21
(Para.33)
(Paras .29-
32 and 36)
(Para.37).
Enclosure 5
3
whose dishonest attempts to establish a racket-control
over the Immigration system were tending to corrupt his
staff, that he failed
G
G
possibly refused to recognize
the fact and extent of his disobedience to and betrayal
of the Government. He is a man who, as his confidential
reports shew, is apt to be obsessed by his own ideas and
this wilful tendency leads him on occasions to take a
view of moral problems which might be described as
intellectually astigmatic.
7.
I express this view of his conduct having regard
to the strong views in which the Commission speak of
Mr. Forrest and in explanation of paragraph seven of my
telegram under reference. As the Colonial Secretary's
note, which forms the fourth enclosure to this despatch,
shews, Mr. Forrest has an excellent record of service except
for one aspect of his magisterial work: the remarks of the
Commissioners on the general administration of the
Immigration Department are also relevant to this point.
I concur with the Commissioners in their comments
upon Mr. Forrest's engagement of staff and his behaviour
towards the public.
8.
9.
Mr. Forrest has been recommended for retirement
from the Hong Kong Civil Service on medical grounds and I
have received Your Lordship's confirmation of that advice.
10.
I turn now to the reflections made in the
Commission's report upon the local administration. The
Commissioners put the real blame for the chaotic condition
of the accounting side of the Immigration Department upon
the Government which selected Mr. Forrest as Immigration
Officer. Paragraphs 1 - 4 of the attached minute written
by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. N.L. Smith, C.M.G., explain