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Colonial funds was laid before the Legislative Council on the 5th instant, and the subject was discussed at a subsequent meeting held on the 13th instant. Out of the six members present, four were in favour of granting the Bishop a pension of £500 a year, subject to certain conditions, which will be found specified in the accompanying Resolutions.
The Colonial Treasurer, and the Acting Chief Justice dissented from these Resolutions for the reasons explained in their notes, which form Inclosures No. 2 and 3 to this despatch.
There can be no doubt that the chief difficulty which presents itself in endeavouring to deal fairly with this question is the fact, as pointed out by the dissentient members, that even if the Bishop had been a Colonial Servant, he would not yet be entitled to any pension under the terms of the Hong Kong Pension Minute; and it is thought unjust to treat a person with no claims to a pension more liberally than those who have.