Enclosure 1B
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, MARCH 26TH, 1891.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE INCREASED MILITARY CONTRIBUTION.
Hon. P. RYKIE - I beg, in accordance with notice given at the last meeting, on behalf of the unofficial members, to lay on the table a protest in order that our opinions may be recorded in the minutes of the Council, in accordance with precedent. I have also to move that a copy of the protest be forwarded to the Secretary of State. We reserve to ourselves the right to take such action on further consideration and developments of the question as may appear to us desirable.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD - Your Excellency, in rising to second the hon. member's motion, I wish to express my own protest against the attempt of your Excellency to shift the ground of the debate at the last meeting of Council, and also to protest against the apathy -
HIS EXCELLENCY - I beg your pardon. I must know in the first place what is the motion. Hon. P. RYKIE - That the protest be accepted by your Excellency and forwarded to the Secretary of State.
HIS EXCELLENCY - I think that is a matter for me simply to decide and not a matter for debate. It is a perfectly respectful protest, I presume.
Hon. P. RYKIE - I hope so.
HIS EXCELLENCY - If it is in terms not disrespectful to Her Majesty's Government it will be forwarded. Do you wish it to be published and entered on the minutes?
Hon. P. RYKIE - That is my desire.
HIS EXCELLENCY - Not having seen it before, I think it had better be read.
HIS EXCELLENCY then read the protest, which is as follows:-
We, the undersigned, the unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, desire to place on record our emphatic protest against the re-vote of the sum of $123,870.06 originally voted by this Council on the 26th day of March, 1890, as an addition to the military contribution payable by the colony for the year 1890, and which, not having been disbursed within the financial year, has necessarily been again submitted to the Council before payment can be constitutionally authorized or made.
We protest against this re-vote on the following among other grounds:-
1. That this addition to the military contribution was originally demanded on the sole ground that the garrison of the colony was about to be largely increased. No other grounds for the increase were even hinted at in the Secretary of State's despatch, and he goes so far as to explain how the additional amount demanded had been arrived at, solely by a comparison of the numbers of the then existing and of the intended future garrison.
2. That the additional military contribution was proposed in this Council, discussed and voted solely on the ground that an increased military force was required for the efficient defence of the colony, and that the amount asked for was reasonable in view of the proposed increase.
3. That, however deferentially the resolutions were worded, the additional military contribution was granted by this Council upon the faith of an express promise that the garrison should be increased and upon the condition that the money should not be demanded or paid unless there was an increase in the strength of the military forces stationed here, and in proportion to that increase.
4. That, as evidenced by the published despatches, the Officer Administering the Government and the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies accepted the vote as conditional and as based on the promise of and dependent on the presence of a largely increased garrison.
5. That, during the year 1890, there was no addition made to the strength of the force stationed in Hongkong; no preparations for such increase; no evidence of any real intention ever to grant the increase, and no reason is now assigned for the failure of Her Majesty's Government to keep the promise made to the colony.
6. That the promise not having been kept, the condition not having been observed, the vote fell to the ground and the non-payment of the money voted was just and proper and to be approved of by this Council.
7. That if Her Majesty's Government had frankly recognised the right of the Council to treat the vote of last year as inoperative for the reasons above stated and had applied to the Council for an additional military contribution for 1890, on general grounds and irrespective of any increase in the garrison, the unofficial members would have given every consideration to the appeal and would have impartially examined the question from the point of view presented by His Excellency the President in his address to the Council on the 19th March instant.
8. That this very proper and reasonable course has not been adopted; that the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies in his telegram and despatch of the 19th February last demands payment as of money due on the footing of the original vote; that the matter was brought before the Finance Committee of this Council as a re-vote and that all discussion was stifled and all time for consideration refused on the ground that it was only a re-vote and that further discussion, if not absolutely forbidden, was a mere waste of time; that the re-vote (carried in the Financial Committee simply by the casting vote of the Chairman) came before this Council for confirmation on the same footing, and that the unofficial members are within their right in refusing now to allow the vote to be supported on grounds other than those on which it was originally granted.
9. The unofficial members therefore protest against this re-vote, forced through Council in opposition to their views and to the views and opinions of the vast majority of the colonists, and they protest against the payment of the money so voted and against the action of the Imperial Government in demanding the money when the promises on the faith of which it was granted have not been fulfilled.
Legislative Council Chambers,
Hongkong, 19th March, 1891.
(Signed) P. RYKIE.
C. P. CHATER.
J. J. KESWICK.
HO KAI.
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
HIS EXCELLENCY - That is perfectly respectful and there can be no question as to its being forwarded.
361
Enclosure 1B
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, MARCH 26TH, 1991.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE INCREASED MILITARY CONTRIBUTION.
