Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 611

HONGKONG.

No. 111,

Despatch respecting the charges brought against the Surveyor General's Department by the "Hongkong Telegraph" Newspaper.

SIR.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the

·Governor of Hongkong.

DOWNING STREET,

24th May, 1884.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 105 of the 31st of March, enclosing the Report of the Comunission appointed to enquire into the charges made against the staff of the Public Works Department. *

It has given me much satisfaction to find that the serious charges brought against the Surveyor General and his Department, have been proved, after a thorough and careful enquiry, to be unfounded.

The Commissioners deserve much credit for the ability and perseverance with which they conducted the enquiry.

Governor Sir G. F. BOWEN, G.C.M.G.

I have, &c..

DERBY.

*The Report of the Commission has already been presented to the Legislative Council.

66

Subjoined is the Minute of the Executive Council :—

Extract from the Minutes of the Executive Council

held on the 26th March, 1884.

The Council consider the report of the Public Works Commission.

The Council advise that in view of this report, the Editor of the Hongkong Telegraph should be informed that in future no more copies of his newspaper will be required for any of the Government Departments. The Report entirely excul- pates the Surveyor General and his Department from the charges brought against them by the Editor of the Telegraph, and shows that an official document used by the Editor at his trial before the Supreme Court must have been obtained by improper means. Under these circumstances, the Government cannot give adver- tisements to, nor in any way recognise the Hongkong Telegraph.'

True Extract.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Clerk of Councils,