CO129-308 - Public Offices - 1901 — Page 157

ALL COMMUNICATIONS

TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES,

Sir,

CROWN

AGENTS

FOR THE

COLONIES

C.O.

26701

Peer 2 AUG 01

DOWNING STREET, LONDON.

155

1st August 1901.

Hong Kong - Water Police - Regn 1253 Appts.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No.24891/1901 of 26th ultimo relative to the complaint of the Government of Hong Kong as to the men selected for the Water Police.

In reply I have to point out that our instructions in this matter were conveyed in your letter No.41458 of the 27th of December, which in enclosing a copy of Sir H. Blake's despatch requested us at our early convenience to engage an Inspector and six Constables for the Water Police of that Colony on the conditions indicated by the Governor. It was added that Mr Chamberlain would be glad if Sir H.Blake's suggestion that the men should be obtained through the Naval Employment Agency could be complied with.

We interpreted this letter as meaning that we were to endeavour to obtain the Inspector and Constables if possible through the Naval Employment Agency, but otherwise through some other source.

In our letter of 4th April to the Colonial Secretary we stated that the Naval Employment Agency had been communicated with.

&c &c &c

Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.