CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4] — Page 294

on it that the £100 must be paid.

(Sa.) F. B. May.

20.2.1903.

XIV.

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

278

287

Certainly not, except this Government is

legally liable. Ask Attorney-General.

XV.

Hon. Attorney-General,

(Sa.) H. A. Blake.

21.2.08.

Please advise. You will observe that in

Colonial Secretary's letter of 29th. October, 1902, the offer was made "in the event of your return to Hongkong next year". This Government never asked Mr. Ireland to cancel any of his engagements in order to take up this work, and never expected him to do so. Before he left Hongkong last year he stated that he would probably return in 1903 to complete his own researches

here.

XVI.

(Sd.) R. F. Johnston,

p. Colonial Secretary.

21.2.03.

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

In my opinion Mr. Ireland has no claim

in law against the Hongkong Government for the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment in the event of his return to Hongkong made to him in your letter of the 29th. October, 1902; and the minatory and offensive character of his letter to you of the Srd. February instant deprives him, in my opinion, of any claim for consideration otherwise.

In your letter of the 29th. October,

1902, you made Mr. Ireland a definite offer of personal employ-

-ment