& copy of fourthas correct?
with the Treasury
as
mited
in the margfin, relative to
the
the door gefestion of military contactation.
Treasury 22520/89
235
1526/89
217
W. Bramsti Mr. Meade Sin. R. Hubut
31 Dec.89
Lord Knutsfore 2
SIR,
1890.
Downing Street,
REFERRING to previous correspondence re. apecting the fortifications recently erected at Hong Kong and their armament, I have now the honour to address you on the subject of the additional garrison required by those fortifications and on the incidence of its cost; matters to which Her Majesty's Government have given most anxious and careful consideration.
2. You are aware that in 1884 it was arranged that the Colony should construct the works, and that the Imperial Government should provide the armament of the proposed defences. The cost was then estimated as follows ----
Works Armament
£ 55,625
37,500
the incidence being 60 per cent. to Colonial/and 40 per cent. to Imperial/revenues.
Foreign
OM
Copy (in draft) Trear.
3. This estimate was subsequently increased to-
£
Works
116,000
Armament
153,910
without including the submarine mining defences, which have cost-
Works
£ 9,017
Submarine mining vessels and stores 46,500
so that the total cost of the defences and the divi. sion of that cost will be as follows:-
Colonial
Construction of Works-Fortifications
7
2 116,000
Imperial.
Armaments
Submarine mining buildings,&c. vessels and
"
55
stores
£ 153.910 9,017
46,500
209,427
Total
325,427
The incidence being 35 per cent. to Colonial and
65 per cent. to Imperial Revenues, as against 60 per cent. to Colonial and 40 per cent. to Imperial revenues contemplated in 1884.
4. Since 1865 Hong Kong has paid a military contribution of 20,000%. a year in aid of the cost of its garrison; and if you refer to paragraph 14 of the Colonial Office letter of the 25th of April 1863 to Sir Hercules Robinson, who was then in England, you will see that it was then intended that the amount of 20,000%, was "to be subject to any revi-
E 61097. 10-12/89. G. 41. E. & S.
A
1