I
Arsa
fully alive to the undesirability
of texting this matter, but if such
a
Գ
is thrust upon me, & is
1
thus made unavoidable I shall
assume that the Construction I have
put upon the XVI Section of the
Royal Instructions is correct, unless
I
um informed
to the contrary
by Your Lordship.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant
Wann Robinigen
Government. The unofficial members could
not expect, and possibly did not desire, to effect a general reduction în salaries; but as that question seemed to offer the most vuluer. able point for an glinck on the stiråtagande Iwith which the Civil Service is conducted it as selected for the purpose. Every one knows that the Civil Service is largely over- manned, as has been almitted by the Governor. The unofficials, however, are not in a position to put their finger on this | appointment and that appointinent and say they are unnecessary. All they know is that there are on an average three men to dis- charge duties which could easily be dis charged by one, and that the colony is pay- ing vastly more in the way of salaries than the work done is worth. Consequently they jattack the votes for salaries en masse, but what would probably please them much better than a reduction of salaries would be a reduction in the personnel of the Service. No self-respecting Government or legislature can afford to play fast und loose with the salaries of public servants, aud when an increase is granted it is not expect- ed to be taken away a year afterwards. The statement made at the time the general in. crease was granted in Hongkong, that the salaries would be liable to reconsideration in subsequent years, was not equivalent to a promise on the part of the Government that they should be reduced. If the state of the Colony became so bad that there was no money to pay the salaries with the Civil Servants would have to go without them alto gether, but happily we have not arrived at that point yet, nor even at a point where a reduction in the salaries is absolutely neces- sary. Nevertheless the colony's state is such that every opportunity ought to be taken, as vacancies occur, of reducing the number of officers, and, when a supernumerary is trans- ferred from one department to fill a substau- tive appointment in another, to reduce the salary if the office is one of those which ap- pear to be overpaid.
The necessity for retrenchment does not arise from any falling off in the general trade and prosperity of the Colony but from the fact that the commanity has seen a considerable portion of its accumulated savings swept away and is now appreciably poorer than it was a few years ago.
Hence the pressure of taxa- tion is more severely felt and is borne with greater impatience, an impatience that is in- creased by the knowledge that the Colony has to support an army of Civil Servants far in excess of its requirements. The Co- onal Secretary says that "while individuals "in the Colony have in recent years lost “heavily by gambling the condition of the "community at large is sound and pro- “gressive." But the individuals who
have lost heavily by gambling are pretty numerous class, and there is a still more numerous class of bond file investors who have seen their property large- y depreciated in value and who if they are compelled by circumstances to realise cau only do so at a heavy loss. All this means urtailment of privat expon litare, a smaller custom for the stores, and the depression which any community experiences when the practice of small economies is forced upon it by inexorable necessity.
}
7
:
Hongkong daily Prs2338
decembrs 2th 1897.
But our difficulties
are of a temporary nature and are already, we hope, beginning to disappear. As to trade generally, there is no doubt it is expand- ing and is bound to go on expanding. Of course no one looks for very large profits in these days of uncertain exchange, small commissions, and keen competition. But in judging whether a community is ad- vancing or receding in prosperity the only reliable test is the increase or decrease
the volume of its trade.
In Houg. kong we have no statistics available to give na the value of the trade from time to time, but information is obtainable which gives a general idea of whether it is increasing or declining. There are the shipping returas, for instance. These show an increase. But, we are toll by the pessimists, the shipping | returas prove nothing, that it is all a delu sion about shipping being the life bloot of the Colony, shat ships only come here because it is cheaper to run them at a loss than to lay them up, that they bring only part cargoes and that the bulk of these they take on with them to Shanghai or Japan, learing only an infinitesimal quantity here. With no figures to show what the ships actually do bring those who desire to represent the trade of the Colony as falling off have a free hand when they indulge in talk of this kind. But when we look at the returns of the Chinese Customs we are on rather more certain ground. Mr. McLEAYY BROWN'S report on the trade passing the Kowloon Customs stations last year showed that at all events the portion of the Colony's trade coming under the notice of the Foreign Inspectorate had increased, and the last quarterly returns tell the same tale. The number of junks passing the stations in- wards last quarter was 6,451 as against 6,291 in the same quarter of 1891 and 6,240 in 1890, and; there has been a corresponding increase in the mum- ber outwards. These figures show that there has been not eveu a temporary falling off in the general trade of the Colony. while as to the future, the magnificent geographical position of the place not only renders any permanent decline prac- tically impossible but ensures a steady growth.
We do not know if financiers at home are likely to be much affected by the speeches of the unofficial members on Wednes- day, but if they choose to use their own judg- ment and intelligence they will readily see that the stock of the proposed loan will form first rate investment. The various companies in which several of the unofficial members are interested as directors would be glad to take it all up as an investment for their reserve funda if the loan were float- ed locally in silver.