CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6] — Page 180

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of other work.

In August 1917 the question of improvement in the means of

communication with chaung Chau, was raised by questions in the

Legislative Council by the member nominated, by the J.p's, and

the Government asked the Naval Authorities for the advice of

their wireless expert on the subject of the suggestion to use

a wireless telephone system for the purpose. The advice was

against wireless telephone on account of the expert manipul a-

tion required, and the Governor decided to let the whole

question of establishing communications with the islands by

wireless or by telephone, stand over till the end of the war,

on the ground of the difficulty of obtaining the necessary

equipment for either and of the necessity of economy in war

time.

Questions of improved communication with Police Stations

are matters within the purview of the Director of Public Works

and Captain Superintendent of Police.

They do not primarily concern the District officers. More-

over Mr.Hamilton was only appointed District officer South in

April 1917 and in August of that year he was aware that the

question as far as it concerned Cheung Chau was already under

consideration.

The Plaintiff has always taken the greatest interest in

his duties and has always attended to them to the best of his

ability and the files relating to his District are ample

evidence of them. The Government themselves are perfectly

satisfied with his performance of his duties and he has never

been reprimanded for lack of interest or neglect of duty, nor

has any such neglect or lack ever been attributed to him.

To turn to the letter containing the libel

-

the Headline

is starting "The neglect of the Islands and I øl anders".

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