CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4] — Page 286

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-index system is to be used by Mr. Drayson, it is of some

interest to note that the card-index now in the office of the

Colonial Secretary of Hongkong was made from a model lent by

me for that purpose, and that whatever knowledge of the use of a

card-index for official documents Mr. Drayson may possess

arises from my own explanation of the system to him when I was

in Hongkong, since the system is not used in the Colonial Office,

where Mr. Drayson's previous work has been done, and that when

I was working in the Secretariat in Hongkong last year I found

Mr. Drayson, in common with every other official in the

Secretariat, quite unfamiliar with the system of card-indexing

for official documents.

11.

I am advised that your letter No.

2871 of October 29th., 1908, constitutes a definite engage-

ment of my services to perform a definite piece work (the

indexing of the Library of the Council Chamber and the revision

of the system by which documents are recorded and filed in your

office) at a definite time (on the occasion of my return to

Hongkong in 1903) for a specific fee (E100), and I must inform

you that, as I have accepted your offer to do the work, and am

still prepared to do it, and as I have made changes in my plans

involving both expense and inconvenience that I might be able

to perform the work you engaged me to perform, I shall require

my fee of £100 to be paid by the Hongkong Government on my return

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to Hongkong in November, whether the work I was engaged to do is

carried through by myself or by Mr. Drayson.

12.

Mr. Drayson's action in this matter is

merely one of personal conduct; but the action of the Government

is one which carries with it official responsibility.

19.

I shall be obliged if you will inform

me of your final decision in this matter, addressing your com-

-qunication