CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6] — Page 376

COPY.

A.

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

C. O. 09.075

FEGE 22 JUL 12 364

I submit with all deference that the des-

-patch quoted by the Secretary of State does not cover this case

in that mine was not an ordinary acting appointment, but an ap-

-pointment arising out of very exceptional circumstances.

2.

Early in December last at a personal interview

Sir F. Lugard told me that he wanted me to take charge of the detective staff in addition to my own duties; and that to make this possible Commander Beckwith would assist me in the Imports and Exports Office with the work of which he was already familiar. He

informed me that he considered the situation in Hongkong very

serious and that I was to consider my work on the detective staff as the more important. He promised that the Government would pay us for our service and suggested that I should draw in addition to my own pay the lapsing half-salary of Mr. T. H. King who was to act as Assistant Superintendent of Police and that Commander Beckwith be paid a bonus when the work finished.

3.

I was appointed on December 14th. and when I applied to draw this lapsing pay was found that no provision

had been made in the Estimates for the new Police Probationer; and

I was told that I would be voted a bonus at the end of my services.

I therefore took no further action at the moment.

4.

The appointment did involve a considerable

amount of extra work both on Commander Beckwith and myself and I respectfully request that in view of the exceptional circumstances and the express promise made by Sir F. Lugard, the matter may

again be laid before the Secretary of State.

(sd.) R. 0. Hutchison,

S.I.E.

26.6.12.