an official career of thirty-four years,» and concluded with the following motion:

«That, in consideration of the fidelity, zeal, and efficiency, with which the late Mr. Leonardo dÁlmada e Castro performed the duties of his appointments under this Government during a period of more than thirty years, a pension at the rate of $150 per month be granted to his widow and daughter during their natural lives, $100 thereof being payable to Mrs. dÁlmada and $50 to her daughter».

«The motion being put was carried unaminously».

Regarding Mr. Leonardo dÁlmada e Castro, there was an important decision by the Government of Great Britain the circumstances of which go to make an event that constitutes something of an unwritten page in the history of the Portuguese in Hongkong and which I feel honoured to record in this book. When, in 1882, seven years after the death of Mr. Leonardo dÁlmada, Sir John Pope Hennessy was about to lay down the reins of Government in Hongkong, the Portuguese employees of the Government senta deputation comprised of their oldest members, to call at Government House to present an address. In the course of his reply to the address, Sir John Pope Hennessy said: 84

«In my office there is a despatch, written more than twenty years ago, from the Duke of Newcastle, instructing Sir John Bowring to appoint Mr. L. DÁlmada e Castro to be the Colonial Secretary of Hongkong. I cannot find any record explaining why Governor Bowring did not carry out these instructions. But as far as I am concerned, I prefer the policy laid down by so wise and good a man, and one who knew his Sovereign's wishes so well, as the Duke of Newcastle».

Had Mr. dÁlmada e Castro lived longer and served under Sir John Pope Hennessy, it is likely that he would have been honoured by being appointed Colonial Secretary of Hongkong-- the highest position in the Government of the Colony after that of Governor.

In private life the Almada brothers were noted for their generosity. In the early 1870's Mr. Leonardo dÁlmada assigned a piece of land on Caine Road to the Canossian Order of Nuns and so enabled