707
The Council recognized the justice of the demand, and promptly voted the increase on the condition and in the belief that the proposed increase in the strength of the Troops stationed here is essentially necessary for the safety of the Colony, and with the full assurance that the force mentioned in the Appendix to the Secretary of State's Despatch of 20th January last, viz. :-3,018 men of all ranks, of whom 2,525 to be Europeans, would be present in the Colony within the year and will be retained here.
In the above Colonial Office Despatch Lord KNUTSFORD distinctly informs the War Office that the Colony cannot be expected to pay its proportion of the extra cost of the increased Garrison until the additional troops have been provided. No extra or additional troops have been provided during the year 1890, therefore no additional expense has been incurred. Yet we are called upon to vote the increased contribution through the Council and in spite of the fact that circumstances have in no way changed since the date of the above Colonial Office Despatch to the War Office was penned.
Such an arbitrary proceeding is not only unjust but is calculated to bring about a constitutional crisis. There has been no unwillingness on the part of the Colony to bear its share of the burdens imposed by the Imperial Government. In the present instance a distinct promise was made to increase the Garrison of the Colony, no increase has been made, but payment of an additional contribution is demanded while no increased expenditure has been incurred. We consider the Colony should not be called upon for any extra vote until the War Office have carried out their promise to increase the Garrison.
The resolutions bearing on this subject and agreed to unanimously by the Official and Un-Official Members of the Council are as follows:--
The Honourable P. RYRIE then moved the following resolutions :--
1. That this Council, while recognising the justice and fairness of the demand made upon the Colony for an addition to the Military Contribution, desires to place upon record the fact that the vote authorising the additional payment has been passed by the unanimous voice of the Members, Official and Un-Official, in the belief that the proposed increase in the strength of the troops stationed here is essentially necessary for the safety of the Colony and with the full assurance that the force mentioned in the append to the Secretary of State's despatch of the 20th January, 1890, 3,018 men of all ranks, of whom 2,525 are to be Europeans, will be present in the Colony within the year, and will be retained here.
2.—“ It is the unanimous hope of this Council that as the additional moneys voted have been asked for and granted as the Colony's contribution to an increased garrison and principally, if not entirely because of the proposed increase, no demand will be made by the Imperial Government for the payment thereof until the strength of the garrison has actually been raised to the full extent of the figures in the Secretary of State's despatch and that, if any additional payment is demanded before that point has been reached, it should be proportional to such increase as shall from time to time be made in the force stationed in the Colony.”
3. That in the opinion of this Council the attention of the Secretary of State should be directed to the fact to which no reference is made in Lord KNUTSFORD's despatch of the 20th January, 1890, that the Military Departments are in the occupation of rather more than 337 acres of land in this Colony, of which 84 acres are in the City of Victoria, that these 84 acres are situate in the very centre of the town and are, at the very lowest, of the value of Three millions of Dollars representing a revenue in the shape of Crown Rents and Taxes of $50,000 a year lost to the Colony, and that this being so it is earnestly hoped that no further demand will be made on the Colony in respect of Barrack Expenditure, referred to in paras. 20, 21 and 22 of the despatch above-mentioned, at all events unless the land in the centre of the town be given up by the Military Authorities, as has been suggested, in exchange for other sites nearer the batteries.
4.- That His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government be requested to forward a copy of these Resolutions to the Secretary of State with a view to their being laid before Her Majesty's Government.
"The Honourable A. P. MACEWEN seconded."
"The following Members addressed the Council:--Honourable P. RYRIE, Honourable A. P. MACEWEN, and the Treasurer."
"His Excellency addressed the Council.”
(Signed),
P. RYRIE.
C. P. CHATER.
J. J. KESWICK.
HO KAI, M.B., C.M.
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hongkong, 1st December, 1890.
64
Question-put and resolutions agreed to.
The Colonial Office Despatch of 23rd May last to the War Office, para. 3 reads :-
"As regards the second Resolution, Lord KNUTSFORD considers that when the increased garrison has been supplied, the Colony may be expected to pay its proportion of the cost, viz. £40,000 per annum, provided there is no very large deficiency of men at any time, but as the basis of the present demand is the provision of additional troops, his Lordship thinks there is reason in the contention of the Legislative Council that they should not pay the increased contribution until the troops are provided.”
5 of same Despatch reads:---
"Lord KNUTSFORD desires me to add that the liberal manner in which the Un-Official Members of the Hongkong Legislature have met the demands of the Imperial Government, has enabled a constitutional crisis to be averted, and it will in his Lordship's opinion be politic to make any concession which may be possible to meet their views.”
