95
present state of the finances of the Colony.
It is to be observed that the increase under Establishment Annouals is to $22,000, under services exclusive of new establishments to $7000 more; i.e. the total expenditure from actual in 1871 $175,200 and estimated for 1872 $188,560 to $217,620
in Blize is raised.
on this Estimates for 1873; it is more than 1/3 of the whole Estimated Revenue.
of the year, which is a proportion nearly double that of any other British Colony; there
Facilities
that have always been considerable. Para-military forces in Hongkong as there is no pretence that the Police is anything more than a purely civil force, though his Excellency says there is no place where there is less serious crime than Hongkong; this of course is not in accordance with former experience and preconceived ideas of the place, but if Lt. Kennedy really believes so, I do not think he was justified in what he calls "steering the middle course", i.e. adding $30,000 to the Estimate. The Commission appointed by his predecessor did not necessarily bind him, the opinion has yet to be expressed on its Report by any higher authority. Lt. Kennedy says in his despatch that the Total will not be increased to the extent permitted.
MINUTE PAPER.
but the total cost is not so much increased by the increase in number of the Chinese Force who are substituted for the Indians whose time has expired, as by the increases in salary mentioned in the 19th paragraph of this despatch. There is in fact a gradual rise in salaries through every rank in the forces: thus the European Inspectors were at £126, £160, $75 - now £150, £200, £350 respectively, Sergeants from £84, £124, £10; Constables from £65, £75, £100 to £85, £99, £100 respectively; thus the cost of the European contingent though not increased by more than a few men costs £3000 more.
Likewise the 3 classes of Chinese Constables are raised from £20, £22, £25-000 to £22, £27, £35 × 0·0; this will very probably cause a better class of Chinese to enlist in the force, which everybody admits to be desirable, but I don't see how it will have the same effect on the Europeans.
I don't think Lt. Kennedy's reasons have but the increase in the Estimate merely because the Commission recommended it.
# Police
The increase under Establishment is caused by providing for the cost of clothing for accounts, uniform, passage money for Indians, doubled $12,000 instead of $10,000.