14
bathing pond, the site of which will be required for the erection of married soldiers' quarters, and that its provision is considered necessary for the health of the troops in such a climate as that of Hong Kong.
With regard to the second paragraph of your letter under reply, I am to observe that the plans referred to are, as stated in the War Office letter* of the 24th July, 1894,
Hong Kong 2 24th July, 1894,
already in course of execution, i.e., contracts 4057 for the work have been accepted and the buildings are being erected, and are, moreover, considerably advanced.
The plans in question are for barrack blocks for 4 companies of the Hong Kong Regiment at Kowloon, and for the barrack for the Royal Artillery on Stonecutter's Island.
The Hong Kong Regiment barrack blocks form part of Item 1 of the estimate which accompanied the War Office letter of the 27th July, 1893, Hong Kong 2
and the barrack on Stonecutter's Island is provided for under Item 6 of that estimate.
4068
15
I am to enclose copy of a letter from the War Office, from which their Lordships will see that the Secretary of State for War concurs in this proposal, and that he is of opinion, in which Lord Ripon concurs, that it is important to come to an early decision on this point.
As regards the question of the surrender of military lands, I am to refer to the letter from this department of the 29th ultimo. Lord Ripon will recommend to the Colony for acceptance whatever may be the ultimate decision upon that letter, as well as the present proposal in respect of the barracks; but he thinks it right to point out that the Colony may be reluctant to contribute towards the cost of buildings which will be already approaching completion, and that this demand, followed as it will by another resulting from the decision in respect to military lands, will come at a very unfortunate moment, seeing that the plague has thrown upon a decreasing revenue a large and unexpected outlay for sanitary works,
JOHN BRAMSTON,
RALPH THOMPSON,
No. 15.
Treasury to War Office.
Treasury Chambers,
244
Hong Kong 2 4683
Sir,
No. 14.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
5th October, 1894.
In reply to your letter, Hong Kong 2, of the 12th ultimo, I am directed
4676
by the Marquis of Ripon to request you to inform Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman that his Lordship concurs in the terms of the letter proposed to be addressed to the General Officer Commanding at Hong Kong, regarding the new barracks in that Colony, the draft of which accompanied your letter,* Hong Kong 2
of 24th July last, and that he will communicate a copy of that 4657 letter to the Governor of Hong Kong, for his information and guidance, by the mail of the 5th instant.
I am at the same time to forward, for Mr. Campbell-Bannerman's information, copy of a letter that has been addressed to the Treasury as to the cost of the new barracks.
Sir,
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Enclosure in No. 14.
Colonial Office to Treasury.
Downing Street,
5th October, 1894.
11365
94
With reference to your letter,
of 26th July last, conveying the concurrence of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury in the recommendation of the Colonial Military Contributions Committee, dated 24th May last, that the contribution from Hong Kong should remain unchanged, I am directed by the Marquis of Ripon to enquire whether their Lordships also concur in the recommendation in regard to the cost of the new barracks at Hong Kong, referred to at the end of the above-mentioned report, viz., that one-third of the balance of cost, after allowing for any military lands that may be surrendered, should be charged to Colonial funds, and two-thirds to Imperial funds.
* No. 11.
† No. 3.
‡ No. 13.
Sir,
19th October, 1894.
I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to transmit herewith, for your information, a copy of a letter of to-day's date which my Lords have caused to be addressed to the Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, on the subject of the proportion of the cost of new barracks at Hong Kong to be charged to the Colony.
Sir,
FRANCIS MOWATT.
T. No. 14964
94.
Hong Kong 2
4689
Enclosure in No. 15.
Treasury to Colonial Office.
Treasury Chambers,
19th October, 1894.
T. No.
14694 94
The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have carefully considered your letter of the 5th instant, respecting the proportion of the cost of new barracks at Hong Kong to be charged to the Colony.
As the Marquis of Ripon is aware, the Committee on Colonial Military Contributions,
in their report of 27th July, 1888, paragraph 34, recommended-
(a.) That the value of Colonial military lands, surrendered by the War Department to the Colonial Government of Hong Kong, should be appropriated towards the cost of new barracks.
(b.) That any new sites required for the new barracks should be provided by the Colonial Government free of charge.
(c.) That the remainder of the cost of the new barracks should be divided between the United Kingdom and the Colony, in the proportions of two-thirds to the former and one-third to the latter.
This recommendation was concurred in by the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for War, and has been implicitly renewed by the Committee on Colonial Military Contributions in their further report of 24th May last.
But as yet the Treasury has contended for a contribution by the Colony of not less than half the net cost of the new barracks, in addition to the requisite new sites.
In view, however, of the opinion expressed in the letter under reply, and in the letter† from the War Office to the Colonial Office of 24th July last, as well as of the financial burdens imposed on Hong Kong by the recent visitation of plague, and the depression of trade caused by the Chino-Japanese war, my Lords now consent to the proportion of the net cost chargeable to the Colony being one-third only, in addition to the new sites.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the War Office.
* Enclosure in No. 14.
FRANCIS MOWATT.
† No. 11.