CO129-115 - Sir MacDonnell - 1866 [9-10] — Page 116

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

F

115

the experiment of Bombay recruiting (though quite called for) has proved a failure as an experiment) has proved and that some other Expedient must be devised for organizing an efficient force- In the Bombay men the vice of Extortion was notorious and ingrained, and with a native body (Chinese) I fear the same results - Europeans of course cannot stand the climate especially with the grievous habit of intemperance to which they are almost invariably prone - At the same time I must state that Mr May, whose experience on this point is entitled to great weight and authority, differs from me in opinion, and thinks the Bombay experiment not fairly tried, while he condemns the proposal to try a new Chinese force-

Finance

However I am aware that this matter engages Your Excellency's attention, and I only allude to it here, as a review of the condition of Hongkong would be incomplete without touching on the much discussed question of Police efficiency.

As to its financial position the Colony has no cause to feel depressed. It is true that the large surplus Balance is being gradually diminished but with the Military contribution and the enormous Military Expenditure this is not to be wondered at. With some curtailment (undesirable I admit) in the Public Works and in some minor directions the Revenue of Hongkong should always meet the expenditure after the two heavy items just mentioned shall be...

20%

Edit History

2026-05-19 11:31:47 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
F 115 the experiment of Bombay recruiting (though quite called for) has proved a failure as an experiment) has proved and that some other Expedient must be devised for organizing an efficient force- In the Bombay men the vice of Extortion was notorious and ingrained, and with a native body (Chinese) I fear the same results - Europeans of course cannot stand the climate especially with the grievous habit of intemperance to which they are almost invariably prone - At the same time I must state that Mr May, whose experience on this point is entitled to great weight and authority, differs from me in opinion, and thinks the Bombay experiment not fairly tried, while he condemns the proposal to try a new Chinese force- Finance However I am aware that this matter engages Your Excellency's attention, and I only allude to it here, as a review of the condition of Hongkong would be incomplete without touching on the much discussed question of Police efficiency. As to its financial position the Colony has no cause to feel depressed. It is true that the large surplus Balance is being gradually diminished but with the Military contribution and the enormous Military Expenditure this is not to be wondered at. With some curtailment (undesirable I admit) in the Public Works and in some minor directions the Revenue of Hongkong should always meet the expenditure after the two heavy items just mentioned shall be... 20%
Baseline (Original)
F 115 the experiment of Bombay recruiting (though quite called for a failure as an experiment) has proved and that some others Expedient must be devised for organizing a. efficient force- In the Bombay men the vice of Extortion was notorious and incradicable, and with a native body (Chinese) I fear the same results - Emopeans of course cannot Stand the climate especially with the grievous habit of intemper ance to which they almost invariably prone - At the same time I must state that Mr May, whose experience on this point are entitled to and authority me in opinion, all weight. differs from are and thinks the Bombay experiment not fairly tried, while he condemns the proposal to try mna more a chinew force- Finance However I am aware that this matter Ingages Your Excellency's attention, and Ionly allude to it here, as a review of the condition of Honghing would be incomplete without touching on the much discussed question of Police efficiency. Colmy As to its financial position the has no cause to feel deprefsed. It is time that the large surplus Balance is being gradually diminished but with the Military contribution and the enormous Minh Expenditure this is not to be wondered at with some curtailment ( undesirable I admit) in the Public Works and in some minor directions the Revenue of Honghong. should always meet the expenditure after the two heavy items just mentioned shall 20%
2026-05-19 11:31:47 · Baseline
View content

F

115

the experiment of Bombay recruiting (though

quite called for

a failure

as an

experiment) has proved

and that some others Expedient

must be devised for organizing

a.

efficient

force- In the Bombay men the vice of Extortion was notorious and incradicable, and with a native body (Chinese) I fear the same results - Emopeans of course cannot Stand the climate especially with the grievous

habit of intemper

ance to which they almost invariably prone - At the same time I must state that Mr May, whose experience

on this point

are entitled to and authority

me in opinion, all weight. differs from

are

and thinks the Bombay experiment not fairly tried, while he condemns the

proposal to try

mna more a

chinew force-

Finance

However I am aware that this matter Ingages

Your Excellency's attention, and Ionly allude

to it here,

as a review of the condition of Honghing would be incomplete without touching on the much discussed question of Police

efficiency.

Colmy

As to its financial position the

has

no cause to feel deprefsed.

It is time that the large surplus Balance

is being gradually diminished but with the Military contribution and the enormous Minh Expenditure this is not to be wondered

at with some curtailment ( undesirable I admit) in the Public Works and in some minor directions the Revenue of Honghong.

should always meet the expenditure after the two heavy items just mentioned shall

20%

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.