special Annamese ambassadors, sent to Hongkong for the purpose, the thanks of the native Government of Cochin-China for his humane intervention, made on their behalf with the Government of Macao. In May, 1867, it had become known in Hongkong that a number of Cochin-Chinese junks, conveying tribute to Annam, had been captured by Chinese pirates who sold the tribute bearers, with their escort and junk crews, to Macao coolie barracoons. Thanks to the intervention of Sir Richard, these people were forthwith liberated by the Portuguese Governor (Admiral de Souza) and the Hongkong community readily subscribed the funds required to send the unfortunate captives back to their native country.
Sir R. MacDonnell did not materially modify or augment the organisation of the Civil Service. But, with a view to retrenchment, he repeatedly applied, when suitable vacancies occurred, the principle of plurality of offices. One characteristic of his regime was the preference he invariably gave to those Cadets whom he found serviceable for the aims of his vigorous policy and amenable to his austere discipline which required, however, much patience on the part of his subordinates as he ruthlessly sent back official reports, to be amended, again and again, till they agreed with his views. Another feature of his administration was the increased authority and importance with which he invested the Registrar General's office, so long as the first of the Cadets (C. C. Smith), who in most things was his right-hand man, held that office. The number of Cadets had, before his arrival, been increased (August 9, 1865), by the appointment of Mr. A. Lister and Mr. J. Russell, and they were without much delay employed by him to fill important offices, the former being sent to the Harbour Office and the latter, who also acted as his Private Secretary, to the Magistracy.
The first popular measure introduced by the Governor was a revision of the constitution of the Legislative Council. The need for such a revision had made itself felt both by the Colonial Office and by the community when the Colonial Treasurer (F. H. Forth) had to be censured (March, 1866) under the
