CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6] — Page 412

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Hongkong,

20th April, 1915.

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sir,

I have been informed by the Hon. Director of

Public Works that His Excellency the Governor has approved

that Mr. Goldsmith should be recommended for promotion to the rank of 2nd Grade Executive Engineer in charge of a new department for the Maintenance of Roads, &c. as he is believed

to be more fitted for the post than I am. I having been

employed chiefly in the Water Department and having had much mechanical engineering to carry out.

2.

I would respectfully bag that this decision may

be re-considered as I feel that should this precedent be made it will make my chance of practising as a Civil Engineer very remote and very likely stand in my way for qualifying for pro-

motion to any of the higher posts in the Department.

I would respectfully submit for His Excellency's

kind consideration the following facts:-

(a) No Assistant Engineer who has been compelled to specialise in any one branch of the Engineering profession can

be said to be as well versed in another branch as those already

in that branch, but I submit that a Civil Engineer can and

should practise in other branches to increase his general

capability. Other departments of the Service are so treated:

an officer who has been trained in one department is not com-

pelled to forego promotion because he has not been in the

department where a vacancy has ooourred.

I am an A.M.I.O.E. and have therefore proved myself

qualified in engineering of a general character and I am cer-

tain that I could soon be in a position to carry out the

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary,

Hongkong.