Eupport of such an effective Police as may be neces sary for the protection of Life and Property, for the Construction and Maintenance of Streets tund Roads, and such works as the salebrity and interests of the settlement may require. The Revenue of the Colony, from whatever source derived, should in our opinion be available for such purposes.
Should His Excellency be disposed to adopt our views, we feel satisfied that the community, who are the parties most concerned, will be glad to cooperate with His Excellency in all matters affecting the interests and welfare of the Colony.We have the bonour to remain, Sir, your most obedient servants,
(Signed)
DAVID JARDINE. A. CAMPBELL. WAL. DAVIDSON. GEO. LYALL. CHARLES J. F. STUART. W. SCOTT.
J. F. EDGER.
J. RICKETT.
D. FLETCHER.
T, D. NEAVE.
THO. W. L. MACKEAN.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, VICTORIA, Hongkong, 1414 February, 1851. GENTLEMEN,I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of Your Letter of 31st January, which only reached this office on the 7th instant, in reply to the ofter of His Excellency the Governor to transfer to your management the Police Force of this Colony, entailing no restrictions on such transfer, except that the Superintendent and his Assistant should not be removed without his sanction, and placing at your uncontrolled disposition the same pecuniary resources which His Excellency has himself possessed for de- fraying the necessary expenses of the Force, viz:- the produce of the Police Tax (the assessment and collection of which was also left to you) and the sum of more than a Thousand Pounds annually out of the General Revenue of the Colony.
2d. His Excellency had hoped, after what passed at a Meeting which he held with the Justices on the 3d November 1849, that his offer would have been exactly such as you desired, and he therefore regrets to had it met by a decided refusal. It would appear to him that nothing remained to be said on the subject, were there not one or two passages in your letter which lead him to believe that his motives as well as the facts of the case have been misunder-
tood.
.
First, Your reply states that the Police Force in 1848 cost £2138, and in 1850 only £1,028. The Enclosure to His Excellency's former Letter of the 10th January shewed distinctly that the cost during 1850 was £3,556, exclusive of the Salaries of the Superintendent and his Assistant. He would have supposed this to be a clerical error, but the context renders such an assumption untenable. The enclosed Paper* from the Superintendent of Police will exhibit clearly the actual reduction of numerical force, and of expense since the year 1848. It represents the number of men and the aggregate of their pay, and omis all incidental expenses, which must, of course, vary from year to year; and it proves that instead of the reduction being to the extent of more than one- half, it is actually no more than £1,029,1.14 upon £3,783.10.10 pecuniarily, and 24 men numerically, The error into which the Justices have fallen arises Irom their having taken the Contingencies of the Police Department and Gaols for the entire Expenses of the Police Establishment, Enclosure No.1 will now, however, place before the Justices the exact state of the Establishment as it stood in 1850, and its cost, viz:-£2754.9.84; and the Enclosure of my Letter of the 10th January will shew that the Contingent Expenses of the Establishment during the same period, amounted to £802.1.1+--The hole Expenses of the Establishment, therefore, for 1850, exclusive of the Superintendent and his Axis. tant, amounted to £3,556.10.10,—a statement which is in strict accordance with the Enclosure of my letter above referred to.
*This and other Enclosures referred to in this letter are omitted, the results being embodied in the letter itself
1 Rapt
Compensation, &c, ko. Clothing from England.
42236.6
393.14.7)
185, 0.0
£802. 1.1;
31.-With regard to the exceeding pralability of the falling off, in coming years, of the collections of Police Tax, His Excellency can find no facts to war. rant this conclusion. The amount of Tax levied in the successive years following its imposition has been annually increasing. In the year 1846 it amounted to £1,688.18.1; and in 1850, to £2,896.17.7. This tax is, however, collected from the 1st of July to 30th June of cach year, and the collection for 1850/51 is estimated at £2,910, of which £1,508. 13.6 has already been received.
4th.-Casual circumstances, of course, must affect the amount of this, and though, if fairly assessed, the relative amounts in successive years may afford a to- lerably correct criterion of the decline or prosperity of a Township, the decrease or increase of a single year beyond its predecessor ean afford no safe cri- terion. Looking to the progressive increase of the Population and Houses built, as shewn by Returns No. 2 and 3, as well as to other criteria, His Ex- cellency cannot coincide in the opinion that the Cology is in a state of retrogression; nor, if our relations with China continue as heretofore, does he fear that it will retrograde; but admitting for the sake of argument that it should, then such retrogres- sion, as it would exhibit a diminution of persons and property to be protected, would also carry with it a corresponding practicable reduction in the protective force, and not a necessity for increased taxation.