44
120
707
The Council recognized the justice of the demand, and promptly voted the increase on the con
In the above Colonial Office Despatch Lord KNUTSFORD distinctly informs the War Office that
dition and in the belief that the proposed increase in the strength of the Troops stationed here the Colony cannot be expected to pay its proportion of the extra cost of the increased Garrison until
essentially necessary for the safety of the Colony, and with the full assurance that the force mention in the Appendix to the Secretary of State's Despatch of 20th January last, viz. :-3,018 men bank, of whom 2,525 to be Europeans, would be present in the Colony within the year and Wcreased contribution through the Council and in spite of the fact that circumstances have in no way
the additional troops have been provided. No extra or additional troops have been provided during
the year 1890, therefore no additional expense has been incurred. Yet we are called upon to vote the
be retained here.
The resolutions bearing on this subject and agreed to unanimously by the Official and Un-Officia Members of the Council are as follows:--
The Honourable P. RYRIE then moved the following resolutions :--
changed since the date of the above Colonial Office Despatch to the War Office was penned.
Such an arbitrary proceeding is not only unjust but is calculated to bring about a constitutional crisis. There has been no unwillingness on the part of the Colony to bear its share of the burdens imposed by the Imperial Government. In the present instance a distinct promise was made to increase the Garrison of the Colony, no increase has been made, but payment of an additional contribution is demanded while no increased expenditure has been incurred. We consider the Colony should not be
1. That this Council, while recognising the justice and fairness of the demand made upon called upon for any extra vote until the War Office have carried out their promise to increase the
Garrison.
"the Colony for an addition to the Military Contribution, desires to place upon record "the fact that the vote authorising the additional payment has been passed by th "unanimous voice of the Members, Official and Un-Official, in the belief that the proposed Government in increasing the Military Contribution from the Colony before any increase has been made "increase in the strength of the troops stationed here is essentially necessary for the
We, the Un-official Members, jointly and severally protest against the action of Her Majesty's safety of the Colony and with the fall assurance that the force mentioned in the append to the Garrison, and we request your Excellency to forward these Addenda to Lord KNUTSFORD, so that to the Secretary of State's despatch of the 20th January, 1890, 8,018 men of all real His Lordship may see that the pledges of the Imperial Government in regard to providing additional "of whom 2,523 are to be Europeans, will be present in the Colony within the year, and troops are adhered to in their entirety before the Colony is asked to pay an increased contribution.
"will be retained here."
2.—“ It is the unanimous hope of this Council that as the additional moneys voted have been
"asked for and granted as the Colony's contribution to an increased garrison and princi "pally, if not entirely because of the proposed increase, no demand will be made by the Imperial Government for the payment thereof until the strength of the garrison has actually been raised to the full extent of the figures in the Secretary of State's despatch and that, if any additional payment is demanded before that point has been reached, "should be proportional to such increase as shall from time to time be made in the force "stationed in the Colony."
2+
3. That in the opinion of this Council the attention of the Secretary of State should be "directed to the fact to which no reference is made in Lord KNUTSFORD's despatch of the "20th January, 1890, that the Military Departments are in the occupation of rather more “than 337 acres of land in this Colony, of which 84 acres are in the City of Victoria that these 84 acres are situate in the very centre of the town and are, at the very lowest, "of the value of Three millions of Dollars representing a revenue in the shape of Crown "Rents and Taxes of $50,000 a year lost to the Colony, and that this being so it is earnestly hoped that no further demand will be made ou the Colony in respect of Barrack 'Expenditure, referred to in paras. 20, 21 and 22 of the despatch above-mentioned, at all
inf
" events unless the land in the centre of the town be given up by the Military Authorities,
as has been suggested, in exchange for other sites nearer the batteries."
66
4.- That His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government be requested to forward
"a copy of these Resolutions to the Secretary of State with a view to their being laid "before Her Majesty's Government.'
"The Honourable A. P. MACEWEN seconded."
"The following Members addressed the Council:--Honourable P. RYRIE, Honourable A. P.
MACEWEN, and the Treasurer."
"His Excellency addressed the Council.”
(Signed),
(
P. RYRIE.
C. P. CHATER.
(
).
J. J. KESWICK.
(
},
HO KAI, M.B., C.M.
(
},
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hongkong, 1st December, 1890.
64
Question-put and resolutions agreed to."
The Colonial Office Despatch of 23rd May last to the War Office, para. 3 reads :~
and
para.
"As regards the second Resolution, Lord KNUTSFORD considers that when the increased 'garrison has been supplied, the Colony may be expected to pay its proportion of the
*
ረ፡
cost, viz. £40,000 per annum, provided there is no very large deficiency of men at any
time, but as the basis of the present demand is the provision of additional troops, his Lordship thinks there is reason in the contention of the Legislative Council that they "should not pay the increased contribution until the troops are provided.”
5 of same Despatch reads:---
"Lord KNUTSFORD desires me to add that the liberal manner in which the Un-Official "Members of the Hongkong Legislature have met the demands of the Imperial Govern- ment, has enabled a constitutional crisis to be averted, and it will in his Lordship's
FL
44
opinion be politic to make any concession which may be possible to meet their views.,
120
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.