C. 52802/28 [No. 10].
No.
HONG KONG.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT
to
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 30th August, 1928.)
(Confidential (2).)
[Answered by No.
•]
PROOF
SIR,
Government House, Hong Kong, 28th July, 1928. WITH reference to my despatch Confidential (1) of to-day's date,* I have the honour to state that for the purpose of obtaining a settlement of the vexed question of the assessment for military contribution I should be inclined, if necessary, to go one step further than the proposal made in the despatch referred to above.
2. The suggested rate of 12 per cent. on the annual valuation brings in for the year 1929, as you will see from the figures quoted, slightly less than the average contribution for the years 1926, 1927, and 1928, and considerably less than that for the years 1925, 1926, and 1927. Although I consider that a substantial deduction should properly be made from the revenue now assessed for military contribution and that the averages mentioned above might therefore be regarded as being too high to be taken as the basis for a new method of assessment, I suggest for your consideration, in consultation with Sir Cecil Clementi, that it might be worth while for this Govern- ment to agree to a contribution on a 123 per cent. basis if by that means a permanent settlement could be obtained.
3. Military contribution if assessed at 121 per cent. on the annual valuation of the previous year would have amounted as follows:-
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
:
2,768,494
3,410,983
3,499,779
3,627,055
3,799,431
I have, &c.,
W. T. SOUTHORN,
Officer Administering the Government.
* C. 52802/28 [No. 9].
Straits Defence Con.-Gp. 6.
131/2963. 24. 8/34.
(18265) M. & S., Ltd.
22