CO129-100 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [9] — Page 191

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

That consideration is a question, I conceive, for the convenience of the Imperial Government whether that object is right to be attained, at their cost, by detaching officers entirely from the special ties they have to perform, whilst in the receipt of Imperial pay; whether they should be the instruments of reducing the cost before being compensated for equivalent civil professional services.

With reference to Works, architects in private practice are allowed the privilege of holding appointments and receiving emoluments from the Imperial Government; and, from their number, they monopolize a great part of the professional engagements incident to the requirements of this Colony. I have witnessed, in the obligatory retirement of a young architect of good abilities, the result of this practice. He was backed by his brother, a long resident in England, although not known for his own merits.

High-ranking officers at the Bar have been independent of their attention being, in some measure, alienated from their proper duties. The effect of this privilege has been that, in several instances lately, by the success attending their private practice, they have been enabled to amass great fortunes, which, in consequence, have been thrown upon the Imperial Government to replace the income they had relinquished on their appointments: the innovation I refer to must have crept into the Department since I had the honour of serving under Sir Frederic Rogers, when, under General [name], no such privilege was allowed, which I know is highly disapproved of by Engineer officers at home.

I observe that the Colonial Government have lately prohibited the Surveyor General and Assistant Surveyor General from private practice.

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That consideration is a question, I conceive, for the convenience of the Imperial Government whether that object is right to be attained, at their cost, by detaching officers entirely from the special ties they have to perform, whilst in the receipt of Imperial pay; whether they should be the instruments of reducing the cost before being compensated for equivalent civil professional services. With reference to Works, architects in private practice are allowed the privilege of holding appointments and receiving emoluments from the Imperial Government; and, from their number, they monopolize a great part of the professional engagements incident to the requirements of this Colony. I have witnessed, in the obligatory retirement of a young architect of good abilities, the result of this practice. He was backed by his brother, a long resident in England, although not known for his own merits. High-ranking officers at the Bar have been independent of their attention being, in some measure, alienated from their proper duties. The effect of this privilege has been that, in several instances lately, by the success attending their private practice, they have been enabled to amass great fortunes, which, in consequence, have been thrown upon the Imperial Government to replace the income they had relinquished on their appointments: the innovation I refer to must have crept into the Department since I had the honour of serving under Sir Frederic Rogers, when, under General [name], no such privilege was allowed, which I know is highly disapproved of by Engineer officers at home. I observe that the Colonial Government have lately prohibited the Surveyor General and Assistant Surveyor General from private practice.
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That consideration is a question, I conceive, for the conve of the Imperial Tovernment whether, that obfict right to be attained, at their cost, by delaching officers entre been sent out to entirely from the special ties they have thave their perform, whilst in the receipt of 07- whether, they should be shady the instruments stimperial pay; of reducing belore par par the conser pensation for equivalent civil professional Services. With Works, theff reference are private practice : holding in the Clerks to the allowed the priviledge Av architects, whilst appointments and recei iving al emolu. pay from the Imperial Severnment, bed thes, from their number, monspolaze, great part, the profesional "mments incident to the requirements this Colorry ; have withressed in the Cobligatory retirement of a young marchitect abilities Z good the result Ao this backed from England, although boothed for his brother, a long resident. by (4) ranking 183 ranking high at the Bar; independent of their attention being in some measu alienated from their proper duties, the affect of this privilege has been that several instances lately, by the success attendis they fasvate practice, they have been enabled, their appointinents cience great thrown upon. to which in incory expense have been and qua Imperial Government to replare them the inno them : the innovation I the refer to must the have crept into Repartiment server I had the house of sewing under I Sir Thederic Hall, when. Avas under Feneral ra General ne such privilege allowed, which I know is disapproved of by. highly Engineer officers Rome Abserve that, the Colonial Gover -ment have lately prohibited the General Generall and Assistant Snap 6 from private practice .
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That

consideration

is a question, I conceive, for the conve of the Imperial Tovernment whether, that obfict right to be attained, at their cost, by delaching officers entre been sent out to

entirely from the special ties they have

thave

their

perform, whilst in the receipt of

07-

whether, they

should be shady the instruments

stimperial pay;

of reducing

belore par

par the conser

pensation for equivalent civil professional Services.

With Works, theff

reference

are

private practice

: holding

in

the

Clerks

to the

allowed the priviledge

Av

architects, whilst

appointments and recei

iving

al emolu.

pay from the Imperial Severnment,

bed thes, from their number, monspolaze,

great part, the profesional "mments incident to the requirements

this Colorry ; have withressed in the Cobligatory retirement of a young marchitect

abilities

Z

good

the result

Ao

this

backed

from England, although boothed for his brother, a long resident.

by

(4)

ranking

183

ranking high at the Bar; independent of their attention being

in some

measu

alienated from their proper duties, the affect of this privilege has been that several instances lately, by the success attendis

they fasvate

practice, they have been enabled,

their appointinents

cience great

thrown upon.

to

which in

incory

expense have been and qua Imperial Government to replare them the inno

them : the innovation I

the

refer to must

the

have

crept

into

Repartiment server I had the house of sewing under

I

Sir Thederic

Hall, when.

Avas

under Feneral

ra

General

ne such privilege

allowed, which I know is

disapproved of by.

highly Engineer officers

Rome

Abserve that, the Colonial Gover

-ment have lately prohibited the

General

Generall and Assistant Snap

6 from private practice .

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