that this step is taken in Hongkong,
it must be taken also in the other Eastern
colonies as I do not feel confident that
the change in any
or all of them
will be a change for the better.
(2) because as the Chinese will be
excluded more rigidly, probably,
from the "Executive than from the Legislative Council.
(3) because Sir William Robinson &
other Governors
have already consulted unofficial
Members on matters on
which their advice is valuable.
I am inclined to think that, if any change is made, it should be in the
direction of trying to separate purely
municipal matters from the work
of the colonial government and entrusting
them entirely to an unofficial Board
where there is an unofficial majority.
It will be exceedingly difficult to
make such a division, and it will be
seen that the Governor
does not regard
such scheme with favour.
It occurred to me that the Sanitary Board, which has an unofficial element,
might be expanded into a municipal council.
Being given the proceeds - or such proportion of them
as comes from the Town -
of the "Assessed taxes", i.e. the rates, which now
contribute to the colonial Revenue $400,000
per annum;
Page 459
and I see that some such
change is suggested in the Weekly Press.
13 June
But I have been talking
to M. Cooper
the Director of Public Works, and the difficulty
seems almost insuperable of deciding what
Public Works should be done by Imperial government & what by a municipality.
If the drainage, Water supply, and roads of the Town of Victoria are
placed under municipal
control, there will be little left for
the colonial government & its Public Works department
Still there may
be some practicable compromise on the subject
and it is worth while suggesting
to the Governor for future consideration.
2. I should suggest that the despatch
be answered
1. with a no uncertain declaration that
Hongkong will
remain a Crown Colony;
2. with an addition to the effect that