CO129-466 - Individuals - 1920 — Page 659

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

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The present Harbour Master is due to retire shortly, and the question of his successor has arisen. I have been asked for my opinion on the matter.

The obvious candidate is Commander Beckwith, but I have serious reservations about his suitability for the post.

  1. He is not a professional harbour master, and his experience is limited to a few years as a naval officer in charge of a small harbour.
  1. His appointment would be unpopular with the local mercantile community, who have long been critical of the naval authorities.
  1. His loyalty to the Government is questionable, as his sympathies lie with the naval officers who have been critical of the Government's policies. His own chief will probably not be loyal to the Government either.
  1. Commander Beckwith has a violent and sometimes uncontrolled temper (several outbursts of his have afforded a reprimand, food for gossip, and one, I believe, earned him a reprimand from the Government), which unfits him to act as a Magistrate.

As a constructive recommendation, I venture to suggest that the proper man to receive the appointment is a Naval Officer who, by reason of wounds received during the war, or on account of other disability connected with war service, is unfit for further service in the Fleet, and of these there should be many available whose qualifications for the post of Harbour Master are undeniable.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

your obedient servant

(signed) Fasil Baylour,

Captain R.N.

Harbour Master etc.

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##The present Harbour Master is due to retire shortly, and the question of his successor has arisen. I have been asked for my opinion on the matter.The obvious candidate is Commander Beckwith, but I have serious reservations about his suitability for the post.He is not a professional harbour master, and his experience is limited to a few years as a naval officer in charge of a small harbour.His appointment would be unpopular with the local mercantile community, who have long been critical of the naval authorities.His loyalty to the Government is questionable, as his sympathies lie with the naval officers who have been critical of the Government's policies. His own chief will probably not be loyal to the Government either.Commander Beckwith has a violent and sometimes uncontrolled temper (several outbursts of his have afforded a reprimand, food for gossip, and one, I believe, earned him a reprimand from the Government), which unfits him to act as a Magistrate.As a constructive recommendation, I venture to suggest that the proper man to receive the appointment is a Naval Officer who, by reason of wounds received during the war, or on account of other disability connected with war service, is unfit for further service in the Fleet, and of these there should be many available whose qualifications for the post of Harbour Master are undeniable.I have the honour to be,Sir,your obedient servant(signed) Fasil Baylour,Captain R.N.Harbour Master etc.
Baseline (Original)
$68655að fagnan(820a491 quoivdo toì ̧oda intorsa ed kiot assd„mid barn) ton of bas sillaib god) tad) (bouKEsidassıza bax 20019493 at 9d an amininguna 9100 att ni odilgairesd1970 boishianos ad od tad telfernung sit[ lainoa aigatlost wiAT sillo ni astazikrodga nid yd tustesent bas-605drix asnase fredytem ali to znam dike borada (Itaoruqqa ditram borss991 stad I na (tsataon stat assos ad modead ton ¿llesutan bluor duide (19% 990030714 vid to ntatsf]-twingga nidh ti borgiridus suosad blson doide tud , botanjon.9545#pannas mi voliwa hirow Frog 98) bus (obat sto* 1891ad ted) sunsid) gribasi gệt To smos ¿ỗ kvetolai anod stad Iconia, cadt på botauiteth has b9dHuib #jbivoda tasutraged a to band sdr to tuogod st?sd) at snun-data æʻdiofosi 19hamuru)ASEAN (50m sltét.moisiqana svuda ndsi moitasgyma 19tainia sdi «çlamoitsa out asiat ad fonsas(ringib sd) of basobys ton biyon bas „avotvdo si snes vidt.asillo sắt to roi 10aid bond iɔdo nad? oron and dried95) TshnamEREST ) ."nuodło taninge sugiunt of 193×AÚ 1000ind galtså sa noiftrojdid mind no pratiquova) mid 99qavba of (Jasaitaqsi odi siowls and sti 1991g8 Jon roof si rodu džin astaniimodresa tag of batestia se soivaað svitsi du 998ondu çu yaLTS-Intoppe Visauid bao 193wall swodtąd to Jeoq sit sort boisatamid baa tuntuuqel año mid at ingoƐ tan ni odv sse Å## own chief will probably not be loyal to the Government either,d.Commander Beckwith has a violent and sometimes uncontrolled temper (several outbursts of his bave afforded a reprimand food for gossip, and one, I believe, earned him: from the Government), which unfits bin to act as a Magistrate.4. An a constructive recommendation, 1 venture to suggest that the proper man to receive the appointment is a Naval Officer who, by reason of wounds received during the war, or on account of other disability connected with war service, is unfit for further service in the Fleet, and of these there should be many available whose qualifications for the post of larbour laster are undeniable,I have the honour to be,Sir,your obedient servant(signed) Fasil laylour,Captain R X.Harbour Master Ec:
2026-06-26 15:00:31 · Baseline
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$68

655

að fagnan

(820a491 quoivdo toì ̧oda intorsa ed kiot assd

„mid barn) ton of bas sillaib god) tad) (bouKE

sidassıza bax 20019493 at 9d an amininguna 9100 att ni odil

gairesd1970 boishianos ad od tad telfernung sit[ lainoa ai

gatlost wiAT sillo ni astazikrodga nid yd tustesent bas

-605

drix asnase fredytem ali to znam dike borada (Itaoruqqa di

tram borss991 stad I na (tsataon stat assos ad mode

ad ton ¿llesutan bluor duide (19% 990030714 vid to ntatsf]

-twingga nidh ti borgiridus suosad blson doide tud , botanjon

.9545#pannas mi voliwa hirow Frog 98) bus (obat sto* 1891

ad ted) sunsid) gribasi gệt To smos ¿ỗ kvetolai anod stad I

conia, cadt på botauiteth has b9dHuib #j

bivoda tasutraged a to band sdr to tuogod st?

sd) at snun-data æʻdiofosi 19hamuru)

ASEAN (50m sltét

.moisiqana svuda nd

si moitasgyma 19tainia sdi «çlamoitsa out asiat ad fonsas

(ringib sd) of basobys ton biyon bas „avotvdo si snes vidt

.asillo sắt to roi 10

aid bond iɔdo nad? oron and dried95) TshnamEREST ) ."

nuodło taninge sugiunt of 193×AÚ 1000ind galtså sa noiftroj

did mind no pratiquova) mid 99qavba of (Jasaitaqsi odi si

owls and sti 1991g8 Jon roof si rodu džin astaniimodre

sa tag of batestia se soivaað svitsi du 998ondu çu yaLTS

-Intoppe Visauid bao 193wall swodtąd to Jeoq sit sort boisata

mid baa tuntuuqel año mid at ingoƐ tan ni odv sse Å

##

own chief will probably not be loyal to the Government either,

d. Commander Beckwith has a violent and sometimes

uncontrolled temper (several outbursts of his bave afforded

a reprimand food for gossip, and one, I believe, earned him: from the Government), which unfits bin to act as a Magistrate.

4. An a constructive recommendation, 1 venture to

suggest that the proper man to receive the appointment is a Naval Officer who, by reason of wounds received during the

war, or on account of other disability connected with war service, is unfit for further service in the Fleet, and of these there should be many available whose qualifications

for the post of larbour laster are undeniable,

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

your obedient servant

(signed) Fasil laylour,

Captain R X.

Harbour Master Ec:

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