Reference
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7. I would add that I am not impressed by Mr Vine's piece of research, enclosed in his letter to Mr Royle of 5 June. The origins of the 1883 reform are glossed; indeed, his reference on p.4 to Sir George Bowen being under pressure from the Chamber of Commerce in December 1882 is clearly wrong Bowen did not go to Hong Kong till 1883. Probably this is a typing error (there are others), but in any case the brevity of this passage suggests that Mr Vine is not sure of his ground here.
8. I hope all this is of some use. If any further research is necessary (the precedents of Ceylon and Mauritius might repay investigation, as might a careful look at the first few years of this system in Hong Kong) I shall be happy to do it.
12 June 1972.
St. warm an
Miss S.L. Warman, Commonwealth Section, Research Department.
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