CO129-449 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1918 [7-9] — Page 213

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authorising the payment of his expenses out of public funds; and this can only be after the

If the Governor is of case has been decided. opinion that the case is one in which it is desirable,in the public interest, that pro- ceedings should be taken, the officer should be informed that he may bring his action andthat when it is over the question of costs will be put before me, and that if I am satisfied that he did not act improperly with regard to the matter in respect of which the action was brought,

I shall doubtless accept any recommendation of the local Government as to making good to him the actual expenses resulting from the action.

3. I shall accordingly be prepared to con- sider the question of Mr. Hamilton's costs after the case has been decided, when a full report on the case together with a copy of the proceedings should be sent to me; but on the grounds set forth above the matter is one on which it is not possible for me to take a decision in advance.

A.

I would observe that it should be remembered that if Mr. Hamilton loses his action, his own costs and both the Defendants' taxed costs will have to be paid. Apart from these questions of principle, the libel in question does not appear to be of so serious and exceptional a nature as to make it essential to depart from the general rule that Officers of the Government should not bring actions in respect of criticisms of their performance of their public

duties.

I have, etc.

Qu About Add

1918

29 July

Last previous Paper,

SEL

Gov

76020

26 Ock L

Aund 28.3.

HONG KONG

66021

C.O

40021

REC?

Red 23 SEP 18

Murder of Police Sergeant J. Glend uning

in charge of

by

Pai I Police Patio Lantas dan

an Indian Instable Taja Singh, wis exterwards

committed suicide.

forto-

All Mr Collin

ack with regret

aud

say the 5025

the 52,5 will

await

for dish.

(But surely

we that have been told of this by Wb.)

See also in 46020,

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1.10

Next subsequent Paper.

Goo 37928

(1419-46) Wt. 5420—16. - 50m. 11/17 D & S G 122/ 41.