Hon. P. RYRI-I beg, in accordance with notice given at the last meeting, on behalf of the nnofficial members, to lay on the table a protest in order that our opinions may be recorded in the minutes of the Council, in accordance with precedent. I have also to move that a copy of the protest ba forwarded to the Secretary of State. We reserve to ourselves the right to take such action on further consideration and developments of the question as may appear to! us desirable.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Your Excellency, in rising to second the hon. member's motion, I wish to exproes my own protest against the al- tempt of your Excellency to shift the ground of the debate at last meeting of Council, and also i to protest against the apathy-
HIS EXCELLENCY-I beg your pardon. I must know in the first place what is the motion. Hon. P. BYRI-That the protest be accepted by your Excollency and forwarded to the Se- cretary of State.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I think that is a matter for me simply to decide and not a matter for debate. It is a perfectly respectful protest,
I presume
Hon. P. RYKIE-I hope so.
HIS EXCELLENCY-If it is in terms not dis- respectful to Her Majesty's Government it will be forwarded. Do you wish it to be published and entered on the minutes P
HOR. P. BYRIE-That is my desire.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Not having seen it before,
I think it had better bo read.
HIS EXCELLENCY then read the protest, which is as follows:-
We, the undersigned, the unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Hongkong, desire to place on record our emphatic protest against the re-vote of the sum of $123,870.06 originally voted by this Council on the 26th day of Maroh, 1890, as an addition to the military contríbation payable by the colony for the year 1890, and which, not having been disbursed within the financial year, has necessarily been again sub- mitted to the Council before payment can bo constitutionally authorized or made.
We protest against this re-vote on the follow- ing among other grounds:-
1.That this addition to the military contri bution was originally demanded on the sole ground that the garrison of the colony was about. to be largely increased. No other grounds for the increase were even hiuted at in tho Secretary of State's despatch, and he goes so far as to ex- plain how the additional amount demanded bad been arrived at, solely by a comparison of the numbers of the then existing and of the intend- ed future garrison.
2. That the additional military contribution was proposed in this Council, discussed and voted solely on the ground that an increased military force was required for the efficient defence of the colony, and that the amount asked for was rea- sonable in view of the proposed increase.
3.That, however deferentially the resolutions were worded, the additional military contribu- tion was granted by this Council upon the faith of an express promise that the garrison should be increased and upon the condition that the money should not be demanded or paid aaloss there was au increase in the strength of the military forces
statined
stationed here, and in proportion to that increase, į 4-That, as evidenced by the polished des- patches, the Officer Administering the Govern- ment and the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies accepted the vote as conditional and as based on the promise of and dependent on the presence of a largely increased garrison.
5.That, during the year 1890, there was no addition made to the strength of the force stationed in Hongkong; no preparations for such increase; no evidence of any real intention ever to grant the increase, and no reason is now assigued for the failure of Her Majesty's Go. vernment to keep the promise made to the colony, 6. That the promise not having been kept, the condition not having been observed, the vote fell to the ground and the non-payment of the money voted was just and proper and to he approved of by this Council.
7.That if Her Majesty's Government bad frankly recognised the right of the Council to treat the voto of last year as inoperative for the reasons above stated and had applied to the Council for an additional military cout.ibution for 1890, on general grounds and irrespectivo of any inercase in the garrison, the unofficial members would have given every consideration to the appeal and would hare impartially examined the question from the point of view presented by His Excellency the President in his address to the Council on the 19th March instant.
8.-That this very proper and reasonablo coarse has not been adopted; that the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies in bis telegram and despatch of the 19th February last demands payment as of money due on the footing of the original vote; that the matter was brought before the Finance Committee of this Council as a re-vote and that all discussion was stifled and all time for con- sideration refused on the ground that it was only a re-vote and that further discussion, if not absolutely forbidden, was a mere waste of time; that the re-vote (carried in the Financial Com-! mittes simply by the casting vote of the Chair- man, came before this Council for confirmation on the same footing, and that the unofficial members are within their right in refusing now to allow the vote to be supported on grounds other than those on which it was originally granted.
9-Tho unofficial members therefore protest against this re-vote, forced through Council in opposition to their views and to the views and opinions of the vast majority of the colonists, and they protest against the payment of the money so voted and against the action of the Imperial Government in demanding the money when tho promises on the faith of which it was granted have not been fulfilled.
Legislative Conucil Chambers,
Hongkong, 19th March, 1991.
(Signed) P. RYRIE.
C. P. CAATER.
J. J. KESWICK,
HO KAL
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
HIS EXCELLENCY-That is perfectly respect.
ful sad there can bo no question as to its being forwarded.
361
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