5th. His Excellency would add, that experience of other places proves that taxes levied by a popular body are more willingly paid than when collected by the Government, and that there is less objection to the payment of what may be deemed necessary by such a body than to that of even a less amount in- posed by the Government. So far, therefore, from anticipating any falling off, His Excellency is of opinion that the assessment tax might become even more productive in your hands than it is at present. 6th-The tax suggested by His Excellency to be imposed on Horses, Chairs, and Carriages, was intend- ed, as you imagine, to be placed at the disposal of the Justices for municipal purposes. It is manifest that the present assessment on Houses is insufficient for the expenses to which your letter alludes; sonte additional means being necessary, no rate appears to His Excellency su equitable as one which would fall upon the wealthier portion of the Foreign Community, who as yet have been called on to pay no taxes what- everón any article of consumption or luxury, and in fact do not directly pay any of the Taxes usually levied elsewhere. You will gather from this that Itis Excellency does not regard the Crown Rent paid upon landed property in the light of a tax-this being due under an agreement voluntarily undertaken by the original purchasers of lots.
in the Colony it has been his constant endeavour to remove any visible cause of complaint--for purposes of cooperation and control, two of your own body, selected by yourselves, have been introduced insu the Legislative Council; a 2nch of Magistrates, perfectly independent of the vernment, has been [created, with Judicial powers considerably greater than those ordinarily accorded to bodies similarly constituted; the petty sources of Revenue alleged to be oppressive, have been almost all abolished; and for the consideration of the chief source which was alleged to be oppressive, a Committee of fire was appointed, of which two were members of the mer- cantile Community, and their report has been duly forwarded to Her Majesty's Government.
|
|
7th. His Excellency was, and is still of opinion that the entire expense of the Police, Force should be defrayed by an adequate Police Tax. To this end the tax was imposed, as will be gathered from a perusal of Ordinance No. 2 of 1845, which imposed it. He is also of opinion that the present Force is fully sufficient for the protection of the Colony; this he infera from the fact, of which the enclosed Return, No. 4, is evidence, that crime is far from being on the increase. Hence, at the time that his letter was written, he had no intention of increasing the nu- merical strength of the Police Force, nor has be now. He admits that Piracy is frequent in the neighbourhood, but it is an evil inevitable from this Island's proximity to a coast along which pirates abound, and for its suppression His Excellency call devise no Colonial measure to which the resources of a Colony of this magnitude are adequate.
8th-Your Letter closes with a repetition of your willingness to undertake the management of the Police, &c.provided a sufficient sum be placed at your disposal. His Excellency therefore requests that you will have the goodness to inform him of the description and numerical Force of the Police Officers you propose to entertain, and to state what amount of money you conceive to be necessary to enable you to effect the arrangements you desire; and as in any other matter affecting the welfare and interests of the Colony, your proposition shall have his most attentive consideration,
9th His Excellency desires me in conclusion to tell you, that he does not conceive it desirable to enter at length into a discussion of the complaints preferred in various Memorials during the last few years on the part of the British Community. His Excellency observes, however, that since his arrival
10th. His Excellency trusts that you will have perceived his desire to admit you to a fair share of the administration of the Colony, and he is not aware that it is in his power to offer you any greater amount of municipal management than what he now proposes, viz: the administration and support of the Police, with the same means and funds as those last year at his disposal, and the sole conservancy of the city, the funds required for which would be pro- vided out of the least objectionable sources by an Ordinance which would be passed for that purpose.
11th. To prevent any further misconception in matters of detail, the Superintendent of Police has been instructed to furnish you with any information you may require touching the Police Expenditure, and if further explanation be necessary beyond what Mr May can afford, it will be given you on applica- tion to this office. I have the honor to be, Gentle- men, your most obedient servant,
|
W. CAINE. Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG 1st March 1851.
To The Honble Major Caine, Colonial Secretary,
Sin,We have been honoured by the receipt of your letter of 14th February, in reply to one w addressed you on the 31st of January.
