1232 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH DECEMBER, 1895.
4. Under all the circumstances of the case I see no reason for regarding the proposed percentage, taken on the total revenue of the Colony, as at all an unreasonable contribution to ask for from Hongkong.
5. As regards the expenditure on new Barracks I have to remind you that your predecessor was informed five years ago, in Lord KNUTSFORD'S despatch No. 8 of 20th January, 1890, that the Colony would be asked to bear a portion of the cost of their construction. The fact that some of the expenditure had already been incurred was among other considerations taken into account, when it was proposed, in Lord RIPON's despatch No. 83 of 3rd April last, that the Colony should only pay one third of the net total cost of the Barracks, and if the Imperial Government had agreed to pay the whole cost of the buildings already in hand or completed, it could have only been on the condition that the Colony would bear a larger proportion than one third of the remaining expenditure. I trust that on further consideration the Members of the Legislative Council will agree that the proposals of Her Majesty's Government on this subject form a fair and reasonable settlement of the question.
I have the honour to be,
Sir.
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
Governor
J. CHAMBERLAIN,
Sir W. ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.,
&c.,
&.c..
&c.
Note. The previous despatches referred to in paragraph 5 have already been
printed and laid.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 507.
The following Statement shewing total cost of Personal Emoluments, Pensions, &c. for the Years 1892, 1893 and 1894, which was laid before the Legislative Council on the 5th instant, is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 7th December, 1895.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
1892.
Average Exchange
Salaries (including Allowances),
2/101
.$821,509.52
1893.
Average Exchange
2/61/2
$750,851.13
1894.
Average Exchange
2/14
$764,337.04
Pensions,
67,086.54
86,706.79
100,077.28
Exchange Compensation,
...
22,578.21
TOTAL,..........
...$888,596.06
$837,557.92
$886,992.53
The figures for 1895 cannot be ascertained as the accounts for the year cannot yet be closed.
A. M. THOMSON, Acting Treasurer.
Hongkong, 3rd December, 1895.