CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900 — Page 318

ESSING.

No. 104.

In any further correspondence on this subject, the above number should be quoted,

and

the communication should be

addressed to

The Comptroller and Auditor General"

EXCHEQUER AND AUDIT DEPARTMENT,

SOMERSET HOUSE,

LONDON, W.C.

13001

4th May, 1900.

N

4 M/Y 00

314

+

Sir:-

I am directed by the Comptroller and Auditor General

to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State that Mr Nicolle, the Local Auditor of Hong Kong, has

reported to the effect that Mr Hardcastle, the Audit Clerk, was leaving for England on or about the 20th ultimo, and that owing to the state of his health he will be unable to

return to the Colony.

Mr Nicolle has also expressed his desire to take

extended leave time towards the end of the year and has

enquired what arrangements can be made for the discharge

of his duties during his absence.

2.

Up to the present time the Comptroller and Auditor

General has been able without expense to the Colony to

detach clerks from Head Quarters in London for duty in

Hong Kong, and this course has been of great advantage both in training younger officials in Local Audit work under

an experienced officer such as Mr Nicolle, and in providing

a substitute for the Local Auditor when on leave, or on

tours of inspection to the Northern Ports.

3.

At present, however, the Comptroller and Auditor General is not in a position to send a clerk to replace Mr Hardcastle unless passages out and home are provided, but if Mr Secretary Chamberlain is willing to sanction the expenditure, he is prepared to detach Mr B.E. Hanson, one of the clerks in London, for three years' service in Hong Kong. The Under Secretary of State,

COLONIAL OFFICE,

E. & A. D. Form 1b.

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