CO129-412 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [7-8] — Page 432

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NO CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir.

HONGKONG.

422

37796

REC

Reef 2 OCT 14)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

15th August, 1914.

4344&

-3

I have the honour to inform you that in view of the dearth of candidates for the vacant post of Assistant Analyst in this Colony alluded to in paragraph 2 of your confidential des- patch of the 22nd December, 1913, I have considered whether a modification of the qualifications demanded of such candidates would not be advisable. Mr. Browne, the Government Analyst, whom I have consulted, informs me that candidates possessing the qualifications of Associate of the School of Mines are easily obtainable and assures me that a man so qualified would be quite capable of performing the duties required; in fact he considers that it would be in the interest of the department, if one man who has specialised in metallurgy were to undertake the assay work, while he and the lat Assistant Analyst carried out the analysis

of food and drugs.

2.

I accordingly telegraphed to you on the 30th July as follows:- "With reference to your confidential despatch of *22nd December, 1913, if there is difficulty in obtaining suitably "candidate Assistant Analyst who is Associate of Institute of "Chemistry suggest that Associate of School of Mines should be "obtained instead as soon as possible", and I hope that the wider field of selection at your disposal will facilitate the selection of a suitable candidate at an early date.

Since writing the above I have received your

3.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P..

&C..

&o..

&c.

confidential