HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 345

Administrative Reports 行政報告書 All AI Reviewed

326

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE

by every day's experience, is at present borne by the special fund. The erection of a telegraph round the island, and of additional police and telegraph stations—to complete the guarded circuit so effectually as to render improbable future landings of such parties as attacked Sowkewan on the 18th of April last—may be similarly regarded as a reasonable charge on the fund for the suppression of crime.

12. Nevertheless, to prevent any diminution of the police-rates being effected by an unfair resort to the special fund, it has also been suggested that the Colony should always provide from its ordinary revenue the means of defraying the highest expenditure on its police incurred in any year preceding the licence system. That year was 1866, and the actual expenditure then on the Colonial police was in round numbers $120,000, an amount ascertained after deducting from the sum charged against police; several items improperly entered under that head—as, for example, lighting street lamps, $20,000, an item now placed under "miscellaneous." Therefore, $120,000 is the least sum for police which the Colony is bound to find from its own resources. At the same time, to promote police protection, and prevent an inconvenient accumulation of the licence fund, expenditure in excess of that amount, if approved by the Secretary of State, may be temporarily borne by the special fund.

13. 2ndly. You may assume that no application of the licence fund for any but the police purposes, already explained, will be permitted unless for the special benefit and improvement, physically, or morally of the Chinese population. The Council is aware that none but persons of Chinese or Malay origin, and that no females of my nation whatever, are now admitted into the licensed houses, whilst the licence fees have been proportionally reduced so as to compensate for such restrictions. Even foreign travellers are not permitted to visit the houses. The Chinese alone frequent them. Therefore, the fees, if used at all—and it would not be easy to justify a perpetual and unmeaning accumulation of them—ought apparently to be used only for purposes auxiliary to the original object of the experiment, viz., suppression of crime, or the special benefit of the race by whose peculiar infirmity that experiment was first necessitated and is now maintained.

14. The purposes, therefore, to which a portion of the special fund has been or may be devoted, are all in accordance with the above principles. Thus, extended means of education are afforded to the Chinese, such as new school-houses, a lecture-room at the central hall, apparatus for conducting experiments calculated to develop an interest in practical and scientific knowledge, especially of a kind applicable to manufactures. Assistance likewise in maintaining that useful corps, the Chinese watchmen, has been given, and more is promised; though, in proportion as it is assisted from without, the Chinese subscriptions for its support decline, so that ultimately I fear the corps must be dissolved, at least for a time. I might also enumerate an extended classification of interpreters, and the employment, on a different system, of abler and better paid men in that capacity, so as to meet a hardship long complained of by the native population in connection with our courts; a large contribution ($15,000) to the erection of the Chinese Hospital under Chinese management (but with due precautions); and a reimbursement to the Harbour Master's Department for loss of revenue by abatement of fees hitherto exacted from Chinese vessels only. Even the expense of special sanitary improvements in the physical condition of the inhabitants of the Chinese quarter of the city, which might otherwise have been indefinitely postponed, will be facilitated by contributions from the same source.

15. In all those particulars, however, care is taken that the special fund shall contribute nothing, except for items over and above the Colony's ordinary previous expenditure, for which expenditure Her Majesty's Government is resolved that it shall raise an adequate local revenue. Thus, under the head of education, you will perceive that the expenditure having been increased, the difference only between the expenditure in 1866, and that contemplated for 1870, viz., $4,448, is to be taken from the special fund, a plan similar to that followed in the police estimates.

16. All these contributions to useful purposes entail a large expenditure. Nevertheless at the end of the current year, there will be more than $140,000 still remaining to the credit of the special fund, which will again commence rapidly to accumulate, unless the licence fees be considerably diminished, a policy which it would be difficult to justify; it could only benefit the licensees.

17. Now, it is evident that no expenditure, so effective as that adverted to for suppression of crime, and the improvement, physical and moral, of the large population in our midst, can take place without reacting beneficially on this community generally. Therefore, it may be said that the licensing system, by increasing the means of Government to effect good, directly benefits the Colony. I leave, however, to others...