In that letter we stated briefly our reasons for not accepting the offer of the management of the Police on the terms proposed by His Excellency, and the details and information with which you have sinc furnished as, have not induced us to alter our views, or come to any other conclusion.
We find, by the statements you have handed us, that in our previous letter we committed an error in estimating the cost of the Police Force; that the money expended for its support amounted to. £3783. 10.10, and upon that sum the reduction since 1848 has been £1029.1.1; that the numerical strength has been reduced from 155 to 131-or, in all, 24 men, 9 of whom were Europeans; and that this portion of the Force now numbers only 27 in con-
sequence.
We still think that we are warranted in stating that both in numerical strength and amount of pay of the Police, a considerable reduction has taken place. The remuneration too they receive for their services is considerably less that what the same class of men obtain on board trading and coasting ves aels-consequently it is chiefly those who, from debility, or from being of indifferent and bad character cannot get employment in their proper calling, who enter the Police, and living-as a great majority of them do with or among the lowest of the Chinese, they become, on shore, still more worthless.
A body composed of such materials is ill suited as the guard of our persons and property-and it is from this cause that the perpetrators of many rob- beries and assaults escape and remain undetected. We do not consider therefore that the decrease in the number of cases brought before the magistrates is any indication of the effectiveness of the Police, Of its inefficiency there is but one opinion among the community--not excepting, we believe, the Chief Magistrate and Superintendent of Police. The in- crease that has taken place in the population of the City and Island—including those living in Boats-- from 29,500 in 1849 to 33,292 at the present time, according to the last Return, affords, in our opinion sufficient grounds for adding to the strength of the Police Force-more particularly when we consider, that the European and American male residents, exclusive of children-are only 321; that very many of the Chinese who frequent and settle in this Island are outlaws and abandonet characters; that they resort from the mainland to this settlement as offering the safest refuge, and where they can with
}
greater facility and impunity, fit out their vessels, and carry on their trade of Piracy-thus rendering, Tot only the neighbouring waters, but even this harbour, unsafe to native traders.
The fact of this place being a rendezvous for Pirates and Outlaws, may lead to an increase of its Chinese population-and even of the amount of j taxes collected; but that circumstance does not. in our opinion, indicate the prosperity and healthy state a Government would desire to encourage and foater in a Colony,
By the Return, there is an increase, since last year, of houses built. But the return does not shew how many in the Town are uninhabited. Several European dwellings we know are unoccupied-and It is deserving of notice that the Jury List, which in 1848 comprised 186 common Jurors, and 47 Special (including Foreigners)—with a qualification of $1000 for the former contains this year only 69 Common Jurors and 26 Special (including Foreigners, with a reduced qualification of $500 for the former...
Thalleding in our previous letter to the probability of a diminution in the amount collected from Police Rates. we contemplated the possibility of several of the few remaining mercantile fouses removing from this. But that circumstance would not necessarily present an opportunity for reducing the protective force-as it is the habit of those parties to employ watchmen for their protection, and not to rely on the Govern-
ment Police.
penditure than would be necessary. Furthermore, the Justires form only a small portion of the community, and the Rate Payers in general are the parties really interested. and who would desire a voice in the matter.
150
and a substitute for all other taxes of a more injuri- ous nature. We think therefore, that in reason and justice, the sum required for the maintenance of an efficient Police-for Ronds and other necessary works should form one of the first charges on what venue of the Colony. we have said should be considered the assessed re-
DAVID JARDINE. J. F. EDGER.
GEO. LYALL.
measures
CHARLES. J. F. STUART.
D. FLETCHER.
WAL. DAVIDSON.
