CIVIL SERVICE (1).
References to employees of the Government in the old days, in the course of these notes, have suggested looking up the records regarding the Civil Service. If residents outside the favoured circle to-day consider Civil Servants fortunate people, what must they have thought of the Government employees of the Forties! There are cases on records of these favoured individuals taking what is known as French leave, and engaging in lucrative business outside their official appointments.
For example in 1844, it is chronicled that instances had come to the knowledge of Government of individuals in the public service quitting the Colony without previously obtaining leave, and His Excellency the Governor in Council positively prohibited the practice, and announced that any person so doing in future would be immediately removed from the employ of the Government.
At the same time, all Civil Servants were precluded from engaging in trade or other lucrative occupation, except (and here comes the sugar coating) with the express consent of the Governor. There is reason to conclude that the Governor on several occasions gave that permission.
184
It is a natural step from contemplation of the beginnings of the Civil Service in Hongkong to an examination of the birth of the Cadet system. We find that the local Government Cadet service was established as long ago as 1861, by the then Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson. The original idea is interesting to provide the Colony with a staff of well-educated interpreters who should study the Chinese language and be eligible, when qualified for promotion to the headships of departments. The scheme was formally approved by the Secretary of State at that time, the Duke of Newcastle, and was Gazetted on October 12, 1861.
The first three Cadets, or student-interpreters, were Messrs. Cecil Clement Smith (an uncle of Sir Cecil Clementi), W. M. Deane, and M. S. Tonnochy, and they carried out their studies in what was then the Central School House. Mr. Clementi eventually became acting Colonial Secretary here, as well as a Police Magistrate and Registrar General and Protector of Chinese (equivalent to the present-day S.O.A.) and in 1878 was appointed Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements, where his work and excellent qualities are still gratefully recalled especially among the Chinese. Mr. Tonnochy also became Registrar General and acted as Superintendent of the Gaol, as well as administering the Government, when acting Colonial Secretary, on the departure of Sir John Pope Hennessy in 1882. Mr. Deane also reached the appointment of Acting Colonial Secretary, and served as Acting Captain Superintendent of Police at a time that a typhoon struck the Colony (1874) when his order, confining the Police to barracks, instead of turning them out for rescue and salvage work during the storm drew forth a great deal of criticism.
Page 185
Page 186
CIVIL SERVICE (1).
References to employees of the Government in the old days, in the course of these notes, have suggested looking up the records regarding the Civil Service. If residents outside the favoured circle to-day consider Civil Servants fortunate people, what must they have thought of the Gover- nnent employees of the Forties! There are cases on records of these favoured individuals taking what is known as French leave, and engaging in lucrative business outside their official appointments.
For example in 1844, it is chronicled that instances had "
come to the knowledge of Government " of individuals in the public service quitting the Colony without previously obtaining leave, and His Excellency the Governor in Council positively prohibited the practice, and announced that any person so doing in future would be immediately removed from the employ of the Government.
At the same time, all Civil Servants were precluded from engaging in trade or other lucrative occupation, except ( and here comes the sugar coating ) with the express consent of the Governor. There is reason to conclude that the Gover nor on several occasions gave that permission.
184
It is a natural step from contemplation of the beginn- ings of the Civil Service in Hongkong to an examination of the birth of the Cadet system. We find that the local Govern- ment Cadet service was established as long ago as 1861, by the then Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson. The original idea is interesting to provide the Colony with a staff of well- educated interpreters who should study the Chinese language and be eligible, when qualified for promotion to the headships of departments. The scheme was formally approved by the Secretary of State at that time, the Duke of Seeter-at-bhat time, of Newcastle, and was Gazetted on October, 12, 1861.
+
The first three Cadets, or student-interpreters, were Messrs. Cecil Clement Smith ('an uncle of Sir Gecil Clementi ) W. M. Deane, and M. S. Tonnochy, and they carried out their
studies in what was then the Central School House. Mr. Clementi eventually became acting Colonial Secretary here, as well as a Police Magistrate and Registrar General and Protector of Chinese (equivalent to the present-day 8.0.A. ) and in 1878 was appointed Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settle-
where his work and excellent qualities are still grate- fully recalled especially among the Chine Mr. Tonnochy also became Registrar General and acted as Superintendent of the Gaol, as well as administering the Government, when acting Colonial Secretary, on the departure of Sir John Pope Hennessy in 1882. Mr. Deane also reached the appointment of Acting Colonial Secretary, and served as Acting Captain Superintendent of Police at a time that a typhoon struck the Colony (1874) when hisorder, confining the Police to barracks, instead of turning them out for rescue and salvage work duringthe storm drew forth a great deal of criticism.
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