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326 18 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE by every day's experience, is at present borne by the special fund. The erection of a telegraph round the island, and of additional police and telegraph stations—to complete the guarded circuit so effectually as to render improbable future landings of such parties as attacked Sowkewan on the 18th of April last—may be similarly regarded as a reasonable charge on the fund for the suppression of crime. 12. Nevertheless, to prevent any diminution of the police-rates being effected by an unfair resort to the special fund, it has also been suggested that the Colony should always provide from its ordinary revenue the means of defraying the highest expenditure on its police incurred in any year preceding the licence system. That year was 1866, and the actual expenditure then on the Colonial police was in round numbers $120,000, an amount ascertained after deducting from the sum charged against police; several items improperly entered under that head—as, for example, lighting street lamps, $20,000, an item now placed under "miscellaneous." Therefore, $120,000 is the least sum for police which the Colony is bound to find from its own resources. At the same time, to promote police protection, and prevent an inconvenient accumulation of the licence fund, expenditure in excess of that amount, if approved by the Secretary of State, may be temporarily borne by the special fund. 13. 2ndly. You may assume that no application of the licence fund for any but the police purposes, already explained, will be permitted unless for the special benefit and improvement, physically, or morally of the Chinese population. The Council is aware that none but persons of Chinese or Malay origin, and that no females of my nation whatever, are now admitted into the licensed houses, whilst the licence fees have been proportionally reduced so as to compensate for such restrictions. Even foreign travellers are not permitted to visit the houses. The Chinese alone frequent them. Therefore, the fees, if used at all—and it would not be easy to justify a perpetual and unmeaning accumulation of them—ought apparently to be used only for purposes auxiliary to the original object of the experiment, viz., suppression of crime, or the special benefit of the race by whose peculiar infirmity that experiment was first necessitated and is now maintained. 14. The purposes, therefore, to which a portion of the special fund has been or may be devoted, are all in accordance with the above principles. Thus, extended means of education are afforded to the Chinese, such as new school-houses, a lecture-room at the central hall, apparatus for conducting experiments calculated to develop an interest in practical and scientific knowledge, especially of a kind applicable to manufactures. Assistance likewise in maintaining that useful corps, the Chinese watchmen, has been given, and more is promised; though, in proportion as it is assisted from without, the Chinese subscriptions for its support decline, so that ultimately I fear the corps must be dissolved, at least for a time. I might also enumerate an extended classification of interpreters, and the employment, on a different system, of abler and better paid men in that capacity, so as to meet a hardship long complained of by the native population in connection with our courts; a large contribution ($15,000) to the erection of the Chinese Hospital under Chinese management (but with due precautions); and a reimbursement to the Harbour Master's Department for loss of revenue by abatement of fees hitherto exacted from Chinese vessels only. Even the expense of special sanitary improvements in the physical condition of the inhabitants of the Chinese quarter of the city, which might otherwise have been indefinitely postponed, will be facilitated by contributions from the same source. 15. In all those particulars, however, care is taken that the special fund shall contribute nothing, except for items over and above the Colony's ordinary previous expenditure, for which expenditure Her Majesty's Government is resolved that it shall raise an adequate local revenue. Thus, under the head of education, you will perceive that the expenditure having been increased, the difference only between the expenditure in 1866, and that contemplated for 1870, viz., $4,448, is to be taken from the special fund, a plan similar to that followed in the police estimates. 16. All these contributions to useful purposes entail a large expenditure. Nevertheless at the end of the current year, there will be more than $140,000 still remaining to the credit of the special fund, which will again commence rapidly to accumulate, unless the licence fees be considerably diminished, a policy which it would be difficult to justify; it could only benefit the licensees. 17. Now, it is evident that no expenditure, so effective as that adverted to for suppression of crime, and the improvement, physical and moral, of the large population in our midst, can take place without reacting beneficially on this community generally. Therefore, it may be said that the licensing system, by increasing the means of Government to effect good, directly benefits the Colony. I leave, however, to others... Page 345 Page 346

Baseline (Original)

