CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10] — Page 31

SIR,

14943

RECE

HONGKONG, 13th June, 2480G 35

28

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HE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

bo

I have the honour to request that His Excellency the Governor may pleased to forward to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies the following appeal, which I humbly request he will be pleased to submit for the favourable consideration of the Lords Commissoners of the

Treasury.

In the mouth of March last I retired from the Army on a pension of £300 a year, and accepted the appointment of Superintendent of the Victoria Gaol in Hongkong.

The circumstances under which I did so are fully explained in the corres- pondence, copy of which I enclose, and which I will briefly recapitulate.

On 20th January, (enclosure A) I wrote through the General Officer com- manding at Dover, to know whether I could receive my peusion in addition to a Colonial Salary.

On 30th January the Horse Guards wrote a reply (enclosure B), that I should first retire, and then apply through the War Office for Treasury sanction,

I did so, and on the 23rd February (enclosure C) the Horse Guards intimated that may retirement on pension was sanctioned, but for reasons stated, I could not draw my pension while holding a Colonial appointment,

On the 28th February (enclosure D) I appealed against this decision, on grounds set forth in detail in my letter.

On the 16th March a Horse Guards letter (enclosure E) offered me a com- promise of a pension of £200 a year, to be drawn along with Colonial Salary, but not to be increased.

On 18th March I declined this offer (enclosure F), for reasons stated in my letter.

On 23rd March-after I had already engaged my passage to Hongkong- a Horse Guards letter (enclosure G) intimated to me "that no portion of my "pension would be paid me while holding a Colonial appointment.”

It is against this last decision that I wish to appeal, through the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to the Lords of the Treasury, on the following grounds:

1. My Pension was earned by past service, and having earned it, I claim a right to devote my time and energies to any honourable work that may give me occupation and additional emolument.

HONGKONG.