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C.O. 882
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200
SIR,
54
No. 68.
COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY.
Downing Street, January 10, 1902. In reply to your letter of the 31st ultimo,* I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to inform you that he concurs in the suggestion to hold a conference between representatives of the Colonial Office, the War Office, and the Admiralty, to discuss the questions relative to the administration of the leased territory at Wei- Hai-Wei, which are referred to in your letter under reply.
2. Mr. C. P. Lucas, C.B., Assistant Under-Secretary of State, will represent the Colonial Office at the proposed conference.
731
SIR,
No. 69.
I am, &c.,
H. BERTRAM COX.
COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY. [Answered by No. 70.]
Downing Street, January 13, 1902. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, copies of two despatches,† received on the 6th instant, from the Commissioner at Wei-hai-wei, furnishing a revised estimate of the revenue and expenditure of the civil administration for the current financial year, and submitting estimates of the revenue and expenditure for the financial year beginning on 1st April next.
2. From the former of these despatches their Lordships will observe that Sir A. Dorward anticipates a saving of $7,100 on the sanctioned expenditure for the current year. On the other hand, the revenue for the year will probably amount only to $18,700; the difference between this and the estimate of $20,000 being made up from the balance of $4,218 in hand on 1st April last. Sir A. Dorward has included the remainder of that balance, viz., $2,918, in his estimate of revenue for 1902-03.
3. The revenue for 1902-03, including the balance referred to in the preceding paragraph, is estimated at $22,918, and the expenditure at $225,800, leaving a deficit on the year's transactions of $202,882.
4. This estimate may, however, be reduced in several respects. In the first instance, the anticipated saving of $7,100 on the authorised expenditure for the current year should be deducted.
5. Mr. Chamberlain notes that provision has been made for the payment in full of the salaries of the Assistant Commissioner ($5,000) and the Secretary and Financial Assistant ($1,800). In the letter from this office of the 16th ultimo, respecting the vacancy in the office of Commissioner, their Lordships were informed that no further steps would be taken to select an officer for the post of Secretary and Financial Assistant until Mr. Hare ceased to act as Assistant Commissioner; and that on Mr. Ilare's departure, it was proposed to abolish the latter office. In consequence of the recent increase in the pay of the civil service of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States, it will be necessary to increase the authorised salary of $1,800 when the time comes for appointing a Secretary and Financial Assistant; but it is estimated that a total saving of about $1,950 may be expected on the salaries assigned to the two posts in question, during 1902-3.
6. An expenditure of $35,000 is proposed on the building of the Commissioner's quarters, with an additional $4,000 for his offices, and $4,000 for furniture, which, it is explained, is principally required in connection with the Commissioner's house and offices.
7. Owing to the recent decision to appoint a civilian instead of a military officer as Commissioner, it is uncertain as yet whether the permanent quarters of the Commis- sioner will be built on the mainland or on the island of Liu Kung. The question will perhaps not be settled in time to allow of work being begun until the latter part of the
‡ Not printed.
• No. 61.
↑ Nos. 65 and 67.
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financial year 1902-03, and an estimate of $15,000 will probably cover all the building work on these quarters, &c., that is undertaken during the ensuing year.
8. Sir A. Dorward does not state for what other offices furniture is required, but
a provision of $1,000 would very probably meet the necessities of the case.
9. The saving of $24,000 contemplated in the last paragraph but one would have the effect of reducing the payment for engineering supervision by $1,200.
10. The item of $4,830 for lighting the harbour is based upon the estimate furnished by the Chief Commissioner of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs service. Sir A. Dorward, however, in forwarding this estimate in another despatch has expressed the opinion that the expenses of maintaining these lights can be reduced by some $2,050.
11. The question of building a native town on Liu Kung Tao has been the subject of correspondence between Mr. Chamberlain and Sir A. Dorward. This measure is pressed for on sanitary grounds, and is connected with a proposal according to which the military and naval authorities would be asked to hand over to the civil administra- tion such land on the island (which is at present entirely the property of the War Office and the Admiralty) as is not required for their own purposes. The administration of the island would then in all probability be self-supporting, and no assistance from the general funds of the Dependency would be required; the existing item of $10,000 for "island expenses" disappearing from the annual estimates.
12. It is proposed, however, to submit this question to an interdepartmental Committee, which is being appointed at the instance of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to consider questions connected with the future policing of the leased territory at Wei-hai-wei, and other cognate matters relating to the naval and military administration of Liu Kung Tao."
13. Mr. Chamberlain would suggest, however, that a sum of $30,000 should be allowed to stand on these estimates, to cover any expenditure which may be recom- mended by the Committee in connection with the Commissioner's proposal, and which may be incurred during 1902-03.
14. As regards the question of policing the leased territory, I am to explain that it has recently been suggested by the Secretary of State for War that the strength of the Chinese Regiment at Wei-hai-wei should be reduced to 200 men, to be employed on military duties only. This proposal, if adopted, will render the establishment of a civil police force absolutely necessary; and the cost of such a force is estimated by the Commissioner at £2,600, £1,400 of which would be annual expenditure.
15. The Commissioner explains, in paragraph 5 of his despatch of the 21st November last, that no provision has been made on the estimates for the cost of a civil police force. Mr. Chamberlain considers, however, that pending the result of the Committee's deliberations, it is advisable to make provision for the full estimated expenditure of $28,000 on this account.
16. The savings contemplated in this letter amount to $79,300 in all, or, sub- tracting the estimate of $26,000 for the civil police force, to a net total of $53,300. This, however, will still leave a deficit of $149,582 on the year's estimates; and Mr. Chamberlain is therefore compelled to invite their Lordships to include a sum of £15,000 in the Colonial Services Estimate for 1902-03, as a grant in aid of the civil administration of Wei-hai-wei.
2672
SIR,
No. 70.
I am, &c.,
R. L. ANTROBUS.
TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received January 21, 1902.) [Answered by No. 79.]
Treasury Chambers, January 20, 1902. I HAVE laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury Mr. Antrobus' letter (731/01-02) of the 13th instant, in which Mr. Secretary Chamberlain
• Not printed.
‡ No. 69.
† No. 67.
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