}
A
Hongkong,
20th April, 1915.
405
C
:
..
1!
#
*
sir,
I have been informed by the Hon. Director of
Public Works that His Excellency the Governor has approved
that Mr. Goldsmith should be recommended for promotion to the rank of 2nd Grade Executive Engineer in charge of a new department for the Maintenance of Roads, &c. as he is believed
to be more fitted for the post than I am. I having been
employed chiefly in the Water Department and having had much mechanical engineering to carry out.
2.
I would respectfully bag that this decision may
be re-considered as I feel that should this precedent be made it will make my chance of practising as a Civil Engineer very remote and very likely stand in my way for qualifying for pro-
motion to any of the higher posts in the Department.
I would respectfully submit for His Excellency's
kind consideration the following facts:-
(a) No Assistant Engineer who has been compelled to specialise in any one branch of the Engineering profession can
be said to be as well versed in another branch as those already
in that branch, but I submit that a Civil Engineer can and
should practise in other branches to increase his general
capability. Other departments of the Service are so treated:
an officer who has been trained in one department is not com-
pelled to forego promotion because he has not been in the
department where a vacancy has ooourred.
I am an A.M.I.O.E. and have therefore proved myself
qualified in engineering of a general character and I am cer-
tain that I could soon be in a position to carry out the
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong.