CO129-211 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [8-9] — Page 244

238A

Wodehouse in my despatch n. 4o of the 24th April ultimo, I stated that I... had made that nomination "subject " to Your Lordship's confirmation . The Attorney-General at the time pointed out that this phrase

was mere

surplusage, for the Auty of nomination

wasis

vas imposed

on the Governor by a

Statute which cannot be overridden

by Regulations, not having the foree an administrative

of law, issued by

Department;

and that, therefore, the appointment of Mr. Wodehouse did not require confirmation. But I simply intended

to

fore 9039

to show that I had no wish to exercise

-personally this petty pices of patronage,

and that I desired to ast with Your Lordship's approval in this as in more

important matters.

8

If, however, it should be

decided that the control of the Fire

i

Brigade, as of the other branches of the local administration, is hence forward

the

to be practically exercised by Colonial Department in Downing Street, it will, of course, become my duty to - propose to the Legislature of Hongkong the repeal of the Ordinance which now

vests

÷

!