106
amounting
to £20,000 per annum.
It will be seen from the Correspondence which passed between the Lord Secretary of State for the Colonies and the then Governor Sir John Francis Davis in the year 1843 that it was supposed that Hong Kong possessed of that said Colony would yield an average surplus over expenditure of from £30,000 to £40,000 per annum. Those Estimates were found by said Governor to be fallacious and the result of the intervening experience has shown that the revenues of the Colony are barely sufficient to meet the expenditures exclusive of the military contribution referred to and it is now a question of imposing new taxes in order to maintain the balance of receipt and expenditure.
In the meantime the injury done to the Colony by straining it beyond its means by the imposition of still further taxation has been found to be very prejudicial to it, internally, and there is great reason to apprehend a withdrawal of many of the Chinese sojourners who had established themselves in the Island.
But upon referring to the Correspondence further it will be seen that it was not alone on the ground of the inadequacy of the revenues of Hong Kong to support the military contribution that the objection was urged against it. The attention of the late Secretary for the Colonies was also pointed to the circumstance that the troops for the maintenance of which this levy was imposed were not necessary for the purposes of the defence of Hong Kong but for the general object of protecting British interests in China.
It was urged upon the Colonial Secretary by the Governor that the troops in Hong Kong were sent out "because England's share in the Foreign Trade of China was estimated at over thirty millions sterling because that trade was mostly carried in British Vessels from the open Ports in China at some of which England had British Settlements and British subjects and because the presence of a small body of Troops somewhere near China and near India had an effect in averting difficulties while they formed a base of operation should misunderstanding arise."
For the year 1847 a Committee of the House of Commons reported in reference to Hong Kong that the burden of maintaining this which was rather a post for general influence and the protection of the general trade in the China Seas than a Colony in the ordinary sense should be thrown in any degree upon the merchants or other persons who might be resident upon "it". In like manner the Committee of the House of Commons which sat upon the question of military defence in the Colonies in 1860 included Hong Kong by implication among those Military posts in which Garrisons were maintained for objects altogether independent of and distinct from the defence of the particular Countries in which they are situated and the Committee expressed their opinion that these Garrisons were maintained without "reference to the wants and wishes of the inhabitants" they should be dealt with exceptionally and not be included in any general scheme of Colonial contribution.
#
"Colonial contribution –
106
amounting
to £20,000 per annum.
It will be men from the Correspondence wluči, koli picue between the lootd Sexetary of stecto for the Estories and the thon Governg Fir Services Webenson in the
feud 1343 strat that tax was sposal inter shid impressions
in flomishitij o and possessed of
that slid Colony
woonte
the
wtricly
yold an average surpind over expendihoid of from £30.000 to LH0000 per annumes- Hrose Estimates avere fonited ent
she live
by sad Governor to be falacione and they resect of the uitervernig experienced has slowry that the pevenues of the Colony are barclif soffricit to meet the expenditures exclousive of the
atlicitary contribution reforrect to and it is now a question of iniposing new Acvxes in adey le mantam the babuind of receipt and expenditore
In the mucanture the mijiry done to the Coloing by tuxnig it beyond its means
by
it appatiension of still purstier laxortion hus bem found to be very prejuctional to it. iiterasle, and there is great recuson
recesors to apprehend
a withdrenved of many of stue Chinese sof
Atereêranto vobre badj Establistunut ni the Island
ई
h cw well do Hae
But upon referring to the Correspondence
furster it will be seen Aliut it was not alone) in the ground of the indequacy of the revenued of Hong Kong to support
to support the esticitury Contribuitor that the objection was urged against it - Hið attentions of the late Secretary for the Coteined was also pomited to shif ciemuistance that the koope for the maniknand of which Aluo
Lavy
DVCA
tiposed f
were not necessary for the purposes of the defence of Hong Kong but for the general object of protecting British
interests in Anna.
Frade avers
It was urged upon the Colonial Secretary by the Governor that the hoops in Hong Kong, were sent out "bccarese) " England's share in the Foreign Trader of Clund weis " colinated at over" "Kurty millions storting because that
mostly carried
in British Vessels from thiet "oper Ports in Clima at carols of which England had Bidish Settlements and Buish subjects and because the " presence of a small body of Troops somewhere "Marer Cluna Hraw India had an effect in averting " difficulties while they formed a base of oporation of "misunderstanding should arive)
)
each
For Arc
year 1847.
a Committe of the House of Commands reported in reproved to Hang Thang Hati wand tight. that the braden of mankining this which was rather a "post for general influenced and the protection of the general "trade in the China Sears Mediva Colony in Mee ordinary. Mouse should be thrava in any degreed upon the retterchands or other persons who might be resident upon "it" _ In like manner the Committee of the Horuse ' of Commons which sat upon the question of mildery deferees in the Octonics in 1860 uicluded) Hong Kong by implication amary Mose, Military perks in vfuok Garrisons were
were maintained for objects altogether? independent of and distinct from the defence of The particular Countries is
Hey sihiate and Hee? Committer expressed their opinion trat 00 Hiese Garrisons were mankened without "teference to the winds and writies of the inhabitants "they should be dealt with exceptionally and "not" be included:
any general selvine of
#
"Colonial contribecher –
wlrich
WVCUE
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