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9. If my present proposal be accepted, I think the correspondence which has passed upon this subject should be laid before the Legislative Council, so that the arrangement come to should be clearly understood. And indeed under any circumstances I beg that I may be informed of Your Grace's wishes with respect to the publication of the correspondence, for it will assuredly be called for when the matter is brought before the Council.
I have, &c.,
His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.,
HERCULES G. R. ROBINSON.
&c.,
&c.
No. 10.
Copy of Despatch from the Right Honourable E. Cardwell to Governor
(No. 88.)
Sir,
Sir H. Robinson.
Downing Street,
25th June 1864.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 30, dated the 9th April, in which you ask for an early intimation of the Secretary of State's final decision as to the contribution to be paid by the colony of Hong Kong towards its military defence, and also of your further despatch No. 35, of the 12th April, proposing that the colony should now pay in advance the military contribution demanded of it for two and a-half years, amounting to 50,000, while the Imperial Government should advance the 50,0001. neces- sary for the establishment of the mint, such advance to be repaid eventually out of the profits.
I have given my best consideration to the arguments adduced by Mr. Mercer and yourself against calling on the colony of Hong Kong to contribute, like other British colonies, to the cost of its military defence. I am quite unable to see in these despatches any reasonable grounds for the exemption which is claimed for the community under your government, and I must request that you will, in accordance with your previous instructions, consider it as definitively settled by Her Majesty's Government that an annual contribution must be henceforth made by the colony to the amount, 20,000l., prescribed by my pre- decessor, the Duke of Newcastle. Nor can I consent to allow this payment to be encumbered by any circuitous arrangement with the British Treasury, whether respecting the establishment of the Hong Kong Mint, or any other item of colonial expenditure.
If, however, the convenience of the colony renders it inexpedient to advance at once from the colonial balances, or from the yearly revenue, the sum necessary for the establishment of the mint, I shall be prepared to give my favourable consideration to a proposal that the colony should raise that sum by loan or debenture, or otherwise. You will consider yourself at liberty to lay the entire correspondence in the matter before your Council.
I have, &c.,
Governor Sir H. Robinson,
&c..
&c.
EDWARD CARDWELL.
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