Sessional_Paper_1890 — Page 302

298

HONGKONG.

No. 87.

SIR,

Secretary of State to the Officer Administering the Government.

DOWNING STREET,

15th May, 1890.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 93 of the 8th ultimo respecting the appointment of Mr. HORSPOOL to be Assistant Super- intendent of the Police, and to inform you that I gathered from Sir W. DES Vœux's despatch No. 380 of the 15th of December that it was the intention, on the abolition of the Adjutancy, to revive the Office of Deputy Superintendent who should take the place of the Superintendent during the latter's absence. The term "Assistant Superintendent" appears to have been used merely by a slip of the pen.

Mr. HORSFOOL may however have some hesitation in accepting on probation only, an office which would imply a forfeiture of his privileges as "Subordinate Officer" under Ordinance No. 14 of 1887, and it seems to me not quite fair to Major DEMPSTER to require him to resign, before the termination of his extended military service in Hongkong, an office on the faith of holding which he had accepted such extension of his military service.

In these circumstances I suggest for your consideration that Mr. Horspool, while retaining his title of Chief Inspector, should be appointed to act as Deputy Superintendent and Adjutant with an addition of $50 a month to his pay, Major DEMPSTER while acting as Superintendent of the Gaol receiving only half the pay of Adjutant of the Police. Should Major DEMPSTER cease to act as Superintendent of the Gaol before his extended military service expires, and it be not found possible to provide him with another suitable acting appointment, he would of course return to the Police for a time, and it would be necessary to ask the Legis- lative Council to vote an addition of $50 a month to the pay of Mr. HORSPOOL, who would continue to act as Deputy Superintendent, but subordinate to Major DEMPSTER.

If, as seems probable, Major DEMPSTER's term of military service in Hongkong should expire before a sufficient and satisfactory trial of Mr. HORSPOOL as Deputy Superintendent had been made, the latter would continue to act as Deputy Super- intendent on the terms as regards salary above mentioned.

Should you see no objection to the above proposals you have my authority for carrying them into effect.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant,

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.

KNUTSFORD.