CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7] — Page 263

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

260

Statement made by Mr Rennie so ... an amount of discretion and great responsibility devolves on the Auditor General in connection with expenditure for the Diplomatic and Consular service in China and Japan - an expenditure of from £120,000 to £130,000 annually that I felt it necessary to appoint someone whose position and standing might ensure the confidence of H.M.'s Ministers at Peking and Japan.

At the same time as Mr Austin's appointment involves the sacrifice of one of the Official seats in Council and otherwise lead to inconvenience, I may have requested him to consider it temporary in the strictest sense of the word, as probably when Mr Alexander and Mr Bertram Smith, both now absent on leave, return to the Colony, I should thereby be enabled to make some more suitable arrangement.

At the same time it seems to me clear that no other arrangement could be so expedient or suitable as the early appointment of the officer who is permanently to fill Mr Rennie's place. It is undoubtedly, though I fear a serious and unavoidable drawback to the Civil Service here, that the climate and other causes necessitate such frequent discharge of special and important departmental duties by Officers not conversant with such details. I consider...

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260 Statement made by Mr Rennie so ... an amount of discretion and great responsibility devolves on the Auditor General in connection with expenditure for the Diplomatic and Consular service in China and Japan - an expenditure of from £120,000 to £130,000 annually that I felt it necessary to appoint someone whose position and standing might ensure the confidence of H.M.'s Ministers at Peking and Japan. At the same time as Mr Austin's appointment involves the sacrifice of one of the Official seats in Council and otherwise lead to inconvenience, I may have requested him to consider it temporary in the strictest sense of the word, as probably when Mr Alexander and Mr Bertram Smith, both now absent on leave, return to the Colony, I should thereby be enabled to make some more suitable arrangement. At the same time it seems to me clear that no other arrangement could be so expedient or suitable as the early appointment of the officer who is permanently to fill Mr Rennie's place. It is undoubtedly, though I fear a serious and unavoidable drawback to the Civil Service here, that the climate and other causes necessitate such frequent discharge of special and important departmental duties by Officers not conversant with such details. I consider...

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260 statemento made by M thennie so an amount of discretion and great responsibility devolves on the, Auditor General in connection with expenditure for the Diplomatic and bonaular service in bhina and Japan - aw expenditure of hom £120,000 to £130,000 munally that I felt it newpary to appoint Some one whave parition and standing might ensure the confidence of H. Ma's Ministers fat Seking and fapon At the same time as Mo Austin's appointment involves the sacrifice of one fof the Official seats in bouncil and-- otherwise lead to inconvenience, I may OLO have requested him to consider it temporary in the strictest sense of the word. as probably when Mr Alexander Mot beril Smith, both now absent com leave, return to the C bolony. I should thereby be enabled to make some more :ment. مال suitable amange= same time it seems At the me clear that no o arrangement be so expedient or suitable ao early appointment of the officer who is permanently to fill Mor" Rennie's place. It is undoubtedly though I fear aw a serious, unavoidable Cth draw. back to the laivil Service here, that the climate and other causes necesitate such frequent discharge of special and important departmental duties by Officers not conversant with such details. Iconsider,

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260

statemento made by M thennie so

an amount of discretion and

great responsibility

devolves on the, Auditor General in connection with expenditure for the Diplomatic and bonaular service in bhina and Japan -

expenditure of hom £120,000 to £130,000

munally that I felt it newpary to appoint

Some one

whave parition and standing might ensure the confidence of H. Ma's Ministers

fat Seking and fapon

At the

same time as Mo Austin's

appointment involves the sacrifice of one fof the Official seats in bouncil and-- otherwise lead to inconvenience, I

may

OLO

have requested him to consider it temporary in the strictest sense of the word. as probably when Mr Alexander

Mot beril Smith, both now

absent

com

leave, return to the

bolony. I should thereby be enabled

to make some more

:ment.

مال

suitable

amange=

same time it seems

At the

me clear that

no o

arrangement

be so expedient or suitable

early appointment of the officer who is permanently to fill Mor" Rennie's place. It is undoubtedly though I fear

a serious,

unavoidable

Cth

draw. back to the laivil Service here, that

the climate and other

causes

necesitate

such frequent discharge of special and important departmental duties by Officers not conversant with such details. Iconsider,

CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7] — Page 263

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