General's Department under Mr. Morsom,
it is not improbable that a good deal of this badly spent money was ... Should be called for with reference to these ill. Also as to such new works as the Roof Sloot Stouse, of which there is really no information whatever.
Due to the practice in Hongkong of taking Supplementary votes, the present system has grown up since Lord Granville's despatch 125 of 8 January 1870 in 1806 13357 (69); this despatch recommending a system similar to that of Mauritius was not intended in any way to affect certainly the necessity of getting the Secretary of State's sanction for all expenditure as far as possible before it was incurred, but it has apparently been understood in the Colony.
I think an officer of W. Austen's standing should have known that all this expenditure was being incurred in 1871 in a very irregular manner and quite opposed to the Colonial Regulations, I think he should now be told so, to remove any doubt as to the proper course to be pursued.
In fact, a Governor has no excuse for putting anything but unforeseen expenditure in Supplementary Estimates, unless in the course of the year he finds his Revenue exceeding the Estimate, or important work has been postponed or hung up. I don't see any objection to asking sanction for proceeding at once, but then, there being a deficit in the year, we might have all votes for unforeseen supplementary votes reported immediately in a regular Return, sent home at least quarterly, as regards the Supplementary expenditure.
We get the information long after the year has finished, two Annual Returns till the Bluebook happens to be complete, that Sir Arthur Kennedy would suggest that dis... Should be instructed in this sense.
The Ordinance which accompanies these Estimates is not framed in accordance with Lord Kimberley's despatch no. 159 of 17 October ... establishments distinct from services, as to keeping ... I think should be adverted to.
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I think also that when Supplementary Estimates are not printed, or the Appropriation ...
XCR(85)72
GR1178/1922/32(III)
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