cost the Imperial Exchequer no less sum than £273,000 for its Civil Establishment during the first 14 years of its Existence as a Colony, a fact that this large expense to the Mother Country would of itself be sufficient to impose on the Colony the obligation of a substantial contribution from local funds towards the cost of the Military defence of local interests. I entirely admit the Justice of calling on all Colonies to contribute towards the cost of the Military defences of local interests, but, I have before Explained, I do not consider the Troops stationed in Hongkong for any such Object and the cost to The Mother Country of Establishing the Colony imposes no obligation on the latter to meet a payment now which is not greatly excessive.
Besides it cannot be remembered that...
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