26
and second, that paragraph 5 of the draft should be revised to read somewhat to the following effect, viz. :-
"In regard to the execution of services to the value to be paid for by the Colony, i.e., one-third of the whole amount, as referred to in paragraphs 15-17 of the letter to the Treasury, it is thought that this is a detail which it would be best to arrange for in consultation with the General Officer Commanding the troops."
6. I am to add that, subject to the foregoing suggestions, Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman concurs in the draft of the despatch, which accompanied your letter under reply.
RALPH THOMPSON.
27
bring the matter before the Legislative Council at an early date, and to propose a supplementary vote of, say, 25,000 dollars to cover the Colonial share of this year's expenditure.
5. The question of the execution of services to the value to be paid for by the Colony, i.e., one-third of the net cost, as referred to in paragraphs 15 to 17 of the enclosed letter, is a detail which I will leave to you to arrange in consultation with the General Officer Commanding the troops.
6. You will be given an opportunity of criticising the plans and estimates of all the new buildings, as you will have learned from the letter to the General Officer Commanding, a copy of which accompanied my despatch, No. 162, of 5th October last, and if you are unable to come to an agreement with the General upon any point, I have to request you to refer the question to me, as the General Officer Commanding has been instructed to refer such points to the War Office, so that I may be in a position to come to an agreement with the Secretary of State for War upon such points of difference,
RIPON.
No. 28.
No. 29.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
250
Sir,
Hong Kong 2 4731
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
3rd April, 1895.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Campbell-Bannerman, with reference to the letter from your department of the 29th ultimo,* Hong Kong 2
a copy 7 4716 of a despatch, addressed to Sir W. Robinson, on the subject of the Hong Kong Barracks.
R. H. MEADE,
Sir,
26th September, 1895.
4753
With reference to your letter of the 3rd April last,* forwarding a copy of Hong Kong a despatch addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of the provision of additional barrack accommodation at that station, I am directed to acquaint you that the Secretary of State for War would be glad to know whether Mr. Secretary Chamberlain has received any reply to the despatch in question.
ARTHUR L. HALIBURTON.
Sir,
Enclosure in No. 28.
Colonial Office to the Governor, Hong Kong.
Downing Street,
3rd April, 1895. With reference to my despatch, No. 162, of 5th October last, I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed amended schedule of barrack services required at Hong Kong, together with an extract from a letter from the War Office to the Treasury, explaining the necessity of adding the provision of a new hospital to the list of services previously put forward.
2. It is proposed that the execution of these works should be spread over 10 years beginning with the current year, and that the cost of the works should be provided in the following manner, viz., that the Colony should, in accordance with my circular despatch of 30th December last,† devote the value of any military lands and buildings that may now be surrendered by the War Department, so far as it will extend, in reduction of the gross cost of the scheme, including the cost of any new sites that may be required, and that the remainder of the cost should be divided in the proportion of two-thirds to the Imperial Government and one-third to the Colonial Government, that being about the proportion in which the cost of the new fortification of Hong Kong was divided between the two Governments.
3. This proposal which is, in my opinion, fair and reasonable, is a special arrangement made in view of the large expenditure involved in providing the necessary barrack accommodation for the increased garrison, and the fact that in this case the cost of the provision of new sites is included in the total charge to be divided between the Imperial and Colonial Governments, instead of being wholly charged to the Colony, in accordance with paragraph 11 of my circular of 30th December last,† must not be regarded as a precedent applicable in future cases.
4. It is intended to provide £5,000, in the Army Estimates for 1895-96 towards the expenditure incurred on these works during this year, and I have to request you to
* No. 27. ↑ Enclosure in No. 30 of Correspondence relating to Lands at Hong Kong.
Sir,
No. 30.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
16th October, 1895. With reference to the letter from this department of 28th June last, relative
Hong Kong 2 to the Hong Kong Military Contribution, and to your letter,
4753
of the 26th ultimo,† relative to the construction of barracks, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquis of Lansdowne, the enclosed copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong on these two subjects, together with the draft of a despatch which Mr. Chamberlain proposes, with Lord Lansdowne's concurrence, to address to the Governor in reply.
Sir.
A similar letter has been addressed to the Treasury.
Enclosure 1 in No. 30.
EDWARD FAIRFIELD.
The Governor, Hong Kong, to Colonial Office.
Government House, Hong Kong,
28th August, 1895.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord Ripon's despatch, No. 156, of the 27th June last, on the subject of the Military Contribution to be paid by this Colony.
* No. 28.
↑ No. 29.
Enclosure in No. 91 of Correspondence relating to the Military Contribution. [A 354.]
C.O. No.
17177
95
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