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POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION
A barren, traffickless rock, with not 150 resident Englishmen*, exclusive of Government servants, totally devoid of agriculture, manu- factures or commerce, and with a fluctuating predatory Chinese popu- lation, does not require a civil government, at least on this scale. When the salary of £6000 a-year was granted to the late Lord Napier, as Her Majesty's representative in China, it was expressly declared that this large sun was allowed in order that the hospitality and rank of Her Majesty's representative should be maintained. It is generally known in China, that the present Governor is not spending the interest which he derives from the deposit of his salary in one of the large opium firms in Hong Kong.
A military or naval commandant (the latter preferably, as we must maintain a naval force in China) with £1000 a-year in addition to the pay of his rank, would be sufficient for Hong Kong, even on its present scale of establishment.
The duties of Superintendent of Trade ought to be performed solely by a consul-general at Canton. It seems unnecessary accrediting a ministerial representative to a court where we are denied access; but if it be deemed necessary to retain a British plenipotentiary in China, his functions and rank ought to be kept distinct from those of trade superintendency (which the Chinese hold in low esteem), and from the petty office of Governor of a place like Hong Kong. Most desirable is it that the representative of British Majesty in China should be a man of expanded and generous mind, imbued with true Christian feel- ings, trained in European principles of politics, and known never to have been connected with commerce. With such a representative, Englishmen might obtain respect in China.
2. LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS. The annual expense will be about
£1000
The application of the laws of England to Hong Kong, and the institution of a municipality for all local purposes, would remove the necessity of maintaining the form of these councils, which are far beyond the necessities of the place, and produce considerable discontent.
3. COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Salaries per annum
£3000
Contingencies, ordinary and special, about General Department, wages, &c. about
200
300
£3500
The present duties of the Colonial Secretary might be performed by any ordinary clerk. They consist of answering yes or no to a few
* There are about 16 mercantile firms (most of them agents or correspondents of English house), and their clerks: 1 English missionary, 8 doctors, surgeons, and apothecaries, 2 attornies, 3 proprietors of newspapers, 6 to 8 English traders, 4 English auctioneers, 2 watchmakers, 2 bakers, about 10 or 12 publicans, and a few in nondescript positions. Of the whole not 100, scarcely 50 have any property at stake in Hong Kong. There are several American and European foreigners.
OF GOVERNMENT.
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official letters on trifling subjects, issuing notices in the Colonial Gazette, and signing his name to a few papers.
If a Colonial Secretary be maintained, he might officiate (being a barrister) as crown lawyer, save the expense of an attorney-general, take charge of intestate estates, &c., sit ex officio as conjoint magistrate in civil and criminal cases, issue licenses, and grant requisitions for paying quarterly or half-yearly into the commissariat all rents from crown lands, market dues, and fees. He would also administer to a few intestate estates that occur, and he would submit to the home authorities the draft of any legislative enactments deemed specially necessary for Hong Kong.
4. FINANCIAL COLONIAL TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF REVENUE.
Annual expenses of establishment Cost of auditor and his office
+
£2300 1400
£3700
The whole of this sum of £3700 to £4000 per annum, may be saved to the British exchequer, and without any detriment to Hong Kong.
A Commissary must be retained, and the pay of the colonial servants may be thence issued on the requisition and certificates of the Commandant and Colonial Secretary, as was the case previous to my arrival in Hong Kong. The rent of crown lands, markets, &c., and the licenses, fees, &c., due to Government, may be paid into the Com- This missary office, on the requisition of the Colonial Secretary. was also done previous to my arrival. The disbursement of nearly £4000 a-year from the taxes of England may thus be avoided. I feel bound to make this statement, however much it may operate against my personal interest.
5. SURVEYOR-GENERAL.
Average salaries, wages and contingencies, from £4,000 to £5,000
a-year.
It is difficult to state the fixed annual expenditure of this depart- ment. There has been the most lavish expenditure on useless attempts to make roads, bridges, and drains, which a few hours rain on the precipitous hills have washed into the sea.
There are really no military communications to be maintained at Hong Kong, and if the inhabitants think roads can be made over and along steep mountains or through the sea (as had been done in Hong It would be Kong), let them assess themselves for the purpose. advisable to abolish this department, for so long as any part is kept up, opportunities will be created to cause work and expense. Anything absolutely requisite can be done by the military engineer it would be advisable to retain; the present able colonial civil engineer ought to be retained to look after the crown property, and to aid the municipality in the formation of their streets, roads, sewers, &c.
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