CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9] — Page 484

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

481

8. It was impossible to sweep away the whole of the old machinery, until fresh was available to replace it. Additions could not be made without sanction from England.

9. It resolved itself therefore into a question of the personal element, pending the efflux of time.

10. The personal element I submit, as far as it could humanly be expected, has effected radical improvements, complaints locally having almost entirely ceased,

11. I attach a Return, showing the number of hours I have worked in the Post Office, and would respectfully submit, that 9 to 10 hours a day, Sundays and holidays included, is not the ordinary work which a Civil servant is expected to do, and that there is no other Civil servant who can show the same record.

12. I have had to attend personally, to every detail, from a Postman's bag and rain coat, and the washing of the office, to things that might fairly be considered as appertaining to the duties of the Head of a Department. Books, registers, and every item, that goes to make up a well-organised department, I have had to start, and then watch to see them, books and registers, kept up in the face of a passive, sleepless, and stubborn resistance, to any and every innovation, or departure from old custom.

13. Ideas of cleanliness, subordination, and veracity, were wanting, in nearly the whole of the staff, much of which

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481 8. It was impossible to sweep away the whole of the old machinery, until fresh was available to replace it. Additions could not be made without sanction from England. 9. It resolved itself therefore into a question of the personal element, pending the efflux of time. 10. The personal element I submit, as far as it could humanly be expected, has effected radical improvements, complaints locally having almost entirely ceased, 11. I attach a Return, showing the number of hours I have worked in the Post Office, and would respectfully submit, that 9 to 10 hours a day, Sundays and holidays included, is not the ordinary work which a Civil servant is expected to do, and that there is no other Civil servant who can show the same record. 12. I have had to attend personally, to every detail, from a Postman's bag and rain coat, and the washing of the office, to things that might fairly be considered as appertaining to the duties of the Head of a Department. Books, registers, and every item, that goes to make up a well-organised department, I have had to start, and then watch to see them, books and registers, kept up in the face of a passive, sleepless, and stubborn resistance, to any and every innovation, or departure from old custom. 13. Ideas of cleanliness, subordination, and veracity, were wanting, in nearly the whole of the staff, much of which
Baseline (Original)
481 8.It was impossible to sweep away the whole of the old machinery, until fresh was available to replace it. Additions could not be made without sanction from England. 9. It resolved itself therefore into a question of the personal element, pending the efflux of time. 10. The personal element I submit, as far as ts, it could humanly be expected, has effected radical improvements, complaints locally having almost entirely ceased, 11. I attach a Return, showing the number of hours I have worked in the Post Office, and would respectfully submit, that 9 to 10 hours a day, Sundays and holidays included, is not the ordinary work which a Civil servant is expected to do, and that there is no other Civil servant who can show the same record. 12.I have had to attend personally, to every detail, from a Postman's bag and rain coat, and the washing of the office, to things that might fairly he considered as apper- taining to the duties of the Head of a Department, Books, regis- ters, and every item, that goes to make up a well organised de- partment, I have had to start, and then watch to see them, books and registers, kept up in the face of a passive, sleepless, and stubborn resistance, to any and every innovation, or departure from old custom. 13. Ideas of cleanliness, subordination, and ve- racity, were wanting, in nearly the whole of the staff,much of which
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481

8.It was impossible to sweep away the whole

of the old machinery, until fresh was available to replace it.

Additions could not be made without sanction from England.

9. It resolved itself therefore into a question

of the personal element, pending the efflux of time.

10. The personal element I submit, as far as

ts,

it could humanly be expected, has effected radical improvements, complaints locally having almost entirely ceased,

11. I attach a Return, showing the number of hours I have worked in the Post Office, and would respectfully submit, that 9 to 10 hours a day, Sundays and holidays included, is not the ordinary work which a Civil servant is expected to

do, and that there is no other Civil servant who can show the

same record.

12.I have had to attend personally, to every detail, from a Postman's bag and rain coat, and the washing of the office, to things that might fairly he considered as apper- taining to the duties of the Head of a Department, Books, regis- ters, and every item, that goes to make up a well organised de- partment, I have had to start, and then watch to see them, books and registers, kept up in the face of a passive, sleepless, and stubborn resistance, to any and every innovation, or departure

from old custom.

13. Ideas of cleanliness, subordination, and ve- racity, were wanting, in nearly the whole of the staff,much of

which

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