THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH APRIL, 1894.
CROWN AGENTS.
273
In view of the West Indian Colonies, including British Honduras and British Guiana, having recently passed Resolutions through their Legislatures condemning the Crown Agency system as an expensive and wasteful medium for the transaction of their business, and as a like feeling obtains amongst a large number of ratepayers in this Colony, will the Government lay upon the table, at the earliest possible date, a copy of the Parliamentary Paper C. 3075 of 1881, which is said to contain full information as to the arrangements existing between the Colonial Office and the Crown Agents.
Pó LEUNG KUK.
Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the Despatch No. 204 of 22nd December last, from the Right Honourable the Marquis of "Pipon, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary_of State for the Colonies, in connection with my Memorial, dated 27th June, 1893, praying His Lordship to return Ordinance No. 10 of 1893 to Hongkong for amendment in the directions indicated therein, and to recommend to the Colonial Government, either to remove the Registrar General from the governing body of the Pó Léung Kuk, or to invest him with powers adequate to his duties and responsibilities to the Women and Girls under his care, under Ördinance No. 11 of 1890.
FINANCES.
Will the Government inform the Council,-
(1) What moneys were expended by the Crown Agents in England, on account of the
Colony, during 1893,
(2) How much of these were defrayed out of the proceeds of the Colony's recent Gold
Loan,
(3) What amount, if any, of our revenue during 1893 has been remitted to, or drawn for by the Crown Agents, from the Colony, to defray their expenses, and the rates of exchange, if any,
(4) Have any moneys derived either from revenue in 1893, or from Supreme Court, or Reclamation Deposits, been remitted to England, or withdrawn from the Colony during the past nine months, for any purpose other than to defray necessary expenditure in England on account of the Colony.
(5) If so, what amount, from what funds derived, at what rates of exchange remitted, how employed in England, and at what rates of interest, under what authority have such remittances been made, and for what reasons,
and (6) What amount of the Colonial Government's funds now remain in England, how much thereof is derived from revenue, how much from deposits, and how much from the proceeds of the recent Gold Loan.
The Colonial Secretary replied. MOTION.-The Colonial Secretary, pursuant to notice, moved the following resolution and addressed the Council:-
"That it is desirable to give effect to the suggestion of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that, in view of the fall in exchange, those of the Civil Servants who are domiciled in the United Kingdom or other countries having a Gold Currency, and are willing to draw their salaries when on leave at the rate of 3/- to the dollar, should be granted such a non-pensionable allowance as will make the half of their salaries while on active service equivalent to the half of their present salaries calculated at the rate of 3/- to the dollar."
The Colonial Treasurer seconded, and addressed the Council,
Mr. CHATER addressed the Council, and moved as an amendment:--
That the consideration of this question be postponed until the Retrenchment Commission asked for in the memorial of the Unofficial Members of Council, dated 12th January, 1893, to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has been appointed, and until the Council has had an opportunity of carefully considering the report of such Commission.
Mr. KESWICK seconded, and addressed the Council.
Mr. BELILIOS addressed the Council.
Dr. Ho KAI addressed the Council.
The amendment was then put and carried nem. con., the Official Members abstaining from voting. RETRENCHMENT COMMITTEE.-The Governor informed the Council that at His Excellency's sugges- tion the Right Honourable the Secretary of State had been pleased to approve of the appointment of the following gentlemen as a Committee to enquire into the expenditure of the Colony, viz. :-
His Honour Mr. Justice ACKROYD, (Chairman),
The Honourable C. P. CHATER,
The Honourable J. J. KESWICK,
and N. J. EDE, Esquire.
His Excellency further intimated that he proposed to appoint an Official Secretary to the Com- mittee and that he had selected Mr. T. SERCOMBE SMITH for the office.