(
23.
248
of occasional minutes touching details about paysheets and
so forth.
His Excellency suggests that Mr Thomson had
"opportunities extending over the whole time that Mr Irving
has been in the Hong Kong Service of learning the opinion
which is generally held of Mr Irving, s abilities and the way
in which he has performed his work, and the general estimation
in which he is held". Now I submit that to form an opinion
of a matter affecting the whole prospects of a senior and
hitherto unblamed officer, nothing short of the best hearsay
evidence should suffice. The first persons whom Mr Thomson
might have consulted were the Cadet officers senior to me,
two of whom, the Puisne Judge, Mr Gompertz, and the Registrar
General, Mr Brewin, have known me intimately for a number of
years. He did not do so. And I presume he did not seek
the opinion of my juniors. My official work has been almost
entirely connected, outside the Government, with members of
various ecclesiastical bodies. He certainly took no counsel
of then. As regards the sole remaining source of information,
I pointed out to His Excellency that my acquaintance with
Mr Thomson was very slight indeed. But I understand from
His Excellency's minute that Mr Thomson did not form his
opinion upon the estimation of me held by a common acquaintance.
I need therefore add nothing on this point.
be minimised.
The effect of Mr Thomson's criticism can not
In paragraph 3 of his minute (page 20) His
Excellency states that six months earlier he had considered
my claims for the permanent appointment superior to those of
Mr Hallifax. His minute which brought forth Mr Thomson's
criticism contains the expression As Mr Irving has passed
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.