CO129-310 - Acting Governor Major Gen Gascoigne - 1902 [1-4] — Page 449

No.119.

Hongkong.

sir,

0.0

17375

Rece

Government House, MAY 2

Hongkong, 27th. March, 1902.

445

довар

I have the honour to acknowledge the re-

ceipt of your Despatch No. 50 of the 14th. ultimo and your

telegram of the 14th. instant, regarding the proposed engage-

ment of two Assistant Engineers for the Public Works Depart-

ment, and regret to learn from the latter that no suitable

candidates have as yet presented themselves.

2.

With regard to the second paragraph of

your Despatch under acknowledgment, I regret that I am unable

to give you any information as to the failure of the negotia-

tions with the Government of Ceylon. On the 86th. November

last the Governor of that Colony reported that suitable can—

didates were forthcoming, and asked whether their applications

should be forwarded to Hongkong or whether the selection was

to be left to him. This Goverment replied that the selection

of candidates was left to him. No further communication was

received from Ceylon until the 20th. of January, when a tele-

gram arrived stating that the candidates selected for the two

appointments had withdrawn. This was confirmed by a Despatch

dated the 27th. January from the Governor of Ceylon, who

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

*C...

80 ••

however