1
OP Y.
No. 1.
327
Mountain Lodge,
Hongkong, 12th.September,1909
Sir,
39868
M
Tie? Pse? 9 DEC09! I very greatly regret to have to infort You
that a serious difficulty has arisen in regard to the leave for
which you have applied. As Sir Henry Berkeley is unable to
continue to act as Attorney-General during Your Honour's
absence (a post involving very leavy work without any rem
-muneration whatever), I propose to appoint Mr. Hazeland to
discharge those duties, and I was compelled to telegraph to
the Secretary of State requesting that Mr. Hallifax should give
up his leave and return at once to take Mr. Hazeland's place
as 1st. Magistrate. This telegram was despatched on August
25th. immediately on receipt of Your Honour's letter of Aust
24th. informing me of the date of which you proposed to take
leave.
2.
I received a telegram from Lord Crewe
yesterday informing me that "the earliest available passaga will
only enable M^. Mallifax to reach Hongkong on November the
12th. This will involve expenditure from Hongkong funds of
£50.*
3.
K. Hallifax's leave does not expire in the
usual course until December 23rd., and in order to arrive on
November 12th. he will have to forego one and a half month's
leave. From the terms of the telegram (to which an immediate
reply is asked) it is obvious that he does not desire to return,
but the fact of my having alroady telegraphed to recall hin
shows that I consider Your Honour's claims to take leave on the
date you desire to be paramount.
4.
The Colonial Secretary is unable to surreat
to me any other course by which the difficulty can be gur-
-mounted and I propose to telegraph tomorrow, the 13th. (so as to reach the Colonial Office as soon as it is open on Monday)
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