326 18 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE by every day's experience, is at present borne by the special fund. The erection of a telegraph round the island, and of additional police and telegraph stations-to complete: the guarded circuit so effectually as to render improbable future landings of such parties as attacked Sowkewan on the 18th of April last-may be similarly regarded as a reasonable charge on the fund for the suppression of crime. 12. Nevertheless, to prevent any diminution of the police-rates being effected by an unfair resort to the special fund, it has also been suggested that the Colony should always provide from its ordinary revenue the means of defraying the highest expenditure on its police incurred in any year preceding the licence system. That year was 1866, and the actual expenditure then on the Colonial police was in rouud numbers $120,000, an amount ascertained after deducting from the sum charged against police; several items improperly entered under that head-as, for example, lighting street lamps, $20,000, an item now placed under "miscellaneous." Therefore, $120,000 is the least sum for police which the Colony is bound to find from its own resources. At the same time, to promote police protection, and prevent an inconvenient accumulation of the licence fund, expenditure in excess of that amount, if approved by the Secretary of State, may be temporarily borne by the special fund. 13. 2ndly. You may assume that no application of the licence fund for any but the police purposes, already explained, will be permitted unless for the special benefit and improvement, physically, or morally of the Chinese population. The Council is aware that none but persons of Chinese or Malay origin, and that no females of my nation whatever, are now admitted into the licensed houses, whilst the licence fees have been proportionally reduced so as to compensate for such restrictions. Even foreign travellers are not permitted to visit the houses. The Chinese alone frequent them. Therefore, the fees, if used at all-and it would not be easy to justify a perpetual and unmeaning accumulation of them-ought apparently to be used only for purposes auxiliary to the original object of the experiment, viz., suppression of crime, or the special benefit of the race by whose peculiar infirmity that experiment was first necessitated and is now maintained. 14. The purposes, therefore, to which a portion of the special fund has been or may be devoted, are all in accordance with the above principles. Thus, extended means' education are afforded to the Chinese, such as new school-houses, a lecture-room at the central hall, apparatus for conducting experiments calculated to develop an interest' in practical and scientific knowledge, especially of a kind applicable to manufactures Assistance likewise in maintaining that useful corps, the Chinese watchmen, has been given, and more is promised; though, in proportion as it is assisted from without, the Chinese subscriptions for its support decline, so that ultimately I fear the corps must be dissolved, at least for a time. I might also enumerate an extended classification "of interpreters, and the employment, on a different system, of abler and better paid men in that capacity, so as to meet a hardship long complained of by the native population connection with our courts; a large contribution ($15,000) to the erection of the Chinese Hospital under Chinese management (but with due precautions); and a reimbursement to the IIarbour Master's Department for loss of revenue by abatement of fees hitherto exacted from Chinese vessels only. Even the expense of special sanitary improvements in the physical condition of the inhabitants of the Chinese quarter of the city, which might otherwise have been indefinitely postponed, will be facilitated by contributions from the same source. 15. In all those particulars, however, care is taken that the special fund shall contribute nothing, except for items over and above the Colony's ordinary previous expenditure, for which expenditure Her Majesty's Government is resolved that it shall raise an adequate local revenue. Thus, under the head of education, you will perceive that the expenditure having been increased, the difference only between the expenditure in 1866, and that contemplated for 1870, viz., $4,448, is to be taken from the speciali fund, a plan similar to that followed in the police estimates. 16. All these contributions to useful purposes entail a large expenditure. Nevertheles at the end of the current year, there will be more than $140,000 still remaining to the credit of the special fund, which will again commence rapidly to accumulate, unless the licence fees be considerably diminished, a policy which it would be difficult to justify;t it could only benefit the licensees. 17. Now, it is evident that no expenditure, so effective as that adverted to for suppression of crime, and the improvement, physical and moral, of the large population in our midst, can take place without reacting beneficially on this community generally Therefore, it may be said that the licensing system, by increasing the means Government to effect good, directly benefits the Colony. I leave, however, to others,” Page 345Page 346

2026-05-10 17:03:08 · Baseline

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326

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE

by every day's experience, is at present borne by the special fund. The erection of a telegraph round the island, and of additional police and telegraph stations-to complete: the guarded circuit so effectually as to render improbable future landings of such parties as attacked Sowkewan on the 18th of April last-may be similarly regarded as a reasonable charge on the fund for the suppression of crime.

