Extract of letter from L. P. Brunt.
London, 24.7.51.
two were too busy and
"In the first week or so after my return I visited six
firms of consulting engineers with whom I would consider
associating for the preparation of the designs for Hong Kong.
All were interested in my proposition;
under-staffed to undertake additional work; it remained for me
to make my choice from the others and my negotiations with a
particular firm were soon carried to the point at which we were
ready for a meeting with the Colonial Office to settle the
arrangements for completion of the composting scheme, in accor-
dance with the letter from the Hongkong Secretariat giving me
responsibility for the scheme. When I approached the Colonial
Office I was informed that the conduct of negotiations with
consulting engineers was the business of the Crown Agents for
the Colonies. I communicated at once with the Crown Agents and
went to see the Chief Civil Engineer at their office on July 4th.
He said that the Crown Agents could not take any action until
they had received official instructions from Hongkong. Although
the Colonial Office lent relevant files to the Crown Agents and
I have supplied them with a copy of my letter of authority in
order to give them every assistance in resolving the situation,
at the time of writing I still have not heard that the Crown
Agents are ready for a meeting with me and the consulting engineers
whose co-operation I hope to have. I make enquiries every few
days and I understand that "savingram" (I believe these are a slow
form of telegrams) have been sent to Hongkong to explain the
situation. At the last time of enquiry, on Friday, July 20th, I
was informed that no reply had been received from Hongkong.
hope that progress will have been made by the time that you receive
this letter but it would be well for you to verify with Austin
I