CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9] — Page 101

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Ground viz. that as it is the settled policy of the Government to select Cadets and Cadets only for appointment to the higher posts in the Hongkong civil service, and inasmuch as I am not one of this privileged class, I would by remaining in Hongkong be for ever debarred from applying for, with any certainty of obtaining, such promotions as I might be considered worthy to receive where the circumstances pointed out are non-existent. As regards my future welfare, it is, I respectfully claim, necessary for me to obtain transfer at once,

during

and this I hope will excuse my troubling you at the present time.

Having regard also to my past services in different Colonies (the record of which I beg leave to invite a reference to the Colonial Office List for the current year) and honestly believing, as I have reason to do, that I succeeded in performing the duties of the many and varied Offices to the entire satisfaction of the respective Governments under whom I had had the honour to serve, I feel somewhat emboldened to humbly draw attention to these facts and to earnestly ask that these services may be considered as entitling me to apply for substantial promotion.

I am unaware of any reason why, unless I am to be punished for some offence of which I am ignorant, my transfer from St. Vincent, where I held a post equal in rank to the Postmaster Generalship of Hongkong, to my present substantive post should militate against my claims for promotion, nor can I conceive, now that I have learned how adversely present conditions affect my future interests, to which fact I have previously most respectfully drawn attention, that such promotion as I may merit will be withheld and I be allowed to suffer.

If I may be allowed, I would also like to state that my salary as Assistant Postmaster General is, in comparison with salaries drawn by Officers holding equal and in some cases less responsible positions, very much less than I beg leave to submit it should be. Besides, I regret to say that owing to the complete breakdown in health of my wife and children through residence in Hongkong, it has become

an absolute necessity for me to send them to England and, as a return to Hongkong in their interest will be unwise, it will be necessary for me to keep them in England. This, as will be seen, will make it an impossibility for me to exist on my present salary and at the same time provide for my wife and family (a young one growing up and needing of all things a good education), and on their behalf, as well as my own claims, I most earnestly pray that, until such suitable appointment may be found to which I may be considered deserving of being transferred, my case may receive favourable consideration and my application for a special increase to my salary may be granted.

I trust I may be pardoned for trespassing at such length on your valuable time.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

1. Combel Levis

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