In the reply to this letter the following
C
Number should be quoted.
15023
95
Sir,
C. O.
1867 18
Ree?
Red 23 OCT 95
TREASURY CHAMBERS.
23
October 1895
17177/95
The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury desire me to acknowledge the receipt of Mr Fairfield's letter of the 16th instant, respecting the Military Con tribution of Hong Kong; and to express their concurrence in the draft despatch which Mr Secretary Chamberlain proposes to address to Sir W Robinson in defence of the charge of 174 per cent on the Colonial Revenue, and one
third of the not total cost of new Barracks.
The Secretary of State will remember that one of the reasons for which My Lords desired to fix the Military Contribution of the Straits Settlements at 18 per cent
of its general revenue, was that it would make it easier to reconcile Hong Kong to a percentage of 17 per cent on its combined general and municipal revenue.
As that suggestion was not adopted, it becomes necessary to defend a uniform percentage on a different integer in the two Colonies, and My Lords do not think they can improve upon the way in which this is done in the draft
despatch
The Under Secretary of State
Colonial Office,
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Entemilin