CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12] — Page 404

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

Enclosure to 13

401 C O.

Address to His Excellency the Governor and the Executive Council

I submit to your Excellency and the Honourable the Executive Council that the position, in which I have been placed, I have not chosen for myself.

The opportunity has been afforded me of choosing whether I should stand here to face these charges or not. It is usual, I believe, when an officer is in a doubtful position to give him an opportunity to withdraw from it, but this was not done in my case.

When I heard on Saturday night (16th instant) that His Excellency expected me to do the legal work during the short time that Dr. Marques would be absent, I did not look upon this as an order, and there were several reasons which, I believe, justified my declining the responsibility.

I wrote hurriedly on Sunday morning, therefore, representing my inability. I respectfully submit to Your Excellency and the Council that so far I had done no wrong.

If the Government was not satisfied with my letter of the 17th instant, I submit that I should then have been called upon for explanation, and if that had been unsatisfactory, it was open to the Acting Governor to issue a positive order for me to do the work, the Government taking all responsibility for the consequences.

If the Acting Governor, after being made acquainted with all the circumstances, had given me a positive order, my refusal might then have been followed by the present charges. As it is, I have been placed in this position by no wish of my own and without any opportunity of avoiding it.

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Enclosure to 13 401 C O. Address to His Excellency the Governor and the Executive Council I submit to your Excellency and the Honourable the Executive Council that the position, in which I have been placed, I have not chosen for myself. The opportunity has been afforded me of choosing whether I should stand here to face these charges or not. It is usual, I believe, when an officer is in a doubtful position to give him an opportunity to withdraw from it, but this was not done in my case. When I heard on Saturday night (16th instant) that His Excellency expected me to do the legal work during the short time that Dr. Marques would be absent, I did not look upon this as an order, and there were several reasons which, I believe, justified my declining the responsibility. I wrote hurriedly on Sunday morning, therefore, representing my inability. I respectfully submit to Your Excellency and the Council that so far I had done no wrong. If the Government was not satisfied with my letter of the 17th instant, I submit that I should then have been called upon for explanation, and if that had been unsatisfactory, it was open to the Acting Governor to issue a positive order for me to do the work, the Government taking all responsibility for the consequences. If the Acting Governor, after being made acquainted with all the circumstances, had given me a positive order, my refusal might then have been followed by the present charges. As it is, I have been placed in this position by no wish of my own and without any opportunity of avoiding it.
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001 of Enclosure to 13 401 C O. Address to His Exceruency the tofung lovernor and the Executive Connell I submit to your Excellency and the Penthe... the Excentive, Comecel that the position, in which I placed. I have not chosen for myself for has been afforded me of choosing am now. по opporternity has been deliberately whether I should stand here to: these charges. or not. It is usual. I believe, when an a doubtful position to give him an day under offices is in -opportunity to with- Case dow from it, but this was not done in my & When. I heard on Saturday night (16th instanty rediov legal that His Excellency expected, to do the med work during the short times that Dr Marques would be absent, I did not look upon this as an order and there пля were several reasons which, I believer - declining the responsibility. I wrote hurriedly justified Sunday morning there fore representing my inability, I respectfully submit to Your Excellency and the Cormeil that so far I had done no. If the Government was not satisfied with of y 5 wrong.. my letter 1th instant I submit that I whould then han. been called upon for explanation, and if that had been invvatisfactory it was on to the Acting Governor to issue a positive order for work, the Government taking all responsibility for the opon consequences. If the Eleling being made acquainted with all the of the my LAIR, had - given me. to do the Governor after circumstances a positive order refusal part might then have been followed by the present charges. As it is I have been placed. in this position by no wish of the Excellen my and with- out any opportunity of cuoiding it : The Excellen A immediately
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001

of

Enclosure to 13

401

C O.

Address to His Exceruency the tofung

lovernor and the Executive Connell

I submit to your Excellency and the Penthe... the Excentive, Comecel that the position, in which I placed. I have not chosen for myself for

has been afforded me of choosing

am now.

по

opporternity has been

deliberately whether I should stand here to: these charges.

or not.

It is usual. I believe, when an

a

doubtful position to give him an

day under

offices is in -opportunity to with-

Case

dow from it, but this was not done in my &

When. I heard on Saturday night (16th instanty rediov legal

that His Excellency expected,

to do the med

work during the short times that Dr Marques would be absent, I did not look upon this as an order

and there

пля

were several reasons which, I believer

- declining the responsibility.

I wrote hurriedly

justified Sunday morning there fore representing my inability,

I respectfully submit to Your Excellency

and the Cormeil that so far I had done no. If the Government was not satisfied with

of y

5 wrong..

my

letter

1th instant I submit that I whould then han. been called upon for explanation, and if that had been invvatisfactory it was

on to the Acting Governor to issue a positive order for work, the Government taking all responsibility for

the

opon

consequences. If the Eleling

being made acquainted with all the

of

the

my

LAIR,

had

- given me.

to do the

Governor

after

circumstances

a positive order refusal

part might then have been followed by the present charges. As it is I have been placed. in this position by

no wish of the Excellen •

my

and with-

out any opportunity of cuoiding it : The Excellen

A

immediately

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