8
Advisers these three Ordinances, can, I think, be
sanctioned, but there is one point which occurs to
me and which is worth clearing up at this early
stage, namely, the question of the finance of the
new "Municipal" authority. There is no indication
in these Ordinances as to the sources from which the
Urban Council is to derive its funds for the payment
of its numerous inspectors and for the carrying out
of its manifold duties. If it were a strictly Municipal body it would, presumably, have the power
to levy rates sufficient for its duties, and to
that extent those Municipal rates would take the
place of the Government Revenue s which have hitherto
been dispersed by the Sanitary Department. These
latter revenues have been assessable to Defence
reas ́e.ɛ.
Contribution, whereas e.g. in the Straits Settlements
Municipal revenues are not so assessable. It is
possible that the Urban Council in Hong Kong will
dispense such funds as may be voted for its purposes, out of the Government revenues, in which case they
assessed
will continue to be used for Defence Contribution, But I think we should be justified in asking Hong
Kong for a definite statement on this point since it
would seem that the War Office would otherwise have
a legitimate complaint against us if we approved a
new organization resulting in a substantial reduction
in the assessable revenue of Hong Kong, without
previously consulting or even informing them.
I suggest, therefore, that in sanctioning
these Ordinances we should inform the Governor that the
Secretary of State presumes that the funds to be made
available for the operation of the Urban Council
will be Government revenues voted for the purpose by
the Legislative Council in the annual budget, and
subject
Page
9
subject to assessment for Defence Contribution.
No Comments
Chrygn.
30:4
No comments
ayeshmen
27/5
Mbout 23/4
Содом.
1.5
It seems clear that the executive powers
which the rban Council is to control will
be exercised by the Sanitary Department,
which will presumably be financed by the
Cove rument of Hong Kong. As the revenues
of the Government are derived in large
part from assessments on property, which
in other Colonies would be collected by
a municipal authority, I do not see how
this is to be avoided; and there is
really no room in Hong Kong for two
revenue-collecting bodies. On the other
hand, the rban Council would seem to be
vested with the power of spending money
for the collection of which they are not
responsible. I think we must enquire as
Ir
ent suggests.
One smal: point
God
the proviso to Art.
Page
2. (4 (j
excludes government officers
from the franchise for the rban Council.
I am not sure that this is justifiable,
age 9
age 9
Page
Page
A.
and I would ask the Governor whether
there is any real ground for their
exclusion.
I believe that Sir laffey was
proposing to see Dr Wellington, and he
may le interested to see the progress
with rellington's scheme of re-organ-
ization.
# Rlowell
Sin J. Maffey,
3.5.35
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Library 28/9
29/5/55-.
cons -20 MAY 1935
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13 15216.
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DESTROYED UNDER STA JTE
Aduce 18.
Ref(2), Ref (2), draws
Ref(5)
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27.3.35
Crances.
17.4.35
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