6
I apologise for
This action- the letter was apparently cepied without Deine biss
7.3. Whyte
(which issued without any authority and ought clearly to have been submitted to you). On the other hand, Dr. Selwyn-Clarke in No.7 clearly contemplates that the reports will be made available to a number of people outside Government service. The first point that arises is then whether there are any rules or practice limiting the distribution of papers which are printed for the use of the Colonial Office. Presumably they could be circulated to the Advisory Committee, but could they also be laid before the Legislative Council in Hong Kong and sent to such unofficials as Dr. Selwyn-Clarke clearly has in mind?
The second point is whether there is any precedent for printing such reports as this in the Colonial Office series and, if not, whether any special authority is required for the action contemplated here.
Finally, I should like some indication of the probable reaction of the Stationery Office to the proposal (particularly if it is an innovation) to print these documents at a time when paper is in short supply and really essential printing is still voluminous.
Will you please consider these points in consultation with Printing Department and, if necessary, Establishment?
TK. Ind
3.7.46.
Mr. Muston
You will remember that I discussed with you the points in Mr. Lloyd's minute of 3/7 before suggesting that Dr. Selwyn-Clarke's report should be printed as a Colonial Office Paper.
I understand that although Departmental Papers are not available to the public or for sale on bookstalls, as in the case of "Non-Parliamentary Papers", there is no objection to their being sent to appropriate unofficial bodies and persons, providing there is no objection in the Department. I take it, therefore, that providing we informed the Governor that there was no such objection, it would be in order for him to circulate copies of this Colonial Office Paper to Members of his Legislative Council.
As regards Mr. Lloyd's second point, I think you referred to a number of other medical reports which have been printed as Colonial Office Papers either in a Geographical or a Miscellaneous series. For example, you mention Middle East No.66. Would you very kindly attach this paper as a sample?
On Mr. Lloyd's third point, I understood you to say that, providing no question of publishing or selling arose, the Stationery Office would make
no