No.133
Hongkong.
Sir,
17306 RECO MAY 2
Government House, Hongkong, 5th April, 1902.
485
I have the honour to inform you that I have received a communication from the Bishop of Victoria, who at the instance of the Church Body of Saint John's Cathedral has approached me with reference to the sum paid by this Government to the Church Body for the provision of requisite services and ministrations of the Church of England at Victoria Gaol and the Government Civil Hospital.
2. The sum now paid is $600 per annum and this the Church Body consider inadequate.
3. His Lordship states that at the time when the sum was fixed viz.- May 1892, the Sterling value of $600 was £85.0.0, but now owing to the fall in exchange the Sterling value is only £53. 15.0. He also points out that the increase in the European population has added considerably to the work of the Chaplain in respect of the ministrations for which the Government pays. In 1892 the number of in-patients in the Civil Hospital was 788; in 1901 the number was 960. In 1892 the daily average of European prisoners confined in Victoria Gaol was 19; in 1901 the daily average was 46.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., &c. &c. &c.
3.