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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25т¤ SEPTEMBER, 1869.
23. With the proposed Telegraphs, and when the additional outstations now building are completed, it may perhaps be found that a smaller Force can do the duty. I nevertheless see little prospect of your ever having a Police Force at once effective and cheap. I know no place where it would be so difficult to realize such an anticipation as Hongkong. This is especially the case because the influx of criminals from the adjoining turbulent Provinces, which differ entirely in the character of their population from that of the natives of the Straits or Shanghai, is regulated by circumstances beyond your control, and the course of which you can only watch, whilst keeping yourselves ever on the alert and the defensive, as though in a normal state of siege.
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24. Moreover, at this distance from England and in this climate, temperance and honesty in Europeans command an exorbitant premium, and unluckily when they have been contracted for and imported, too often disappear, whilst, do what you will, whether you recruit in Europe or in India, you cannot procure a force homogeneous and speaking the requisite languages. You can only put it together bit by bit, and gradually utilize it by patience and by holding out to each individual substantial inducements and facilities to improve. This has been done and I have reason to be satisfied with the progress made and being made.
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25. In proportion, however, as you find less chance of diminishing your Police Expenditure, owing to the peculiar geographical position and exceptional cir- cumstances of the Colony, I would be glad that you should, as I have already said, turn your attention to effecting economy in other Departments. I am aware of the difficulty attending attempts to accomplish Departmental retrenchment without impairing efficiency. Lord Lawrence, has recently described how he commenced his late administration, hoping, and resolved to effect great retrenchment in all the Indian Departments, and how he was forced to leave them largely increased. I mention this not to discourage, but to prevent undue expectations. As yet, I have only seen my way doubtfully to suggesting the eventual amalgamation of most of the duties of the Treasury and Audit Office, an experiment which may be said to be now in its first stage, and the eventual saving from which may amount to upwards of $6,000 annually. Nevertheless, I think an equal saving can ere long be effected in other minor details, which however, I have not yet ventured to put on the Estimates, preferring to feel my way first. My chief wish at present is to urge on you the necessity of keeping the principle of economy in view, when possible without impairing efficiency..
26. To facilitate your labors the form of the Estimates now before you has been improved, by keeping all the expenses of each Department together instead of spreading them, as formerly, over different and totally unconnected pages. Because some Departmental expenses are for "Establishments" and others are "exclusive of Establishments," and others again for "Rent," or "Transport,' see no reason why such expenses should not be grouped together. Such an ar rangement, whilst more symmetrical and clear, does not interfere, as you will find with the distinct classification of the details so grouped.
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You w 27. In the Summary (Pages 30 and 31) you will see the totals of the cost all the Departments collectively and separately, as proposed for next year, side b side with the expenses incurred for the same during the past year. there see that the total Expenditure of last year amounted to $991,311, where the vote proposed for next year is nearly $200,000 less-or $791,882. TI diminution is, in a great measure, owing to the fact of the large arrears of t Military Contribution having been paid last year, so that there is about $114,0 less to provide on that service alone.
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28. Improved arrangements of your Estimates will probably prevent ma mistakes. Few persons, and certainly not those to whom it would be inconveni that accurate information opposed to their theories and objects should be for on them, take much trouble in sifting such dry details. It must also be admit that it was not easy formerly to understand the Annual Estimates. Thus in Harbor Master's Department, there were no means of knowing accurately the of the Gunpowder Depôt, a concern which accidentally is superintended by Harbor Master, but which has little connection with his special duties such. You can, however, now see that, independent of the sum necessary reserve for purchase of a new Hulk hereafter, the annual cost of the Gunpow Depôt is $3,928. On the other hand, if any one were to ask how much the C of Harbor Master, properly so called, costs the Colony, it would be impossibl say, because you cannot divide the $21,272, allotted to the Department so distinguish the cost of the ordinary duties of the office from others even which yolve on him for suppression of Piracy
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