9
under Colonial, rather than Imperial, control, and, if it pay for itself.
It is
of
little importance in a pecuniary point of view whether it be an Imperial
or Colonial
Establishment; but, as the advantages anticipated from it are so much more Imperial than local, the
advance
of
£50,000, and the risk,
whatever that
may
be,
are
obligations
which in strict fairness belong rather to the Imperial than the Colonial Government.
13.
Besides, if
in a Colony
like Hong Kong where Imperial & Colonial
interests are so mixed
up
together,
the
system of "give and take" is to be
no longer recognized,
and mutual accommodation is
in each case, to be reduced to
a mere matter
of account,
other
questions, as pointed out by Mr. Mercer in his despatch of
2nd December last, besides
Military Expenditure, will necessarily present themselves for adjustment, and it will not, I anticipate, be difficult to prove from the records of our Courts and Prisons, that
a considerable
proportion of our large Establishment
for
the administration
of
Justice
and
for
the custody of
Criminals,