12. Nevertheless, to prevent any diminution of the police-rates being effected by an unfair resort to the special fund, it has also been suggested that the Colony should always provide from its ordinary revenue the means of defraying the highest expenditure on its police incurred in any year preceding the licence system. That year was 1866, and the actual expenditure then on the Colonial police was in rouud numbers $120,000, an amount ascertained after deducting from the sum charged against police; several items improperly entered under that head-as, for example, lighting street lamps, $20,000, an item now placed under "miscellaneous." Therefore, $120,000 is the least sum for police which the Colony is bound to find from its own resources. At the same time, to promote police protection, and prevent an inconvenient accumulation of the licence fund, expenditure in excess of that amount, if approved by the Secretary of State, may be temporarily borne by the special fund.

13. 2ndly. You may assume that no application of the licence fund for any but the police purposes, already explained, will be permitted unless for the special benefit and improvement, physically, or morally of the Chinese population. The Council is aware that none but persons of Chinese or Malay origin, and that no females of my nation whatever, are now admitted into the licensed houses, whilst the licence fees have been proportionally reduced so as to compensate for such restrictions. Even foreign travellers are not permitted to visit the houses. The Chinese alone frequent them. Therefore, the fees, if used at all-and it would not be easy to justify a perpetual and unmeaning accumulation of them-ought apparently to be used only for purposes auxiliary to the original object of the experiment, viz., suppression of crime, or the special benefit of the race by whose peculiar infirmity that experiment was first necessitated and is now maintained.

14. The purposes, therefore, to which a portion of the special fund has been or may be devoted, are all in accordance with the above principles. Thus, extended means' education are afforded to the Chinese, such as new school-houses, a lecture-room at the central hall, apparatus for conducting experiments calculated to develop an interest' in practical and scientific knowledge, especially of a kind applicable to manufactures Assistance likewise in maintaining that useful corps, the Chinese watchmen, has been given, and more is promised; though, in proportion as it is assisted from without, the Chinese subscriptions for its support decline, so that ultimately I fear the corps must be dissolved, at least for a time. I might also enumerate an extended classification "of interpreters, and the employment, on a different system, of abler and better paid men in that capacity, so as to meet a hardship long complained of by the native population connection with our courts; a large contribution ($15,000) to the erection of the Chinese Hospital under Chinese management (but with due precautions); and a reimbursement to the IIarbour Master's Department for loss of revenue by abatement of fees hitherto exacted from Chinese vessels only. Even the expense of special sanitary improvements in the physical condition of the inhabitants of the Chinese quarter of the city, which might otherwise have been indefinitely postponed, will be facilitated by contributions from the same source.

15. In all those particulars, however, care is taken that the special fund shall contribute nothing, except for items over and above the Colony's ordinary previous expenditure, for which expenditure Her Majesty's Government is resolved that it shall raise an adequate local revenue. Thus, under the head of education, you will perceive that the expenditure having been increased, the difference only between the expenditure in 1866, and that contemplated for 1870, viz., $4,448, is to be taken from the speciali fund, a plan similar to that followed in the police estimates.

16. All these contributions to useful purposes entail a large expenditure. Nevertheles at the end of the current year, there will be more than $140,000 still remaining to the credit of the special fund, which will again commence rapidly to accumulate, unless the licence fees be considerably diminished, a policy which it would be difficult to justify;t it could only benefit the licensees.

17. Now, it is evident that no expenditure, so effective as that adverted to for suppression of crime, and the improvement, physical and moral, of the large population in our midst, can take place without reacting beneficially on this community generally Therefore, it may be said that the licensing system, by increasing the means Government to effect good, directly benefits the Colony. I leave, however, to others,”

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