छ
Ne 278.
No
C O
55747
20 NOV 3
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 21st. September, 1918.
567
Enclosure!
1.
sir,
I have the honour to transmit the enclosed
memorial addressed to you by lir. A. H. Thomson, the Treasurer, and Fr. E. R. Hallifax, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. I attach also a copy of the covering letter addressed to the Colonial Secretary.
2.
The prayer of the petitioners is somewhat indefinite in form, but it amounts in effect to a request that, in matters affecting the interests of the Civil Service, the Governor shall be required to consult a body of Civil Servants having the functions of an Executive Council. The Governor is to be bound by an instruction similar to No. XII of the Royal Instructions. He will be at liberty to act in opposition to the advice tendered him by the approved body; but it will be competent for any member of the body to require that there be recorded at length the grounds of any advice or opinion that he may give; and the Governor shall fully report the matter, with the grounds and reasons of his action.
3.
The petitioners have left indeterminate their conception of matters affecting the Civil Service. The phrase is one of wide application.
4.
The petitioners have used the opportunity
of their memorial to introduce to your notice in its enclosures a number of side-issues, regarding certain of their grievances.
As the points raised form no part of the subject-matter of the
HE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WALTER LONG, H.P.,
340.,
memorial