CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8] — Page 451

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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C. 0.

15822

Enclosure

7.

Hon: T.H. Whitehead to Captain Sterling A.D.C.

Dear Sir,

18 SEP 33!

416

Hong-Kong 2nd August 1893.

I have carefully considered your note of the 29th ultimo in which you inform me, by direction of His Excellency, that he cannot accept my suggestion to appoint a lay member on the Retrenchment Committee, that the Chief Justice has already intimated a desire to decline an appointment where he would be "bereft of all influence", and that the only alternatives seem to be a Commission of four members, or the abandonment of the Enquiry altogether.

May I be permitted in the first place to point out that His Excellency appears to have lost sight of my respectful suggestion that he might kindly wire to the Secretary of State informing His Lordship of the position, and requesting authority to appoint on the Commission others than Members of the Council, if a third Unofficial Member is not willing to serve. Until this is done I think it can scarcely be said that everything has been done to comply with His Lordship's wishes.

In the second place may I be allowed to say that I do not understand the meaning of the expression used by the Chief Justice, as described in your note. With a Commission composed of Mr. May, Mr. Chater, another Unofficial Member of Council, or some lay member, and myself, the Chief Justice would have all the influence due to his position,

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C. 0. 15822 Enclosure 7. Hon: T.H. Whitehead to Captain Sterling A.D.C. Dear Sir, 18 SEP 33! 416 Hong-Kong 2nd August 1893. I have carefully considered your note of the 29th ultimo in which you inform me, by direction of His Excellency, that he cannot accept my suggestion to appoint a lay member on the Retrenchment Committee, that the Chief Justice has already intimated a desire to decline an appointment where he would be "bereft of all influence", and that the only alternatives seem to be a Commission of four members, or the abandonment of the Enquiry altogether. May I be permitted in the first place to point out that His Excellency appears to have lost sight of my respectful suggestion that he might kindly wire to the Secretary of State informing His Lordship of the position, and requesting authority to appoint on the Commission others than Members of the Council, if a third Unofficial Member is not willing to serve. Until this is done I think it can scarcely be said that everything has been done to comply with His Lordship's wishes. In the second place may I be allowed to say that I do not understand the meaning of the expression used by the Chief Justice, as described in your note. With a Commission composed of Mr. May, Mr. Chater, another Unofficial Member of Council, or some lay member, and myself, the Chief Justice would have all the influence due to his position,
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C. 0. 15822 Enclosure 7. Hon: T.H. Whitehead to Captain Sterling A.D. CIˆ Dear Sir, P 18 SEP 33! 416 Hong-Kong 2na August 1893. I have carefully considered your note of the 29th ultimo in which you inform me, by direction of His Excel- lency, that be cannot accept my suggestion to appoint a lay member on the Retrenchment Committee, that the Chief Justice has already intimatec a aesire to uecline an appointment where he would be "bereft of all influence", and that the only alternatives seem to be a Commission of four members, or the abandonment of the Enquiry altogether. May I be permitted in the first place to point out that His Excellency appears to have lost sight on my res- pectful suggestion that he might kinuly wire to the Secre- tary of State informing His Loruship of the position, and requesting authority to appoint on the Commission others than Members of the Council, if a thira Unofficial Member is not willing to serve. Until this is done I think it can scarcely be said that everything has been done to comply with His Loraship's wishes. In the second place may I be allowed to say that I do not understand the meaning of the expression used by the Chief Justice, as described in your note. With a Commis- sion composed of Mr. May, Mr. Chater, another Unofficial Member of Council, or some lay member, and myself, the Chief Justice would have all the influence que to his position, to his
2026-05-27 03:22:49 · Baseline
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C. 0.

15822

Enclosure

7.

Hon: T.H. Whitehead to Captain Sterling A.D. CIˆ

Dear Sir,

P 18 SEP 33!

416

Hong-Kong 2na August 1893.

I have carefully considered your note of the 29th

ultimo in which you inform me, by direction of His Excel-

lency, that be cannot accept my suggestion to appoint a lay

member on the Retrenchment Committee, that the Chief Justice

has already intimatec a aesire to uecline an appointment

where he would be "bereft of all influence", and that the

only alternatives seem to be a Commission of four members,

or the abandonment of the Enquiry altogether.

May I be permitted in the first place to point out

that His Excellency appears to have lost sight on my res-

pectful suggestion that he might kinuly wire to the Secre-

tary of State informing His Loruship of the position, and

requesting authority to appoint on the Commission others

than Members of the Council, if a thira Unofficial Member

is not willing to serve. Until this is done I think it can

scarcely be said that everything has been done to comply

with His Loraship's wishes.

In the second place may I be allowed to say that

I do not understand the meaning of the expression used by

the Chief Justice, as described in your note. With a Commis-

sion composed of Mr. May, Mr. Chater, another Unofficial

Member of Council, or some lay member, and myself, the Chief

Justice would have all the influence que to his position, to

his

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