28787
RECR Reed 21 OCT 29
456
No. 268.
Government House,
Hong Kong,
21st September, 1899.
29735
Sir,
With reference to my despatch No.263 of the 15th instant, I have the honour to point out that a sum of $91,100 should be added to the Statement of Expenditure enclosed in that despatch.
2. This sum, a vote for which has been approved in the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, is being expended on account of launches for the New Territory, the necessity for which I explained in my despatch No.206 of the 31st July last.
3. As it was anticipated when the Estimates for 1900 were framed that this expenditure would be incurred within the present financial year, no provision was made for it in those Estimates.
4. It has now been ascertained that the launches cannot be completed till early next year.
5. I do not propose to alter the Estimates for 1900, as much of the expenditure will be incurred this year by instalments.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
&c. &c.