Ne 291.
64.9 47842
C O
57703
RECE
REG, 30 NOV 8
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 8th. October, 1918.
42
Sir,
I have the honour to confirm my telegram
of the 3rd. October relating to the death of Mr. Frederick
Alan Biden, 2nd. Grade Executive Engineer in the Public Works
Department.
2.
Mr. Biden had been for some time in a poor
state of health. He suffered continually from a serious
kidney complaint, and on several occasions during the past year had been a patient in the Goverment Civil Hospital for this reason. After his discharge from the hospital he took
short leave of absence, but soon after his return became much
depressed, and this appears to have affected his mental
balance very considerably.
3.
It would probably be a matter of comfort
to his relatives to know that Mr. Bideo, who was a Company
Sergeant Major in the Hongkong Defence Corps was given an
impressive Military Funeral, which was attended by a large
and representative gathering.
4.
On account of his mother's age and the
desire of his personal friends here to conceal from her, if possible, the fact that his death was self-inflicted, I strong -ly recommend that the actual cause of death should not be
communicated to her. She is well aware of his recent illnesses
and
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WALTER LONG, M.P.,
&C..
&c.
&c.