PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
9
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
22
from the open ports in China, at each of which we have "British settlements and British subjects for whom we "claim exemption from territorial jurisdiction; because in the management of this vast trade, and in the govern "ment of our own subjects scattered along the whole length of the seaboard of China in the foreign settle. *ments-now 14 in number-we are necessarily brought "into constant intercourse with the Chinese Government. " and there can be no doubt that the presence of a small holy of troops somewhere nearer China than India has an excellent effect in averting difficulties, while they “form a base for operations if misunderstandings should "unfortunately arise. Such being the case the only place in the China seas where troops can be permanently “-tationed is Her Majesty's Colony of Hong Kong,"
*
He went on to say that the troops were maintained in Hong Kong for national as opposed to Colonial objects,
and that, if it were urged that the troops could not be
withdrawn, the answer was that "they are indispensable Ihut, para.
for Imperial purposes, for that as far as the Colony is 21. "concerned I think that they might be safely removed ; and I can only say in support of my opinion that I am prepared to undertake the responsibility of maintaining "law and order in the Colony without troops if Her Majesty's Government should think it unnecessary to go further and "retain them for any other object; and I
+
“ assert most confidently that it would unquestionably be "more to the advantage of the Colony that they should be "withdrawn than that any such contribution as that fixed "by the Duke of Newcastle should be enforced."
The only result of this protest was a despatch of the A. 132, 5th September, 1863, to the Officer Administering the App. R Government in which, while admitting that the garrison No. 3. would probably be maintained in part for Imperial purposes, the Secretary of State demanded £20,000 a year for
five years from the 1st of January, 1865. The Officer Ibid., No. 5.
Administering the Government protested, very much on
the lines of Sir H. Robinson's letter; in fact he thought
it necessary to write a second despatch to explain that he Ibid., No. 6,
had only received a copy of that letter from Sir H.
Robinson after writing his protest; but he was informed
by despatch of the 16th February, 1864, that the Secretary id. No. 7.
A
of State could hold out no hope that the Home Govern ment would refrain from pressing their demand. further plea from the Governor for a modification of the demand was somewhat severely snubbed by Mr. Secretary Ibid., No. 8, Cardwell, who gave permission for the correspondence to Ibid. be laid before the Legislative Council.
No. 10.
Public meetings of protest were held in the Colony, Ibid.. resulting in memorials against the contribution from the No. 11 and
from sures. European and Chinese communities and a protest
Enclo-
the Chamber of Commerce; and in September, 1864, the Governor reported that the vote for the £20,000 was No. 1!, carried by a majority of one, one of the officials voting para. R. But the Home Government No. 12. against the Governinent.
stood firm.
In 1866 it was proposed by the Governor that half the contribution should be given to defray part of the cost of
Printed
a local naval force for the policing of Chinese waters by Hong gunboats for the suppression of piracy. The Admiralty Kong however considered the scheme impracticable and it fell Papere, through.
1st Serien, p. 45. During the year the contribution fell in arrear as the Ibid., Colony had practically no funds, while the 1867 Estimates No. 26.
Tid..
No 35. Bnd.. No. 36. Ibut,
No. 40(En
closure).
Find..
No. 41 (En closure). Ibut., Nus. 43 aml 45.
id. Nos. 46 and 47.
Hong Kong
Printed
Papers,
Second
Series,
2.
Ibid., No. 2.
23
showed an anticipated deficit of $80,000; and in March, 1867, the Governor asked for temporary remission of the contribution, the Colony being £20,000 in arrears.
In January, 1868, the Hong Kong community petitioned the House of Commons for relief from the burden of paying the contribution, but nothing came of it; and the Colony was charged with interest at four per cent. on the arrears. At the instance of the Governor the Home Government consented to forgo interest on, but not payment of, the
arrears.
However, in September, 1868, the finances of the Colony had so much improved that the Governor was able to wipe out all the arrears.
By some accident the fact that the arrangement was for a period of five years only from the 1st January, 1865, was overlooked both at home and in the Colony, and Hong Kong accordingly continued to pay £20,000 a year from 1865 to 1888.
In September and November, 1883, the Governor wrote, strongly urging the necessity of fortifying Hong an open town Kong, pointing out that Victoria was defended by a few open batteries, without any fort or Nos. 1 and citadel. He proceeded:-"Hong Kong is the principal "depôt of coals in this part of the world for the supply of "Her Majesty's ships, and the British squadron in these "seas would be practically paralysed by the sudden capture Of late strong "or destruction of that depôt "claims have been publicly put forth in this community "to the effect that it would be only just and fair that the "annual military contribution of £20,000 paid by Hong Kong to the Imperial Government should be spent on "the fortifications here
From the enclosed "memorandum by the Colonial Treasurer (the Hon. A. "Lister) it will be seen that during the last 18 years-
(since 1st January, 1865)—Hong Kong has paid:
Ibid.,
(4
£
"(1) Military contribution (in hard 380,000
cash).
"(2) Indirect contributions .
43,500
"(3) Loss on land reserved for military 300,000
purposes.
Total
725,500,"
In support of the last item the Treasurer's memorandum stated :-
"Sir Hercules Robinson in 1864 estimated the loss to
No. 2 (En-"the Colony from the appropriation of land for military closure).
Nid...
No. 4.
66
At
purposes as at least £10,000 a year. Many of the lands "then referred to are lying idle to this day unused and "unimproved, or even being disintegrated by the rains and "contributing to silt up the harbour. However, very "much more land is reserved at the present day. "this moment arrangements are on hand to resume for "military purposes ground which brings into the Colony 21,000 a year. From £15,000 to £20,000 for the annual "loss now is a very moderate estimate. Including interest, "the Colony cannot have lost less under this head than " £300,000."
In January, 1884, the Governor asked that the War Office should decide on some one of the many plans that had been before it for several years past for the fortification of that important but practically defenceless naval and