As regards pati port of Al, I am vieling to discourags these gifts. They don't really help us mich; they money 12 would be well spent in the colonies concamed; and if one. Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary ofļ
wrong stails, others,
stands, others wch feel
uch fed they
have got to be suit. The thought is very kind and I Dated 2nd.October, 1939. Received 2.15 p.. 2nd.bctober, 1959.
State for the Colonies
No.324 Confidential.
appreciată the fadrotism of the resternal props to suggest these gifts, and the psychological value of accepting them. But what weighs with me is that the money
really can be well spent in the colonies Your Ycircular telegrams Nos.54 and 62 Confidential. His was?
Estimates for 1940- 1941 were drafted largely before the `W.
war and assumed the continuance of current conditions locally:
that
balanced they provided E revenue end expenditure approximately
as nearly as $50,000,000 for 15 months period. Normal provision
made for existing recurrent services $44,500,000; special expenditure
and new services $2,200,000 including Air Raid Precautions, increase
in Police, Medicel and Sanitary Services; and Public Works
extraordinary $3,500,000 as including road development and
commenéement of Infectious Diseases Hospital, Health Centre and New
queens College. Provizion for new Government House totally suspended
Ifeel that possible effects of sub-joined proposals would be to
convert small deficit of the ordinary budget into surplus of between
1 or 2 millions.
Even if part of Public Works extraordinary and new
services are deleted, which I should prefer to avoid and allowing for
strict economy generally new demands for war services are likely
to cause an increase of expenditure on balance,
At the same time
there may be a diminuation of existing sources of revenue, I
consider however and believe it to be the opinion of responsible
members of the public that Hong Kong should offer at once substantial increase in assistance to His Majesty's Government in war expenditur and that the present low level of taxation should be raised accordin
ly.
I accordingly request your approval to submit to
the Legislative Council the following financial proposals: