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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 882

سن للسلسا

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

It is urged that the establishment of the Hong Kong Mint gives the Colony a peculiar claim to exemption, at least for the present, from the military contribution. On this point it need only be said that this estab- lishment was not proposed by the Home Government, but by the Governor acting in the interest of the Colony and of the China trade, on which the prosperity of the Colony depends; and that it is expected to be in itself rather a source of profit to the Colonial revenue than otherwise. The expectation, therefore, that it will be also profitable to the Imperial treasury, furnishes no reason why this country should pay for it—even in part.

I now give a brief statement of the financial position of the Colony. The Colony ceased to be a charge on the Civil Estimates in 1859, and since that time the Revenue and Expenditure have been as follows:-

Revenue.

7

72,800. Surplus 21,889

Expenditure.

£

£

1859

65,225

66,109. Deficit

884

1860

94,182

1861

127,241

109,632

17,609

か

1862

131,512

122,423

9,089

1863

120,028

121,888. Deficit

1,860

1864 (estimated)

121,625

129.079

7,454

Establishments.

Public Works.

Total.

£

£

L

51,109

15,000

66,109

53,800

19,000

72,300

68,413

41,217

109,632

77,041

45,382

122,423

90,854

31,034

85,311

43,768

1859

1860

1861

1862

1863

1864 (estimated)

121,848 129,079

The revenue is raised from rents, spirit and opium licenses, fees from registration of deeds, &c., and police, light and water-rates. There are no Čustoms duties.

In Singapore, where the European population is about 300, as compared with 1,300 or 1,400 at Hong Kong, and of a much less wealthy character, it was found necessary, in 1861, to impose a stamp duty. It has produced between 26,0001. and 27,000l. a-year, without producing any of those disastrous consequences which are anticipated from the intro- duction of fresh taxes at Hong Kong.

It appears to me that in the sum assessed by the Duke of Newcastle for Hong Kong, he has made a sufficient allowance for any equitable claims of abatement which can be urged.

Notwithstanding, then, the clamour of the residents, European and native, and the local opposition, which renders an invidious exercise of the powers of the Crown necessary to effect our purpose, I would enforce the Duke's decisions; and, in the case of Hong Kong, I would inform the Governor that the yearly sum of 20,0001. for the next five years, as deter- mined by the Duke of Newcastle, appears to Her Majesty's Government to be a very moderate contribution for the military and naval protection enjoyed by the Colony under the British flag. I would explain to them that the withdrawal of a large part of the garrison, if at any time Her Majesty's Government should consider that withdrawal to be expedient, would not affect the ground on which this charge is made, namely, the ground that it is a very moderate contribution to be made by them in return for the protection they enjoy.

November 14, 1864.

E. C.

APPENDIX.

Cory of DESPATCH from Governor Sir HEROULEI ROBINSON to the Right Hon. EDWARD CARDWELL, M.P.

Hong Kong, September 7, 1864. (Received November 4, 1864.)

(No. 134.) S18,

IT is my duty to bring to your notice the proceedings which have taken place here with reference to the demand made by Her Majesty's Government upon this Colony for a military contribution of 20,000l. per annum, and the state of public opinion upon the subject.

2. Upon the receipt of your despatch No. 88 of the 25th June last, announcing the definite decision of Her Majesty's Government as to this question, I at once included the sum demanded in the Estimates and Appropriation Ordinance for the next year-then awaiting submission to the Legislative Council—and, in explanation of the item, laid at the same time before the Council, in accordance with your permission, the entire correspond- ence in the matter.

3. Shortly after the publication of the correspondence, a very strong feeling arose throughout the entire community as to the unfairness of the proposal, and a public meeting of the inhabitants was held on the 28rd ultimo to protest against the measure. The meeting, I am informed, was the largest and the most respectably attended ever assembled in the Colony, and represented the entire British and foreign commercial and non-official community of the place. The proceedings were marked by complete unani- inity, and the chief grounds of the protest agreed to were contained in the first Resolution, which "adopted to the fullest extent the arguments which had been brought before the Duke of Newcastle by both Mr. Mercer and myself in support of our assertion, that the presence of troops here is unnecessary for any purely Colonial object.”

4. The 5th instant was the day fixed for the second reading of the Appropriation Ordinance, and upon the forenoon of that day, before the assembling of the Council, a Committee, nominated by the public meeting, waited on me to present an official record of the proceedings of the meeting, and also a petition signed by 445 British and foreign resi- dents, requesting me to forward to you the accompanying Memorial, respectfully urging the relinquishment of the demand for military contribution, and, further, praying me to withdraw the item of 20,000%, from the Estimates for next year, until your reply to the Memorial should be received.

5. The Committee at the same time informed me that memorials to a similar effect from the Chamber of Commerce, and from the native Chinese community, were in course of signature, and would be forwarded in time for transmission by the outgoing mail.

6. In reply, I informed the Committee that all the papers presented to me by them should be duly transmitted for your consideration, but that I could not consent to withdraw the item of 20,0004, as requested, from the Estimates for 1865, the passing of which either could not any longer be delayed. At the same time, I pointed out to the Committee that in a Crown Colony like this, the ultimate decision upon such question rented entirely with Her Majesty's Government, independent of any conclusion which might be arrived at în the local Legislature.

7. I felt that I could not, consistently with my duty, arrive at any other decision. I had been desired by you to consider the question "as definitively settled by Her Majesty's Government." The reasons advanced in the public Memorial for the relinquishment of the demasia was not new, but precisely shone urged by myself in my letter to Sir Frederia Rage of the 21st May, 1888, which the public munting adapted an its own; and although that letter has never beam mplied to, ar ita vuosipi acknowledged, and although, as pointed out by the Committer, the anguisuta contained in it appear to have been entirely avarinoked in the subsequent sorrespondence from the Secretary of State, I did not fun) task (skulithare huren justified on them grounds alene in concluding either that the lethes had miscarried, or that it had not reclved whatever normidinontion it mity have to bafnen the definite decision of Her Majesty's Equmentont was monownand turne in your last despatch.

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Appendix.