CO882-(8-9) — Page 471

1911.

200

To Governor

Hong Kong.

1 November 30

Secret

Informs him that the Secretary of State is awaiting a decision as to the pro- posed Inter-departmental Committee and cannot agree to the publication of any of the correspondence.

2012

201

The Governor

Hong

Kung,

November 23

Reec. Dec. 18.)!

395.

Submits Ordinance No. 45 of 1911. "An Ordinance to amend the Defence Contribution Ordinance, 1901."

201

!

203

War Oflier

Ceylon

December 21

204

20*

To Treasury

Hug

December 23

Kong.

Notes, in reply to No. 183, that Mr. Harcourt accepts the justice of the view of the Army Council, but, in the circumstances, the Treasury and the Council are of opinion that it would be better at present not to press for any change.

Observes, in reply to No. 202, that as no 205

mention was made at the time the Imperial grant was lixed that it would be liable to military contribution Mr. Harcourt regrets that he cannot now invite the Hong Kong Government to pay contribution on the grants which have been made or promised, but he is willing to consider the matter in connexion with any further grants.

CORRESPONDENCE

RELATING TO THE

OF OF THE

MILITARY CONTRIBUTIONS

EASTERN

COLONIES.

8670

No. 1.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 5.20 a.m., 8th April, 1899.)

TELEGRAM.

[Answered by No. 13.]

Will

My Government desire to establish public telephone system, Penang. Essential condition that net instead of gross local receipts pay Military Contribution. War Office consent ?-MITCHELL.

1912.

207

The Governor

Hong Kong, $10

December 5. 1911 (Ree. Jan. 1, 1912.)

Sends report of debate in the Legislative Council on " the Defence Contribution Ordinance, 1901, Amendment Ordi- nance 1911."

205

8833

208

Treasury

Ceylon

January 6

207

200

To the Governor

Hong Kong,

January 10

9.

January 13

Forwards letter from War Office agree- ing to the proposal that only the net receipts from the Government distillery should be assessable to contribution, but declining to allow the exclusion from assessment of the cost of collection of new revenue ; concurs in these views.

Points out, with reference to a state- mont made by the Governor in the debate upon the Defence Contribution Amendment Ordinance, that the power to appoint an Inter- departmental Committee does not rest with the Secretary of State, but is a matter for agreement between the three departments concerned.

א201

209

Adheres, for the reasous stated, to the opinion that the Imperial grants for loss of opium revenue should be assessed to military contribution and presses for their inclusion accordingly. !

Transmits, with reference to No. 196, 210

copy of a letter from the War Office, with the views expressed in which Treasury fully agree: regrets, Accordingly, inability to alter decision on the general question of changing the existing basis of the contribution or of submitting the matter to enquiry by a Committee.

(No. 102.)

SIR,

No. 2.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 10 April, 1899.)

[Answered by No. 3.]

Government House, Singapore, 16th March, 1899. REFERRING to your despatch, No. 323, of the 23rd December last, accepting the suggestion that the military contribution of the Colony should be twenty per cent. to cover all charges, I have the honour to enclose copy of the draft Ordinance in which your proposals were put before the Legislative Council.

2. From this draft have been excluded :—

(a) The proposal accepted by your despatch, No. 164, of 14th May, 1897,† that net instead of gross proceeds of any railway to Johor should be charge- able for the purpose of this contribution;

(b) The arrangements for making the contribution retroactive with effect from 1st January, 1895; the former will be included in any Ordinance which may be prepared in connection with the Johor Railway, and the latter, being of only temporary interest, can be settled without legislation.

3. The Bill was read for the first time on the 14th February, and for the second time on the 28th February, and the consideration of the Bill in Committee was fixed for the 14th instant.

4. At the meeting on the 14th, the Honourable Mr. Burkinshaw proposed two amendments, one in the preamble, and the other a corresponding amendment in Section 5.

24658

· 27893 not printed.

† 9929: not printed

A

210

Treasury

Hong Kong.

January 11

211

Ditto

Straits Bettle- ments.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

9

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON