CO129-308 - Public Offices - 1901 — Page 17

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Admiralty16

26th April 1901.

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Sir,

WR OF

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With reference to your letter No: 11554 1901

of the 6th instant,- I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that the suggestion of the Governor of Hong Kong as to the Clothing of Royal Marines discharged from the Hong Kong Police, is in their opinion impracticable.

2. A further complaint has since been received from Vice Admiral Sir Edward Seymour that he has been requested by the Governor to arrange for the disposal

of Charles Hook, whose services were no longer required

in the Hong Kong Police on account of ill health.

3. As stated in my letter of the 22nd December last, it is not conducive to the interests either of the Corps of Royal Marines, or of His Majesty's Naval Service that Marines whose services are no longer required by the Colonial Government to which they were lent, should be sent to H. M. Ships on the China Station, and My Lords consider that the Colonial Government should in all cases be responsible for their return to England.

4. I am therefore to request you to move Mr Secretary Chamberlain to inform the Governor of Hong Kong that these men must in future return to their Headquarters at home on reversion to the Corps, and that the Commander- in-Chief on the China Station will be instructed not to

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receive them on board His Majesty's Ships.

Under

Secretary of State,

COLONIAL OFFICE

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Evan Machresor