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154

his absence. It is assumed that their Lordships have no objection to this arrange.

ment.

4. I am to enclose a copy of From Comunissioner Lockhart, No. 29, June 5. 1982.

correspondence* relating to Mr. Lockhart's pro- posals for the establishment of a police force; and to express regret that when the letter from this office of the 3rd ultimo† was written, it was not noticed that, pending the final decision as to From Commissioner Lockhart, No. 67, the garrison of the Dependency, the correspond-

To War Oflice, August 18, 1902.

December 15, 1902.

To War Office, January 27, 1903.

ence which had passed on this subject had not been communicated to their Lordships. 5. It is considered that Mr. Lockhart's action, as reported in the despatch of the 15th December last, was justified by the circumstances of the case; and it is hoped that in view of the moderate amount of the estimated expenditure on the police force (which is further reduced by the substitution of a third Inspector for an Intelligence Officer), their Lordships will see their way to approve these proposals. 6. The Commissioner has been informed by telegraph that his estimates are generally approved, including the proposal for a launch service, but that the police estimates are under consideration in connexion with his despatch of the 15th December.

7. The substance of the second paragraph of your letter under acknowledgment will be communicated to Mr. Lockhart by despatch.

&c.,

4960

(Extract.)

No. 147.

I am,

C. P. LUCAS.

COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE. [Answered by No. 148.]

Downing Street, February 11, 1903. I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, § stating that the allotment of four companies of the Chinese Regiment as a garrison to Wei-hai-Wei has now been finally approved.

*

#

*

*

5. I am to point out that under clause 3 (2) of the Wei-hai-Wei Order in Council, 1901, the administration of the Government, in the event of the death, incapacity, removal, or absence from Wei-hai-Wei of the Commissioner, will devolve upon the Senior Military Officer, unless a dormant Commission is given to some other official. It is assumed that the Senior Military Officer will be the officer in command of the four companies of the Chinese Regiment; and I am to enquire who this officer will be, and what will as a rule be the rank of the officer commanding these companies.

7233

SIR,

No. 148.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received February 24, 1903.)

[Answered by No. 149.]

War Office, London, S.W., February 21, 1903. WITH reference to your letter of the 11th instant,|| 4960/1903, relative to the continuance of a garrison at Wei-hai-Wei, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that the officer commanding the four companies of the Chinese Regiment allotted for the garrison will be the Senior Military Officer and will not be below the rank of Major; and that for the present Major C. D. Bruce will com- mand the four companies in question.

I am, &c.,

R. H. BRADE,

for the Under Secretary of State.

**233

(Extract.)

155

No. 149.

COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.

Downing Street, February 26, 1903.

I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant,*

on the subject of the rank and position of the Officer Commanding the four companies

of the Chinese Regiment at Wei-hai-Wei.

8828

(No. 7.)

No. 150.

COMMISSIONER LOCKHART to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received March 7, 1903.)

[Acknowledgeil March 20, 1903, No. 17; 8828: not printed.]

Government House, Port Edward,

Wei-hai-Wei, January 22, 1903. SIR,

WITH reference to paragraph 6 of your despatch, No 38 of the 15th October last, in which you call attention to a statement made by Mr. Hare in his report on this Dependency, regarding fees paid by Chinese prostitutes, I have the honour to inform you that Mr. Hare must have been labouring under a misapprehension, for at the time when he wrote his report, no police existed, and I learn from inquiry that Chinese prostitutes have never been charged fees for police or any other form of protection.

2. A tax is levied on all houses without distinction in Port Edward and this is the only tax to which brothels are subjected.

9411

SIR,

I have, &c.,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

No. 151.

TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received March 12, 1903.)

[Answered by No. 153.]

Commissioner.

Treasury Chambers, March 11, 1903.

I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Lucas's letter of the 7th ultimo (4176/1903),‡ further respecting the Wei-hai-Wei Estimates for 1903-4.

In reply, I am to request you to inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that My Lords agree that the sum of £100 out of the salary of £1,600 now assigned to the Commissioner should be regarded as an entertainment allowance to be drawn in full by the Commissioner's locum tenens in his absence.

My Lords have read with interest Mr. Lockhart's despatches respecting the police force. They note that the expenditure under Schedule 3 of the Estimates will be reduced to £1,195 by the appointment of a third Inspector instead of an Intelligence Officer as originally contemplated.

It would appear, however, that the decision, arrived at since Mr. Lockhart's scheme was drawn up to retain temporarily a portion of the Chinese Regiment (which it was before proposed to disband) will (if these troops are kept at Wei-hai- Wei) for the time being at any rate minimise the necessity for organizing a Civil police force.

My Lords would be glad to have an expression of Mr. Chamberlain's view on this aspect of the case before definitely approving the revised provision for the service in the Dependency Estimates.

I am, &c.,

E. W. HAMILTON.

• Nos. 102, 111 and 141, and 2929: not printed.

No. 144.

↑ No. 138.

| No. 147.

4176: not printed.

1

No. 148.

↑ No. 1244.

No. 146.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TREEC.O. 882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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