Enclosure J.
¡RECO
C.O.
1140
549
REOF 21 AN 95
The HongKong Weekly Press of 6th Dec. 1894.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 28th November. There were present-
His Excellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary,
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, Attorney-General. Hon. N. G. MITCHELL-INNES, Colonial Treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works. Hon. R. M. RUMSEY, Harbour Master.
Hon. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAI
Hon. J. J. KESWICK.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. A. McCONACHIE.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of Councils.
EXCHANGE COMPENSATION.
The CHAIRMAN-The next minute is one in which the Governor recommends for the consideration of the Council the vote of a sum of $30,000 in respect of compensation for the fall in the exchange value of the dollar to officers domiciled in the United Kingdom and other gold using countries. In view of the remarks of His Excellency the Governor in the speech he has just made in the Legislative Council I do not think it is necessary for me to give you any explanation of what is intended by this vote. This question has been before you so long that you are quite familiar with it. It was brought forward by the Colonial Secretary in September, 1893. It was then discussed and also again at the beginning of this year when it was decided that pending the inquiry of the Retrenchment Committee no action should be taken in the matter. It now comes before you to-day and I shall be glad to hear what hon. members have to say on the subject.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-His Excellency has recommended for our consideration to-day a vote of $30,000 in respect of compensation for the fall in exchange to the civil servants for the year 1894. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has suggested that this measure should be passed, and we are aware that it has already been applied in India, Ceylon, and the Straits Settlements, which places indeed have granted their civil servants more favourable terms than is proposed to be done here. Hon. members will of course remember that this question was first mooted quite early in the year, but an amendment was carried to the effect that its consideration should be postponed until after the Retrenchment Committee had been appointed and had given its report. As a member of that Committee I may mention that this matter was most carefully gone into and discussed by that body and it was decided that it was advisable it should be adopted if the colony could afford it. From the financial statement which His Excellency has just placed before us it is very satisfactory to learn that we can afford this extra expenditure. It appears that if it had not been for the unforeseen and heavy expenses attendant on the plague and the further material fall in silver we should have had a very large surplus of revenue over expenditure for this year, and that as it is, the deficit is not a very large one, while the estimates for 1895, after providing for exchange compensation, actually show a surplus, and further, we have at our credit, exclusive of loan moneys, balances here and in London amounting to over six lakhs of dollars. This being the case, I certainly am of opinion that we can afford this compensation, and it would therefore be ungracious on our part not readily to acquiesce in it; and besides we must remember that we cannot expect to get good officers if we do not give them adequate remuneration. I have therefore much pleasure in proposing this resolution, and in doing so I am expressing the unanimous wish of all my unofficial colleagues, and I may add that this opinion of ours has not been formed hurriedly but after several meetings and long and careful discussions. Sir, I propose that this vote be passed.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK-I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution of my hon. friend opposite, and in doing so I wish to say I consider the figures laid before us of the estimated revenue and expenditure seem fully to bear out the belief that the colony is in a position to afford this compensation to its civil servants. It seems unnecessary for me, seconding the resolution, to say more than this.
Hon. Ho KAI-Sir, I think I should say a few words in supporting the motion to explain why I do so. The subject was brought before us on the 15th March, 1894, and if you refer to the Hansard for that date you will find that all the unofficial members were of one opinion, and that was, that it would be a fair thing, and just thing, to allow the civil servants the compensation known as exchange compensation if the Colony could afford it, but at that time we were in the dark as to the revenue of the colony, and also there were some matters we wanted to inquire into. Now, until a few weeks ago, when this subject was again mooted, I had my doubts whether the revenue of the colony could afford it, and whether, if it could afford it for 1895, we could afford to pass a retrospective resolution making the compensation payable for 1894. I may confess at once, though I may be charged with being ungracious, that I held out very strongly against the regulation until we had certain information from the Government as to how we stood. Well, we had information furnished to us, which has been borne out by the speech of H.E. the Governor to-day, showing that although the revenue of the Colony seemed to show a deficit this year, and also probably next year, that deficit is entirely due to the extra expenditure necessitated by the plague. And what I attach more importance to still is the increase of taxation not being very great and not being in the line to which I strongly objected. I may take this opportunity to state that it was owing to the impression that new taxes would have to be imposed and that the municipal rates would have to be raised one or two per cent, that I strongly opposed this vote. But finally we were assured that that was not necessary, and with the enormous funds we have in hand, $600,000 as stated by His Excellency. I think we can afford $30,000 for exchange compensation to the civil servants. It is for this reason I support the motion, although, as I said, I strongly objected to it at first. As to 1895, although there is an expected...
The CHAIRMAN-No deficit; there is an estimated surplus for 1895.
Hon. Ho KAI-I thought it was an expected deficit, but however, that makes it all the stronger. If we grant the $30,000 for this year, in 1895 I suppose the surplus is made up after adding to the expenditure the same amount of $30,000, so that next year we shall have no deficit even with this $30,000 added. That is a very healthy sign. I for one was very pleased to hear it, and I cordially support the resolution.
Hon. A. McCONACHIE-When I read the report of the Retrenchment Commission I entirely agreed with its recommendation to the effect that compensation should be allowed so soon as the finances of the colony would permit. From the very satisfactory figures just laid before us, and on which I congratulate the Government, I am pleased to find that we can to-day vote the...
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