Colony arising from diminution of Military Contribution
(
would pro tanto diminish its claim to relief from Imperial
funds in respect of the loss of dues on the Opium Trade.
C
Treasury Proposal:
155
ix
a inco
Imperial Government to pay
Hong Kong
$42500
£3873
#
$24500 - £2227
Apparent detriment to Hong Kong on Treasury proposal:
less
$24500 $16750
$7750 say £700.
III.
A copy of the Post Office letter to the Treasury
of 2 April last was sent at the time to the Colonial Office..
In the absence of comment or protest it is assumed that the
Post Office proposal appeared to the Colonial Office to be
reasonable, and that their present objection is to the Treasury
M.O
1000" $
variation of it. The difference between the Treasury proposal
so far as the finances of
finances of the Colony are affected,
56
and the Post Office proposal is however more apparent than
real.
Estimate for 1910 on basis of actual expenditure (Subject
to eventual readjustment on basis of liability incurred
under the partly retrospective Statistics for Siberian
transit to be taken in November 1911).
Postal deficit for 1910 $42500
But the readjustment on the Siberian Statistics of
November 1911 will beyond question greatly increase the
Postal deficit. The present Agency payment for Siberian
Transit under the Statistics of May 1908 has been given by
Hong Kong as $47250. The increase under the Statistics
of November 1911 is of course conjectural but an estimated
increase of 66 2/3 % is not regarded as extravagant.
On
this basis the cost of Siberian Transit to be eventually
paid for 1910 will be:
Military Contribution
Total
$24500
$67000
Post Office Proposal:-
Imperial Government to pay 75 % of
Hong Kong
H
#
* 25 % of
$67000 - $50250 - £4576 - $16750 - £1525
Treasury
$47250
$31500
$75750
On this assumption the figures for 1910 on a basis of
liabilities incurred will be:
Postal