The Secretary of State has ordered, and to aid more competent than I am by their experience and knowledge of affairs in such an investigation. I accept this Excellency's assurance that the abandonment of the enquiry by the Committee (the only one alluded to) is not necessarily tantamount to the abandonment of all enquiry. I feel confident His Excellency will continue the good work he has commenced, but unfortunately this departmental enquiry is one in which neither the public, nor apparently, the Secretary of State, have complete confidence in.
I have moved three times for a Committee of Enquiry, once before His Excellency's arrival in Hong Kong, and twice since, and I have taken an active part in promoting the Memorial and Petition of January last to the Secretary of State, after I was aware that Sir William Robinson was alive to the necessity for retrenchment, and was making enquiries, and preparing schemes. But permit me to state that there is no ground whatever for your assertion that I did so because I knew of further economies that might be effected which were unknown to the Governor, or because I thought a Committee the only means by which I could make my recommendations heard. I did so because I thought, and still think, a public independent enquiry conducted by persons in the main unconnected with Government service, is the best instrument for ascertaining all the facts connected with the working of the Government departments, the opinions of all competent persons as to possible improvements and economies, and of placing on record for the information of future Governors and Colonial Secretaries.
554
the secretary of State has ordered,
and
to aid
more competent than I aw
by their
experience and kuas. ledge of affairs in such an invest- gation. I accept this Excellenajs rance that the abandonment of the enquiry by the Committee, (the
only
addr.
are I alluded to) is not necessarily
wint of
나
tantamount to the abandona all E
Enquiry. I feel confident this Excellency will continue the
good
work he has comm
hi
io
urately
renced, but unfor this departmental enquiry what neither the public,
3 precisely
nor apparently, the secretary of state have complete confidence in.
moved three times.
8.
or a
for
I have
Committee of Enquiry, hoice
before His Excellency's arrival in story.
and once since, and I have hong, taken an active part.
part wi
promoting
the Memorial and Petihoir.
nuary
Evely
of Ja
last to the secretary of State,
after I was aware that Sir William
Robrison
Robinson was alive to the necessity
Retrenchment, was in
for
quiries,
and w
making.
· preparing
scheure, but permit
there is no
me to state that
ground whatever for your.
assertion that I aid so because Ihnew
of further
economies that might be
a which
effected
were unknown to the
a Corn.
Governor, or, because I thought a mittee the only
make
could m
and
by which I
my reco
cudahow
secominci
opiirious heard. I did so because I thought. and still think a public independent Enquiry
t
caiducted fr
cted by -persons in the main uncorrected with Government service, in the best inskument for ascertainin
accertarining
w
all the
ivort.
working of
tout and disirte.
facts connected with the the Government departements, the opi- nions of all con
competent rested persons as to possible improve- ments and economics, and of placing on record for the information of future Governors
Governow and
and Colonial secre.
of
taries
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