20
No. 18
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
i
21
No. 20.
Colonial Office to War Office.
247
Sir,
Hong Kong 2
4690
20th December, 1894. With reference to the War Office letter* of the 19th October, 1893, Hong Kong 2 4597, respecting the provision of additional barrack accommodation at Hong Kong, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of the Marquis of Ripon, the accompanying copy of a letter† (with enclosure) which has this day been addressed to the Treasury on the subject.
I am to add that Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman proposes to provide in the Army Estimates for 1895-96, 10,600l. for the purposes shown in the letter to the Treasury, and he hopes that the Marquis of Ripon will arrange with a view to the Colony providing the sum of about 44,618 dollars, or 7,065l. alluded to as the Colonial share of the expenditure for the year.
RALPH THOMPSON.
Sir,
Downing Street,
Hong Kong 2
4709
4th January, 1895, With reference to the letter* from the Treasury to this department, of the 19th of October last, a copy of which was, it is understood, communicated by that department to the War Office, I am directed by the Marquis of Ripon to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman, the enclosed copies of further correspondence with the Treasury, regarding the cost of the proposed new barracks at Hong Kong.
I am to express his Lordship's hope that Mr. Campbell-Bannerman will cause the Treasury to be informed, that (as has already been intimated to this department unofficially) he concurs in the arrangement suggested in the enclosed letter to the Treasury of even date.
EDWARD FAIRFIELD.
(Enclosures 1 and 2 printed as Enclosures 1 and 2 in No. 16.)
No. 19.
Treasury to War Office.
T. No.
Sir,
18883
94
Hong Kong 2 4708
Treasury Chambers,
28th December, 1894.
The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them your letter† of the 20th instant, Hong Kong 2 4690, enclosing an amended list of barrack works at Hong Kong, which the Secretary of State for War considers it necessary to complete within the next 10 years.
This expenditure will be incurred partly in sterling and partly in dollars, but it will be more convenient to express it in sterling only for present purposes, if Lords are right in thinking that the bulk of it has been originally calculated in that denomination; and the apportionment of it between this country and the Colony will then be as follows, in round figures:
United Kingdom. Hong Kong. Total. Average yearly expenditure for 10 years. £14,128 10s. £7,065 0s. £21,198 10s. 0d. Total expenditure.. £141,285 0s. 0d. £70,650 0s. £211,935 0s. 0d.The British share will be defrayed to the extent of 35,000l. from the Imperial Defence Loan, and the remainder from Army Votes, and some of it has been paid already.
For the sake of this country as well as of the Colony, my Lords hope that this programme may not be pressed forward more hastily than the circumstances really render necessary; but with this proviso they have no objection to offer to the scheme.
A copy of this letter is being forwarded to the Colonial Office.
Sir,
Enclosure 3 in No. 20.
Colonial Office to Treasury.
Downing Street,
4th January, 1895. 16137
In reply to your letter,‡ of 6th November last, regarding the proportion of the cost of the new barracks at Hong Kong to be borne by the Colony, I am directed by the Marquis of Ripon to state, that while Lord Ripon has agreed to the principle embodied in paragraph 11 of his circular despatch of the 30th ultimo (copy enclosed), that a Colony is bound to provide, according to its means, all lands required for military purposes, his Lordship trusts that, in the present case, the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury will, on reconsideration, agree to the proposal made in the letters from this department of the 31st October last, namely, that the value of the military lands and buildings at Hong Kong, about to be surrendered by the War Department, should be applied, so far as it will extend, towards providing the new sites and buildings required for the barracks, and that the balance of the cost of the new barracks (including in that cost sites and buildings) should be divided in the proposed ratio, one-third being charged to the Colonial, and two-thirds to the Imperial Government.
2. Lord Ripon understands that the War Office is prepared to concur in this arrangement, and his Lordship is of opinion that this slight additional concession will tend to facilitate the acceptance of the proposals by the Colony.
3. On learning that their Lordships consent to this modification of their proposals, Lord Ripon will submit, for their concurrence, the draft of the despatch to be addressed to the Governor on the subject, which will deal also with the details of the new barracks scheme, referred to in your letter of the 28th ultimo.
A copy of this letter has been sent to the War Office.
EDWARD FAIRFIELD.
No. 5.
G. L. RYDER.
Η Να 17.
(93)
*Enclosure in No. 15.
† Enclosure 2 in No. 16. Enclosure in No. 30 of Correspondence relating to Lands at Hong Kong.
§ Enclosure 1 in No. 16.
See No. 19.
F
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