307
ayer
Residents here have as much interest as the British Public in the security of Hong Kong, and They have a special and separate interest of their own.
the
as His
They cannot plead inability to bear a just burden, for Colony is thriving; and, as His Excellency the Governor nor lately reminded the Chamber of commerce, the Colony appears to "pay, in the aggregate taxation, :" less per head of its population, than any other British Colony of importance.
Kong
#
He added "I believe
"The Chinese is the only community in "the world that is absolutely without a public debt, Further the Acting Administrator, in his minute on the Estimates for 1883, pointed out that : in the course of the last three years the excess "of revenue over expenditure, excluding previous on land sale- " has amounted to Dollar 432,386 (or £81,072.4.6.).
Supposing it could ill afford more, it may be urged : "the Colony already pays its full Share in the Military contribution of £20,000 a year. But this is towards the maintenance of Troops stationed here.
It may not be out of place here to draw a parallel between Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements.
The late