No
115.
ཁྱཱཀ
34009
KELJUN 19
161
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 12th. April, 1919.
My Lord,
Gr/46020/18
onclosure!
FOR
With reference to Mr. Long's Despatch
No. 246 of the 22nd. October, 1918, I have the honour to
inform Your Lordship that the libel action brought by Mr. E.
. Hamilton, Acting Assistant District Officer (South) against the "Hongkong Daily Press" and the "China Mail' has now been settled out of Court by agreement between the parties and the
writer of the letter to which Mr. Hamilton took objection, Hr. Bowley, of Mesars. Dennys and Bowley, a local firm of Solicitors, has published an apology in the two newspapers in
question.
2.
to-
I enclose a copy of the letter received
from Mesars. Deacon, Looker, Deacon and Harston, Mr.
Hamilton's Solicitors, regarding their costs in the case, -gether with the "copies of documents" referred to therein.
3.
My own view of the matter is that the costs incurred were quite unnecessary and that the Government
should have nothing to do with the matter. The coats have been
largely increased by drawing up a long-winded document entitled "Instructions to Counsel" which need not have been prepared as everyone concerned was well aware of the facts. I caused the Solicitors to be informed that I would forward anything they wished to you, but that I should strongly
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,
ko..
oppose