207
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McEwen that the Public had very meagre information on the subject of votes of money that were proposed by Government, and if a reference is made to my Minutes of the present year, and they are compared with those of previous years, it will be seen that I have endeavoured to embody therein much fuller information than has hitherto been given.
When I first arrived in Hongkong, minutes of the Governor, asking for votes of money were laid before Council. The papers were merely referred by the Governor to the Finance Committee, and a vote was subsequently asked for, and given without any explanation having been given at any time to the Public. I think it a healthy sign that the indifference which at that time prevailed with regard to public expenditure has passed away and that much keener interest is now manifested in the proceedings of Government.
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