403
76
for a new method of assessment, I suggest for your consideration, in consultation with Sir Cecil Clementi, that it might be worth while for this Government to agree to a contribu- tion on a 12 per cent basis if by that means a permanent settlement could be obtained. 3. Military contribution if assessed at 12 per cent on the annual valuation of the previous year would have amounted as follows:-
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
I have, &c.,
$
2,768,494
3,410,983
3,499,779
3,627,055
3,799,431
W. T. SOUTHORN,
Officer Administering the Government.
C. 52802/28 [No. 14].
77
No. 60.
HONG KONG.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT
to
THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 7.15 a.m., 27th October, 1928.)
TELEGRAM.
3
27th October. Your telegram of 21st [20th September*. Military contribution.
I estimate amount payable as military contribution if deduction had been made as recom- mended to be for, 1926 $2,367,584 and for 1927 $2,645,566. necessity for communicating with Singapore. Despatch follows.
Regret delay due to
C. 52802/28 [No. 11].
No. 58.
HONG KONG.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
to
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.
(Sent 4 p.m., 20th September, 1928.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by Nos. 60 and 63.]
With reference to your despatch of 28th July, Confidential*, telegraph amount of military contribution for 1926 and 1927 if all deductions recommended by you had been made. Furnish details by despatch.-AMERY.
C. 52802/28 [No. 13].
C. 52802/28 [No. 15].
MY DEAR CROSLAND,
No. 61.
SIR G. GRINDLE (Colonial OFFICE)
to
MR. J. B. CROSLAND (WAR Office). [Answered by No. 62.]
Downing Street, 31st October, 1928. In an official letter of the 12th Octoberf, about the Hong Kong military contribution we mentioned that, if you were unable to accept the proposed new basis of assessment, we should have to take up the various claims for relief on the existing basis put forward by the Officer Administering the Government. We have telegraphed to Hong Kong to ask what would have been the amounts payable for 1926 and 1927 if all the deductions they claim had been made. I enclose copies of the telegrams from which you will see that the contribution on this basis are decidedly lower than on the basis of 12 per cent of the annual valuation.
SIR,
No. 59. COLONIAL OFFICE
to
WAR OFFICE. [Answered by No. 62.]
Downing Street, 12th October, 1928.
With reference to the letter from this Department of the 12th of Marcht, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Amery to transmit to you, to be laid before the Army Council, the accompanying copy of a despatcht from the Governor of Hong Kong together with copies of despatches from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong relative to the military contribution payable by the Colony.
2. The Secretary of State considers that the proposed new basis of 12 per cent on the annual valuation, made during the preceding year, while yielding approximately the same amount, will be much more convenient in that it enables the Government of Hong Kong to know its liability a year in advance, and also to avoid continual disputes as to what constitutes revenue. The amount of the contribution will grow automatically with the growth of the wealth of the Colony.
3. If, however, the new basis is not acceptable to the Army Council, it will be necessary to take up the various claims to relief under the existing system enumerated in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Officer Administering the Government's Confidential despatch of the 28th of July}}.
I am, &c.,
WALTER D. ELLIS.
* No. 56.
† C. 52802/28 [No. 2]: not printed. Nos. 56 and 57.
+ No. 54.
No. 56.
C. 52802/28 [No. 17].
MY DEAR GRINDLE,
No. 62.
MR. J. B. CROSLAND (WAR OFFICE)
to
SIR G. GRINDLE (COLONIAL Office). [Answered by No. 64.]
Yours, &c.,
G. GRINDLE.
War Office, 27th November, 1928. Many thanks for your note of 31st October§, enclosing copies of two telegrams|| which have passed between the Colonial Office and Hong Kong as to the effect of certain claims for relief under the existing systern (if these were all agreed to) on the Colony's military contribution. We shall be in a better position to appreciate this aspect of the matter when the promised despatch furnishing details is available.
In the meantime perhaps I might put to you semi-officially some points that have arisen so far in our consideration of the proposed change in the method of assessment.
† No. 59.
§ No. 61.
Nos. 58 and 60.
* No. 58.
Nos. 58 and 60.
1. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
TLC.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
2
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.