CO129-249 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [1-5] — Page 647

641

time is very limited for

making

the

arrangements

which will be

will be neees.

necessary

if the present intention is carried out, I should be

Dan

hold

glad to hear by telegraph if Your Lordship out any hope of the reversal of the decision which has been given in this matter.

I have the honour to be,

My Lord, Your Lordship's most Obedient

Humble Servant,

GB2gb Barker

To Her Most Gracious Majesty

The Queen, Empress of India

etc., etc..

May it please your Majesty.

etc.

THE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED RESIDENTS OF HONGKONG,

Sheweth

That whereas a former Secretary of State for the Colonies, in a despatch dated the 12th July, 1881, announced to the then Governor of the Colony that the system of grants for ecclesiastical purposes in this Colony would be gradually discontinued as the offices of the present recipients became vacant;

And whereas your Petitioners are firmly convinced that it would be injurious to the welfare of the Colony that this step should be taken ;

at

Vour Petitioners humbly beg that the decision which has been arrived may be reconsidered, and that the Church of England as here established may con- tinue in the enjoyment of the moderate endowment which has hitherto been provided by the State, for the following reasons:-

1. Because the same reasons which existed for rescinding the decision to withdraw the Government Grant for Ecclesiastical purposes in the Straits Settlements-a Crown Colouy like Hongkong-obtain now in this Colony,

2. Because there are certain offices, often of immediate necessity, such as religious attendance upon the destituto sick, marriages, burials (always pressing in this climate), the management of charities and distribution of charitable funds, for the performance of which no one could be held responsible except a clergyman supported out of public funds.

3. Because the Gaol and Hospital always coutain inmates to whose religious wants, in the absence of a clergyman deputed to visit them, there would in many cases be no one to administer.

4. Because the Chinese, who contribute at least nine-tenths of the revenue of the Colony, have no objections to the continuance of grants for ecclesiastical purposes.

5. Because the Chinese, though not availing themselves in large numbers of the services provided by such grants, have for their part been endowed out of public funds with a hospital exclusively devoted to themselves, have had a liberal education placed within their reach at a merely nominal charge and enjoy many other concessions involving an outlay estimated to be not far short of $1,320,000, while many temple sites are held by them free or at a merely nominal Crown Rent.

6. Because the expenses in connection with the support of a clergyman, clerk, &c.,

not salaried by Government would fall for the most part on the shoulders of officials and heads of firms numbering under a hundred, each of whom would thus be called upon to contribute a large annual sum in order to sustain the services of the Church of England in the Colony.

7. Because in the case of many officials such a contribution would be out of the question, whilst it would prove a large additional tax upon non-officials to whom constant appeals are being made on behalf of religion and charity,

CO-

1957/81

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