CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 165

COPY.

Nos.

162

Supreme Court,

Hongkong, August 28th., 1908.

sir,

I have the honour to inform you that this

morning, Mr. Sharp, K.C., who is sitting on the Commission at present enquiring into the working of the registry, unknown to myself, obtained from one of my subordinates, kr. Jones, Deputy Registrar, access to three cases upon two of which questions were put by him to me touching upon the practice of the Court recently before the Chief Justice and upon which 1 gave evidence. The other of the cases which Mr. Sharp also took the liberty of looking into was that of howard and Stephens

v. Attorney-General.

The honourable

2.

Under any circumstances Mr. Jones was

wrong in not first communicating with me on the subject and certainly Mr. Sharp having regard more especially to the posi-

tion he holds on the Commission of Enquiry showed great want

of consideration to myself in not first communicating with me

as the head of the office, and by communicating absolutely with

my subordinate and ignoring me. The two first cases mentioned

wers,

i am credibly informed, taken in to his honour the Chief

Justice by Mr. Jones.

3.

Mr. Jones also communicated with an

Buropean, whose name or position I have not been able to dis-

on the subject of the Shroff's receipts and payments and I am also informed allowed him to look at certain booKS connected with the Shroff, without my permission.

cover,

4.

How far the conduct abovementioned may be

considered polite or suitable to the working of an important

The Colonial Secretary.

Department