HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 619

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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941

we leave by itself.

DESINIA

shall not add "It" to "CAG USS

One of two of

1416 two of the works to which I refer I hope to be able to charge upon it, and therefore we may for all practical purposes deem it as a fair asset, but when I state the available assets to be $1,281,240 I take no account of the fund.

So far, gentlemen, for my estimate of revenue. Now with respect to expenditure. Some time ago, at the end of September, I gave to the Finance Committee the trouble of looking over the estimates of expenditure for 1878. It is not usual for a Governor to do so, but this being the first time I had to prepare the estimates for this Colony, I thought it well to be guided by their greater local experience, and accordingly the estimates came before them. The only minute I made for their guidance was that many applications had come to me for increases of salary, but I did not think it desirable to take them into my consideration, and accordingly I had no intention of having any additions made to the establishment charges of the Colony. However, I by no means object to the fact that the Finance Committee have, in a few cases, given trifling advances to some of the subordinate officers of the Colony. There is nothing of such importance under this head that I need call your attention to it. You have had the details before you since the 5th of September, and I can say this, that assuming you vote the establishment charges as approved by the Finance Committee, transmit them at the proper time to Lord Carnarvon, but the gentlemen who are recommended augmentations of salary will understand that no addition to the establishment charges can come into effect until I have received the sanction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Large, but as I have pointed out to you, a reproductive part of the expenditure of the Colony is that which relates to Public Works. This has been before the Finance Committee also, though but briefly. In connection with that expenditure, most of the items you are already familiar with, but dealing with them I have found it necessary to introduce, after consultation with my Council and on the suggestion of the Surveyor General, some items which are new. The maintenance of our Government Gardens and Plantations is, of course, not of itself new, but I think the time has come when the Colony should deal in a more comprehensive manner with the question of tree-planting. Something has undoubtedly been done in the preservation and planting of trees, but a great deal more remains to be done, and amongst the documents submitted to the Finance Committee by me is a valuable Report, dated 20th August, by the Surveyor General, in which he goes into the question of tree planting in the Colony. This Report will tell you what has been done, and it contains forecasts as to what would be the consequence of our proceeding at the present rate of planting, when we may expect to have the Colony properly planted at the present rate. Mr. PRICE's estimate