Najpesty's Government have done enough in providing for the Defence of the Colony in Arms and Ammunition of War, without being saddled with the additional Expenses for Batteries and their Construction.
I have the honor... 7C. 77(180) HB Savory Afx Mil Secretang Love loff YANG Oft mit Sivatag
...
Confidential Secretary's Office 14th Aug 1863.
I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 10th Instant enclosing account of the Batteries recently erected here and at Kowloon and intimating that the Major General Commanding desires a copy hereof to be forwarded to him with a view to his ordering payment thereof.
I am to state that His Excellency the Acting Governor would willingly, if he saw his way to it, arrive at a conclusion in agreement with The Major General Commanding, and save further trouble by a payment from the Colonial Treasury.
But there is not, and never has been, any provision made in the Colonial Estimates for such Expenditure, nor has such expenditure been hitherto incurred by the Colony. In front of the practice as it is at present...
Col. Reeves C.M.G. Commandant...
Page 532