*
Eastern
No. 49.
Hong Kong.
No. 8.
SIR,
Downing Street,
20th January 1890. BEARING to previous correspondence respecting the fortifionticia recently erected at Hong Kong and their armament, I have now the honour to address you on the subject of the additional garrison required by those fortifications and on the incidence of ita cost; matters to which Her Majesty's Government have given most anxious and careful consideration.
2. You are aware that in 1884 it was arranged that the Colony should construct the works, and that the Imperial Government should provide the armament, of the proposed defences. The cost was then estimated sa follows:-
Works Armament
•
55,825 37,500
the incidence being 60 per cent. to Colonial, and 40 per cent. to Imperial,
revenues.
8. This estimate was subsequently increased to---
Works Armament
•
•
116,000 153,910
without including the submarine mining defences, which are estimated to
cost-
Works •
Submarine mining vessels and stores
9,01/
48,5GJ
so that the total cost of the defences and the division of that cost will be ad follows:-
Colonial.
Construction of Works-Fortifications
Imperial.
116,000
Armaments
Submarine mining buildings, &c.
15
vessels and stores
·
159,910 9,017 46,500
Total
209,427
325,40*
The incidence being 36 per cent. to Colonial and 64 per cent. Imperial Revenues, as against 60 per cent. to Colonial and 40 per cent. o Imperial revenues contemplated in 1884. It will be observed that in acco: lanes with the original division of charge the Colony ought to repay the 9,0171 spent on submarine mining buildings.
4. Since 1885 Hong Kong has paid a military contribution of 20,000%, a year in aid of the cost of its garrison; and if you refer to paragraph 14 of the Colonial Office letter of the 25th of April 1863 to Sir Hercules Robinson, who was then in England, you will see that it was then intended that the amount of 20,000l. was to "be subject to any revision which the altempa "circumstances of the Colony, may require.' It will also be seen from paragraph 18 of the same letter and paragraph 12 of the Duke of Newartko' despatch, No. 115, of the 5th of September 1863, that Her Majesty's Government, in fixing the amount at 20,0001., were desirous "not to press too heavily at first on the "Colonial revenues, and thus possibly to retard "works of public utility." Sir Hercules Robinson, in replying on the 91 of May 1863, to the letter of the 25th of April, interpreted (paragraph 21)
B 41097. 110 à 3-1/90, G. 41. Wt. 17400. E. & S.
A
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :~~
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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