of