CO885-6 — Page 239

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

CO. 882

6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

134

2. The drafting of the proposed Order in Council will therefore not be pro- vee led with until the final decision of the bank is communicated to this Department

42982

SIR.

No. 130.

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

COLONIAL OFFICE to SIR T. JACKSON.

Downing Street, October 23, 1902. REFERRING to the letter from this office of the 9th instant,* I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to inform you that, in his opinion, it is not desirable to take any further steps to make the British dollar legal tender at Wei-hai-Wei, unless a branch bank is established at that place by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

2. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury concur in this view, and the drafting of the proposed Order in Council will, therefore, he postponed until the final decision of the bank is communicated to this Department.

43630

SIR,

(No. 4.)

No. 131.

I am, &c.,

R. L. ANTROBUS.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER LOCKHART.

Downing Street, October 29, 1902.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 53, of the 11th ultimo,† in which you ask that in view of the special circumstances of Wei-Hai- Wei the draft Ordinance “to provide for the peace and good order of the territories of Wei-Hai-Wei," a copy of which was enclosed in your despatch, No. 22, of the 13th May last, may be given a trial for two years or so.

2. I cannot clearly understand why the fact that under present circumstances Wei-Hai-Wei is not suited for elaborate legislation, should be considered inconsistent with the requirement that legislation should be by Ordinance rather than by Regu- lation. I see no reason to suppose that Ordinances must necessarily be more intricate and elaborate than Regulations, or more expensive. The only difference between an Ordinance and a Regulation lies in the names, and in the fact that Ordinances, unlike Regulations, must be formally submitted for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure. No delay need be caused by the submission of an Ordinance for sanction; and there is no reason why the Ordinance should not be drafted in terms as simple and as free from legal technicalities as you please.

3. I did not suggest in my despatch, No, 28, of the 31st July lasts that you should avail yourself of the power conferred on you by Clause 9 (2) of the Wei-Hai-Wei Order in Council, 1901, to apply any of the Laws and Ordinances of Hong Kong to the Dependency; and there is no need to do so, if you do not think it desirable.

44016

SIR,

(No. 45.)

No. 132.

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to COMMISSIONER LOCKHART.

Downing Street, October 30, 1902. REFERRING to your despatch, No. 32, of the 16th June last, and to paragraph 3 of my despatch, No. 38, of the 15th instant, I have the honour to inform you that I approve the proposals for the reorganisation of the staff of the civil administra-

† No. 125. * No. 98.

| No. 106, § No. 100.

• 40865 : um printed.

No. 124.

135

tion of Wei-Hai-Wei, which were submitted in paragraphs 7 to 12 of your despatch under reference.

2. Mr. Walter's salary as Secretary to Government will, therefore, be raised to £500 a year, as from 1st April last. He will continue to be entitled to free un- furnished quarters, or an allowance in lieu thereof, the value of such quarters or allowance not to count for pension.

3. I assume that you will, due course, furnish details of your proposals in regard to the clerical and interpretation staff, for which a sum of $2,000 is to he provided. I take it that these officers will be on a temporary and non-pensionable footing.

I have, &c.,

46741

SIR,

No. 133.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

COLONIAL OFFICE to TREASURY.

Downing Street, November 14, 1902. REFERRING to your letter of the 13th September last, I am directed by Mi Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury that a telegramt has been received from the Commissioner of Wei-hai-Wei, stating that the present arrangement, by which the financial year runs from 1st April to 31st March, is well suited to local circumstances, and that he strongly recommends that no change be made, at any rate next year.

2. Mr. Chamberlain, therefore, does not propose to adopt Mr. Hare's suggestion that the financial year at Wei-hai-Wei should begin on 1st January; and it will accordingly he necessary for him to ask their Lordships to include in the Colonial Services Estimate for 1903-4 provision for a grant-in-aid for the whole year.

I am, &c.,

51110

(Confidential.)

SIR,

No. 134.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE, (Received December 12, 1902.)

[Answered by No. 136.]

C. P. LUCAS

War Oflice, London, S.W., December 10, 1902.

WITH reference to your letter, No. 48542/1902, dated 29th November last, ‡ n the subject of the Chinese Regiment, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to enclose a copy of the Report of the Inter-departmental Committee on the garrison of Northern China, including Wei-hai-Wei.

2. I am to state that Mr. Brodrick has decided in favour of proposal “B” in that report, and a letter has been addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury asking for their approval.

3. It will be within your recollection that ́as a result of the Conference on Wei-bai-Wei, held on 21st January, 1902, Mr. Chamberlain agreed (letter No. 12645/1902, dated 9th April lastig that all lands and buildings at Wei-hai-Wei in War Department occupation should be handed over to the Colonial Office by the 31st March, 1903, The decision to retain four companies of the Chinese Regiment as a garrison at that station, should Mr. Chamberlain concur in the proposal, will necessitate some of these lands and buildings being retained by the War Department, and I am therefore to suggest that a conference should be held at an early date to consider this question.

I have, &c.,

E. W. D. WARD.

38351 not printed.

† 4671: not printed.

* Not printed.

§ No. 93.

Strength

and con stitution.