CO129-263 - Acting Governor Barker Governor Sir Robinson - 1894 [5-8] — Page 382

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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Eastern colonies at the present time is there any unofficial element in the Executive Council, and if the change is introduced in Hong Kong, it will probably follow also in due course in Ceylon and the Straits Settlements.

But I am not clear that the step would in all cases be actively beneficial, and I am quite clear that the existing system has on the whole worked well, and that therefore there is no strong reason for disturbing it.

I note in the next place that Mr. Reswick proposes that the unofficial member should be of English birth, and you suggest in your despatch that the nominee should be Englishmen suitable in the absence of any Chinaman fitted for the post. It must, however, be taken into consideration that it would be invidious, inequitable, and undesirable to lay down that Chinamen shall be debarred from membership or appointment to the Executive Council, and therefore the possibility of the appointment being hereafter filled by a Chinese gentleman should be reckoned with.

In the third place, you must take it that practically unofficial assistance in the Executive Council could always be obtained if the status quo were maintained.

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Eastern colonies at the present time is there any unofficial element in the Executive Council, and if the change is introduced in Hong Kong, it will probably follow also in due course in Ceylon and the Straits Settlements. But I am not clear that the step would in all cases be actively beneficial, and I am quite clear that the existing system has on the whole worked well, and that therefore there is no strong reason for disturbing it. I note in the next place that Mr. Reswick proposes that the unofficial member should be of English birth, and you suggest in your despatch that the nominee should be Englishmen suitable in the absence of any Chinaman fitted for the post. It must, however, be taken into consideration that it would be invidious, inequitable, and undesirable to lay down that Chinamen shall be debarred from membership or appointment to the Executive Council, and therefore the possibility of the appointment being hereafter filled by a Chinese gentleman should be reckoned with. In the third place, you must take it that practically unofficial assistance in the Executive Council could always be obtained if the status quo were maintained.
Baseline (Original)
Eastern colmies at the present time is there any unofficial dement in the Executive founcil, and of the change is introduced Hongting, it salt probably follow also be introduced also at must in due course in Ceylon ·Ceylon and Into the Straits Settlements. But I the step am not clear that would with in all cases And in all be actively beneficial, quite clear Whereas I am that the existing system has on the whole worked well, and that therefore there is no strong reason for disturbing it. I note In the next place that Mr Reswick poposes member that the conofficial should be of English birth, you to suggest in your And 3 Choniese huljuts of the Queen despatch the normee Englishmen Suitable 378 in the absence "Of any Chinoman fitted for however "the post. It must havaver be taken into consideration that it would be invidious ine quitable and astrable to lay down that thinamon), shall be debarred from membersex appointment to the Executive Council, and the fore the possibility of the appointment. being hereafter filled by a Chinese gentleman be reckoned with In the third flower, you must Prake that functically unfficial assistance in the Executive Council" could always be the status quo "obtained. f were maintained and you -
2026-05-27 12:18:42 · Baseline
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Eastern colmies at the

present

time is there any unofficial dement in the Executive founcil, and of the change is introduced Hongting, it salt probably follow also be introduced also

at

must

in due course in Ceylon

·Ceylon and

Into

the Straits Settlements.

But I

the step

am not clear that

would

with in all cases

And in all be actively beneficial,

quite clear

Whereas I am

that the existing system has

on the whole worked well,

and that therefore there is

no strong

reason

for disturbing it.

I note

In the next place that Mr Reswick poposes

member

that the conofficial should be of English birth, you to suggest in your

And

3

Choniese huljuts

of the Queen

despatch the normee

Englishmen

Suitable

378

in the absence

"Of any Chinoman fitted for

however

"the post. It must havaver

be taken into consideration

that it would be invidious

ine quitable

and astrable to lay down that thinamon), shall

be debarred from membersex appointment to the Executive Council, and the fore the possibility of the appointment. being hereafter filled by

a Chinese

gentleman

be reckoned with In the third flower, you

must

Prake

that functically unfficial

assistance in the Executive

Council" could always be the status quo

"obtained.

f

were maintained and you

-

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