CO129-055 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [3-5] — Page 57

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

the mily portion of the public Revenue with which the Legislative Council is concerned is the Police Rate, which meets about half the Police expenses, the Crown funds supplying the deficiency. I have been particular in drawing attention to this, as it is a powerful argument against the necessity of further opening the Legislative Council to the public.

The experiment made by the late Governor a few years ago has in my opinion entirely failed, and justified my prediction at the time of its proposal!

And I state this without the most remote intention to insinuate remissness or any other fault to the two honourable gentlemen, Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, but the simple fact is that they have their business, as Merchants, to attend to, and the conduct of this is naturally of far more importance to them than the business of the Council or the general interest of the Colony.

At the same time I see nothing obstructive or prejudicial in the presence of two Unofficial members, and as the step has been taken I would not revoke it, but I would not enlarge the number, or at any rate go beyond three.

More especially when consideration is given to what I have stated above with reference to the small portion of the Colonial Revenue with which the Council has to deal.

As regards then the filling up of vacancies as they occur (and one has already occurred, de Colonial Regulations, cap. II, 1·7), I would adopt Jane Auch...

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545

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the mily portion of the public Revenue with which the Legislative Council is concerned is the Police Rate, which meets about half the Police expenses, the Crown funds supplying the deficiency. I have been particular in drawing attention to this, as it is a powerful argument against the necessity of further opening the Legislative Council to the public. The experiment made by the late Governor a few years ago has in my opinion entirely failed, and justified my prediction at the time of its proposal! And I state this without the most remote intention to insinuate remissness or any other fault to the two honourable gentlemen, Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, but the simple fact is that they have their business, as Merchants, to attend to, and the conduct of this is naturally of far more importance to them than the business of the Council or the general interest of the Colony. At the same time I see nothing obstructive or prejudicial in the presence of two Unofficial members, and as the step has been taken I would not revoke it, but I would not enlarge the number, or at any rate go beyond three. More especially when consideration is given to what I have stated above with reference to the small portion of the Colonial Revenue with which the Council has to deal. As regards then the filling up of vacancies as they occur (and one has already occurred, de Colonial Regulations, cap. II, 1·7), I would adopt Jane Auch... Page 7 545 has been removed as it seems to be a page number or an unrelated number, and the text has been formatted into paragraphs using HTML as per the instructions. The original text has been corrected for spelling errors, spacing issues, and reordered where necessary to form coherent sentences and paragraphs. Markdown formatting has not been used in the output as per the instructions.
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C 4 the mily portion of the public Rorene with which the Legislative Comeil is concerned in the Police Rate, which meets about half the Police expences, the Crown funds supplying the deficiency. I have been portionlor in drowing attention to this, as it is on fenverful_ argument orgoninst the recessity of further opening the Legislative Caineil_ to the public. The experiment made by the Genge Bamban fix years ago how sim M opinion entirely fouled, and justified my preciation at the time of its protreat ! prohimal! And I love this without the most remote intention to sinfinte remisoness or Any otter fault to the two honorable + gentlemen, smofficial Members of the "Legislative Conseil, but the simple fout is that they have their business, our + 7 Merchants, to attend to, and the 545 ennduct of this is nexturally of for More ture importance to them than the business of the Cameil on the general interest of the Orlony. At the same time I die nothing obstructive or prejudicial in the presence of two Muofficial__ members, and as the step how been taken I would not revoke it, but I would not bulage the pumber, or at any rate go beyond Hrce More expecially when Consideration is given to what I have stated above with reference to the small portion of the Corlonial Revenue with which the brusit how to disk. As regards then the fitting up ther scate as pacancies reeur (and me already recant, de bolonial Regulations, cap. II 1·7), I would adopt Jane Auch :
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C

4

the mily portion of the public Rorene with which the Legislative Comeil is concerned in the Police Rate, which meets about half the Police expences, the Crown funds supplying the deficiency. I have been portionlor in drowing attention to this, as it is on fenverful_ argument orgoninst the recessity of further opening the Legislative Caineil_ to the public.

The experiment made by the Genge Bamban fix years ago

how sim M opinion entirely fouled, and justified my preciation at the time of its protreat ! prohimal!

And I love this without the most remote intention to sinfinte remisoness or Any otter fault to the two honorable + gentlemen, smofficial Members of the "Legislative Conseil, but the simple fout is that they have their business, our

+

7

Merchants, to attend to, and the

545

ennduct of this is nexturally of for

More

ture importance to them than the business of the Cameil on the general interest of the Orlony.

At the same time I die nothing obstructive or prejudicial in the presence of two Muofficial__ members, and as the step how been taken I would not revoke it, but I would not bulage the pumber, or at any rate go beyond

Hrce

More

expecially

when Consideration is given to what I have stated above with reference to the small portion of the Corlonial Revenue with which the brusit how to disk.

As regards then the fitting up ther

scate as pacancies reeur (and me

already recant, de bolonial Regulations, cap. II 1·7), I would adopt Jane Auch

:

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