Deinater P.52 $41849
Inclosure in
120
CONFIDENTIAL.
a
Juolel
Cupitied to the Civil frziument
Requisition for Stationery to be
fornyhow, to the year, $45–50. –
7# May 1849-
Original bruund Military
to be returned when Coltran
Governor Bonham to Earl Grey.-(Received July 7, 1849.)
(No. 53. Financial.) My Lord,
Victoria, Hong Kong, May 23, 1849. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of despatch, No. 83, of the 19th December last, informing me that your Lordship's attention had been attracted by the large and continued amount of the expenditure of Hong Kong, and directing me to enquire into the expenditure of the island in all its various branches, civil, military, and naval, and to make a report thereon, whether by improved arrangements and more effectual co-operation between the branches of the public service, the heavy charges at present incurred may not be reduced.
2. In my despatch, No. 104, of the 26th December, 1848, I advised your Lordship that I had already reduced the civil establishments to 31,447l. showing a saving of 3,340l, to take effect from the first of this year, and in a separate despatch of 27th December, I offered certain suggestions for further future reductions as vacancies occurred.
3. In despatch, No. 10, of 25th January last, I stated my opinion of the force that appeared to me to be necessary to ensure the internal tranquillity of the colony, and proposed a reduction of 14,410l. 8s. 3d. annually.
4. The Naval Establishment for China is fixed at-
1 Frigate at Hong Kong.
1 Steamer ditto.
1 Brig of War at Whampoa.
1 ditto at Amoy.
1 ditto at Ningpo.
1 ditto at Shanghae.
This establishment is quite ample for all purposes whatever; and if we could only be certain that the force stationed at Hong Kong would always be available, the military department would possibly be susceptible of even further reduction.
5. To enable me to comply with the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch, I addressed Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Collier, the Naval Commander-in-chief, on the subject generally, and suggested that the naval force ordinarily stationed here might be supplied with provisions by the army commissariat, and such munitions of war as the vessels on the coast might require, by the Ordnance department; and requested to know whether, with the exception of coals and spars, &c., and items of this description, which could be easily housed on shore, the "Minden," the hulk of a 74 gun ship lying in the harbour, would not be sufficient to hold all the other stores of a purely naval description.
[191]
B
Deinater P.52 $41849
Inclosure in
120
CONFIDENTIAL.
a
Juolel
Cupitied to the Civil frziument
Requisition for Stationery to be
fornyhow, to the year, $45–50. –
7# May 1849-
Original bruund Military
to be returned when Coltran
Governor Bonham to Earl Grey.-(Received July 7, 1849.)
(No. 53. Financial.) My Lord,
Victoria, Hong Kong, May 23, 1849. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of despatch, No. 83, of the 19th December last, informing me that your Lordship's attention had been attracted by the large and continued amount of the expenditure of Hong Kong, and directing me to enquire into the expenditure of the island in all its various branches, civil, military, and naval, and to make a report thereon, whether by improved arrangements and more effectual co-operation between the branches of the public service, the heavy charges at present incurred may not be reduced.
2. In my despatch, No. 104, of the 26th December, 1848, I advised your Lordship that I had already reduced the civil establishments to 31,4471. showing a saving of 3,3401, to take effect from the first of this year, and in a separate despatch of 27th December, I offered certain suggestions for further future reductions as vacancies occurred.
3. In despatch, No. 10, of 25th January last, I stated my opinion of the force that appeared to me to be necessary to ensure the internal tranquillity of the colony, and proposed a reduction of 14,410%. 8s. 3d. annually.
4. The Naval Establishment for China is fixed at-
1 Frigate at Hong Kong.
1 Steamer ditto.
1 Brig of War at Whampoa.
I ditto
1 ditto
ditto
at Amoy.
at Ningpo.
at Shanghae.
This establishment is quite ample for all purposes whatever; and if we could only be certain that the force stationed at Hong Kong would always be available, the military department would possibly be susceptible of even further reduction.
5. To enable me to comply with the instructions contained in your Lord- ship's despatch, I addressed Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Collier, the Naval Com- Enclosure No. 1, mander-in-chief, on the subject generally, and suggested that the naval force page 8. ordinarily stationed here might be supplied with provisions by the army com- missariat, and such munitions of war as the vessels on the coast might require, by the Ordnance department; and requested to know whether, with the exception of coals and spars, &c., and items of this description, which could be easily housed on shore, the "Minden," the hulk of a 74 gun ship lying in the harbour, would not be sufficient to hold all the other stores of a purely naval description.
[191]
B
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