Copy.
HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL (2).
Sir,
is [2]
theve
33799/34]
42
[Original
Downing Street,
11th July, 1934.
GOVERNOR
With reference to your Confidential despatch of
the 19th of February regarding the vacancy in the office of Director of Education, I have the honour to inform you that I have been giving careful consideration to the views which you have expressed in that despatch as well as to the
advice and recommendations which have been recorded on
previous occasions in connection with the filling of this office in Hong Kong.
2.
In his despatch Confidential (2) of the 15th
November, 1927, Mr. Ormsby Gore referred to the fact that
the post of Director of Education was held by a Cadet officer and not by a professional educationist as one of the deterrent influences to which the difficulty of recruiting suitable men for the Education Service in
Hong Kong could be attributed.
He stated that this fact
lowered the prestige of the whole educational service as that of the Medical Service would be lowered if it were
subordinated to a Cadet Officer under the title of Director of Medical and Sanitary Services; and he expressed the opinion that on the occurrence of a vacancy the post should be filled by an educationist and if possible from the existing staff of the Department.
3. In your despatch Confidential (3) of the 26th of
November, 1931, you stated that Mr. De Martin had then been
acting as Director with conspicuous success since June,
1930, and that had he been willing to remain in the Service
you would have had no hesitation in recommending him for the
SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.,
post
&C.,
&c.,
&C.