(Absent) A.-QAMPBELL,
We are as unwilling as Tis Excellency can be, to enter upon matters relating to the Colony, as previous ly brought to the notice of Government, beyond what We observe His Excellency enumerates the means addressed to us. may be necessary in replying to the letters already he has adopted for giving the community a share in At the same time-when His Ex- the administration of the Colony; but, as we think cellency apparently contemplates further taxation- it foreign to the more immediate object of this cor- we must be allowed to refer His Excellency to former respondence, refrain from entering upon the im- representations with reference to the existing burdens, portant questions suggested by His Excellency's and we have before stated that they fall no less remarks. We have the honor to remain, Sir, your beavily on the comunity now than previously. The most obedient servants, £24,000 revenue now raised, is, in our opinion, more than sufficient to defray the expenses of the machi- nery of an efficient Government, and for all purposes required in the Colony. And we would beg to re- mind His Excellency that, although the above sum is raised exclusively from this community, the Colony was established not for the British subjects who chose at one time to settle in it, nor for the few now remain- ing, but for the support of one of the most important branches of commerce Great Britain possesses, the Trade carried on, not with Hongkong, but with the open Ports in China, and for the protection and ad- vantage of British subjects resident at those places, This is admitted in the Right Honourable Mr Gladstone's Despatch published here in May 1846 and it is evident that the community here are already taxed in excess of what in fairness they ought to be. The money raised from taxes on Horses, Carriages, and Chairs, would no doubt come chiefly from the wealthier portion of the community. In a tropical climate, however, these objects for the proposed assessment are rather necessaries than luxuries and a tax imposed upon them would be felt more heavily by others than by those upon whom His Excellency
intends that it should fall.
His Excellency refers to the meeting of the Jus tices, which, at his request, took place in the Govern ment office in November 1849, His Excellency at that time intimated his willingness to hand over to them the management of the Police Force, provided they, on behalf of the community, would undertake to make good the deficiency-riz: the difference between the amount expended on the Police, and that collected from Police Rates. The offer was at once declined, and there remained nothing for their consideration. His Excellency in his prevent offer We cannot agree with His Excellency that the agrees to pay the deficiency for years and we have community are exempt from taxation on articles of endeavoured in our previous letter, and in this, to consumption and luxury. We consider the high explain why we cannot accept even of this proposal. Rents obtained by Public competition from Market- His Excellency wishes to be informed of the des-places- the amount obtained for Licenses and the cription and numerical force of the Police Officers we heavy Ground Rent, affect materially the prices uf would propose-and of the sum we should require for all articles of comsumption; and, if we mistake not their maintenance, An increase, both of the nu- in no other British Colony is the expense of living merical strength and or the pay, is, we consider, necessary, but to what extent only time and practical £7156 are raised in this Colony per annum from experience can enable us, or the Municipal body that Licenses and Rents exclusive of Lands--and may be formed, to determine. We cannot say if the £11,427 for Ground Rents. The former of these sum at His Excellency's disposal for the purpose prior should, in our opinion, be viewed in the light of to 1848, or a larger amount, would be required; but assessments; and with regard to the latter, Lord we believe His Excellency has sufficient confidence Grey, in his despatch of May 1848, admits tha: in the Justices he has appointed, to be assured they this mode of taxation was only adhered to from would not authorize, nor countenance, a greater ex-being the least objectionable for raising a revenue-
so exorbitant.
J. RICKETT.
་་
T. D. NEAVE.
**
T. W. L. MACKEAN.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 15th March, 1851. the Governor to acknowledge the receipt on the 13th GENTLEMEN, I am directed by flis Excellency
letter No. 33 of the 14th ultimo. instant of your reply dated the 1st March, to my
regarding the matters which form the subject of that His Excellency regrets to learn that his proposal reply has still proved so little to your satisfaction. imposing certain taxes to which you have recorded As it is impossible to meet your views without your objection, or applying to the Home Government for an additional grant of money, which the recent discussion of similar questions in the House of Com- hood of obtaining, His Excellency desires me to add., mons must have convinced you there is small likeli-
that it only remains for him to assure you, that when- ever opportunities offer which may put it in his power to reduce the expenses of the Establishments without most ready to entertain your further proposal re detriment to their effectiveness, you will find him garding the appropriation of the means which such retrenchments as he may be able to make will place to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient Servant, at the disposal of the Government.I have the honor
W. CAINE. Colonial Secretary.
To Her Majesty's JUSTICES OF THE PRAC
for Hongkong.
Note_Copies of the 44 Enclosures referred to in Colonial Secretary's Letter of 14th
February,
ali
of
appended hereto; vizio
Force in 1848 and 1850.
and
N. 1. _Comparative Statement of the actual Strength and Expense of the Police N. 2. Return showing the number of Houses,
in Victoria and Villages, ambunt of Police Rates collected from 1846 to 1851.
the
te total
N. 3. _ Return of the Population of Hongkong for
1850, inclusive.
coming
from 18.45 to years under the Cognizance of the Police
No.4. Return of Felony 1847 to 1850, inclusive.
for the years
years from
Maine
Colonial Seastary