Spa, apel pa
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I stated that I felt sure it was the desire of Her Majesty's Government that the vote asked for should be agreed to without any such division of opinion as would require the official votes to be recorded in opposition to those of the unofficial members, and if I could see my way to bring about an unanimous agreement in the Council I should be very glad. I went on to say that I could not give an answer to what was asked me without taking time to consider, and that as the question was one of much importance, it would be my duty to consult the Executive Council before arriving at a conclusion. This I took an early opportunity of doing, and the Council unanimously agreed with me that if the wording of the resolutions as at first submitted were some- what modified, there was nothing in them to which the unofficial members need take exception, and this decision was concurred in by the Officer Commanding the troops, Major-General Bovan Edwards, whom I especially requested to attend the Executive Council in order that I might have the benefit of his opinion.
I again communicated with the unofficial members, and they consented to modify the wording of their resolutions in such a way as to meet the wishes of myself, and the views of the Executive Council.
4. In these circumstances it was agreed that when the vote for the increased amount was moved, no opposition should be offered, and that so soon as that vote was agreed to, the senior unofficial member (Mr. Ryrie) should ask permission for the standing orders to be suspended so that he might at once move his resolutions.
This course was accordingly taken, and when the vote for the increased amount had been unanimonsly carried, Mr. Ryrie moved his resolutions, which were seconded by Mr. McEwen. Both these gentlemen made some observations explaining the action taken by the unofficial members.
The Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Lister, made a short speech, in which he referred to certain statistics mentioned by Mr. McEwen, and after a few concluding words from myself, the proceedings came to an end.
3. I forward herewith a copy of the resolutions, and I trust that your Lordship will not consider that either myself or the official members acted in a way incompatible with our duty in allowing them to pass unopposed.
6. The question at issue really was whether votes of the official members should be recorded in opposition to those of all the unofficials, or whether the official members would consent to pass unchallenged the resolutions referred to.
7. I enclose for your Lordship's information an account of the debate as reported in the Hong Kong Daily Press, which accurately describes what was said on the occasion.
From this your Lordship will see that Mr. McEwen referred to the possibility of Madras troops being sent out in lieu of a certain number of Europeans, and I will mention to your Lordship the reason why I believe those remarks were made.
So soon
as your Lordship's despatch of the 20th January arrived, I sent a copy of it to Major- General Edwards, as it was a matter which so materially concerned the military. General Edwards, in returning it to me, mentioned that he believed it to be the intention of the Imperial Government to send, as one of the battalions of Infantry mentioned in Appendix A to the despatch, a native battalion of Madrasses. As I did not wish to in any way deceive the unofficial members in agreeing to a compromise in the matter, I told them, at the interview to which I have above referred, of the information the Officer Commanding the troops bad communicated to.me. They, however, said that in so far as they were concerned, they must take what was stated in the despatch to be correct, viz., that the total number of Europeans of the proposed garrison would be 2,525 men.
8. It may be that if it was at one time contemplated to send Madras troops, such idea has been abandoned, but in case of any error on this point existing in your Lordship's despatch, I have only to say that the sending of a battalion of Madras troops here would be regarded with much disfavour by the community, the Madrasses being looked upon as the most unwarlike and the least efficient among the soldiers of the Indian population. If, however, any other than European troops are to be sent, 1 would strongly urge the sending of Sikhs in preference to any from Madras, the Colony having had some experience of the former, and possessing, I understand, confidence in them.
9. I trust that your Lordship will not fail to give due consideration to the state- ments contained in the third of the enclosed resolutions. They but repeat what Sir G. William Des Voeux forcibly drew attention to in paragraph 16 of his despatch, No. 334, of the 31st of October last, viz., that what is called "ilitary expenditure" by no means fairly represents the burthen which is really borne by the Colony on account of the garrison here.
10. The general feeling among the unofficial members of the Legislature, and 1 think I may add among the community generally, is not that money should be
35
begrudged for what is really necessary for an effective defence, but they have had some reason to complain that the authorized complement of gaus for fortifications, on which during the last five or six years a sum of 16,000%. has been expended, has not yet arrived.
11. I am glad to be able to say that the financial condition of the Colony still continues satisfactory, as will be seen by the returns of last year; but I concur in what was stated by Mr. McEwen, that we should not rely too implicitly on the revenue, more particularly as regards one particular item on which I may have to separately address your Lordship, always remaining in the same healthy condition as it has been of late.
F. FLEMING.
Sub-Enclosure to Enclosure in No. 24.
THE DAILY PRESS." Hong Kong, 27th March, 1890.
THE INCREASED MILITARY CONTRIBUTION.
The Acting Colonial Secretary-1 have to move
"That the revenue of the Colony shall be charged in respect of the year 1890, with the equivalent of 40,000 or 266,666 dollars, including the sum of 20,0001, or 133,333 dollars voted in the Appropriation Ordinance, No. 34 of 1889, in order to meet the claims of Her Majesty's Government for Military Contribution."
Hon. Members of Council are aware that this vote is made in consequence of instructions from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State, contained in his despatch of the 20th January this year. Since 1865 the Colony has paid yearly the sum of 20,0007. towards the military expenditure in this Colony. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State now proposes that this sum should be increased by an additional sum of 20,000/ In estimating the amount of dollars to which these sums are equivalent, the rate of exchange has been calculated at 3s. 1d., as was done in framing the Estimates for the present year. I may add, that when the 20,000l. was first voted the strength of the garrison was 1,000 men. According to a return that came in last week the strength is now 1,586. There has been, therefore, a substantial increase of 586 men in the garrison, and it is proposed eventually to raise this number to 3,018. The present vote goes towards the cost of the garrison, and is quite independent of what the Colony has paid, or may pay, towards fortifications.
The Surveyor-General seconded.
Hon. P. Ryrie.Your Excellency, with reference to this proposition, L as an unofficial member, have at present very little to say. I and my colleagues admit that the amount is moderate and just, though at the same time, looking at the tremendous liabilities we have before us in new public works for the Colony, we should avoid paying anything that can be avoided. We see clearly that this cannot be avoided. We hope, however, that the amount will not be increased much in the future, at any rate until the contemplated large public works which will be going on during the next few years are finished and paid for. The revenue of the Colony of course is yearly increasing and we must live in hopes it will go on increasing. We have every reason to believe so-that the amount received from Crown rents and other sources will increase from year to year. The vote that is now proposed by the Acting Colonial Secretary, and seconded by the Surveyor-General, I think will receive the support of the unofficial
members.
His Excellency.-After the observations that have just been made it is unnecessary for me to add anything myself. It is possible that before this meeting breaks up, the hon. member who has just spoken may have something more to say on the subject, and if so I shall of course be able to make such remarks as I think necessary. The question now before us is that the resolution that has been moved by the Acting Colonial Secretary and seconded by the Surveyor-General, and to which the hon. member who has just spoken, states the unofficial members have no objection so far as the amount of contribution is concerned, be now passed.
The resolution was passed nem, con,
Hon. F. Ryrie.Your Excellency, there is a series of resolutions which the un- official members would like to have your sanction to place before the Council. Notice has been given, but the notice was not a formal one. I understand your Excellency is in favour of the resolutions being brought forward to-day.
(138)
L
191