(
458
2.
Mr. May recognised the desirability
of re-affirming the status and duties of the Registrar and
with that object in view caused the Memorandur, of which
a copy is enclosed, defining them to be drawn up and
officially communicated to the Registrar-General and a
Circular, copy enclosed, on the subject to he addressed to
Heads of Departments.
tono losure 1.
Eno Cosure 2.
3.
I am in accord with the principles
laid down in these documents and I shall be glad to learn
that their tenour has Your Lordship's approval.
4.
I would, however, submit that the
first convenient opportunity should be taken to amend the
title of Registrar-General
-
a survival from a time when a
register was kept of all the Chinese inhabitants of the
Colony
and to recommend that the title of Secretary for
Chinese Affairs be substituted for it. The latter title is
the one by which the incumbents of the corresponding
offices in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay
States are designated. The change would, however,
involve
the amendment of various Ordinances and the transfer of
the registration of Births, Deaths and Harriages to some
other Department, and I am not prepared to recommend it
at
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.