2
at Hong Kong from about 160,0001. to 280,0001. a-year. The cost of the additional barracks at Hong Kong is estimated at no less than 212,000l., but as a set-off it is proposed to surrender to the Colonial Government certain valuable sites in the city of Victoria, including the North Barracks at a valuation, and to devote the proceeds of the sites towards the cost of new barracks. If this course be adopted, it is calculated that the barracks will cost 262,000l. less, say 140,0001, the value of the North Barracks site, leaving a balance of 122,0007. as the net cost of the additional barracks. The Com- mittee on Colonial Contributions recommend that one-third of the final cost should be borne by the Colonial, and two-thirds by the Imperial Government. Mr. Stanhope strongly recommends that the sites in question should be handed over to the Colony at a valuation, instead of this department undertaking their sale. The charge to Imperial funds on this account will be provided for in the Imperial Defence Bill. Mr. Stanhope would beg an early decision on this question, as, in the absence of authority to incur the expenditure, all work on the barracks is at a stand-still, and until they are provided the garrison of Hong Kong must remain considerably below the strength considered essential to its defence. It is also important that this department should have the early decision of the Government as to the addition to the garrison of a battalion of British Infantry.
The Committee on Colonial Contributions, in addition to their recommen- dation as to the incidence of the cost of barracks above referred to, propose that the annual contribution of the Colony towards the cost of its garrison, which has stood at 20,0001. a-year since 1865, should be increased to 40,0007, a-year; and they point out that this increase will not augment the proportion of charge to revenue adopted in 1865.
The Secretary of State recommends these proposals for the approval of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, and for authority to include the necessary provision in the Estimates of 1889-90.
It is important, both in the case of Hong Kong and Singapore, that the questions affecting the expenditure should be settled at an carly date, in order that they may make the requisite provision in their Budgets--the Colonial financial year commencing on 1st January next.
R. H. KNOX.
3
point out the inconvenience of moving the Treasury to accept a scheme affecting Colonial finances, without consulting the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Lord Knutsford will now consider the report enclosed in your letter, and will address a further communication to the War Department at an early date.
R. H. MEADE.
No 4.
CONTRIBUTION.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
Sir,
40248
21st September, 1888. of the 13th ultimo," and to the With reference to your letter, No. 40 letter from this department of the 18th ultimo, on the subject of the Hong Kong Military Contribution, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to request you to inform Mr. Secretary Stanhope that, having now examined this question, his Lordship is happy to concur in the recommendations of the Committee on Colonial Military Contributions, and that on learning that the Lords Com- missioners of the Treasury agree, he will be prepared to recommend the proposed arrangement to the Colonial Legislature.
2. It might, however, be desirable, for the reasons stated in the 6th paragraph of the letter from this department of even date, to defer bringing this question before the Hong Kong Legislative Council, until the whole of the promised armament is received in the Colony.
3. A copy of this letter has been communicated to the Treasury.
R. H. MEADE,
175
40248 49
40248
40
No. 2.
CONTRIBUTION.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office,
Sir,
13th August, 1888. I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transinit, for Lord Knutsford's information, a copy of a letter dated 6th instant from this office to the Treasury, enclosing the report and recommendations of the Committee on the subject of the Hong Kong Colonial Military Contribution.
CONTRIBUTION.
Sir,
THOS, C. B. CAVE.
(For Enclosure, see No. 1.)
No. 3.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
18th August, 1888. I am directed by Lord Knutsford to acknowledge the receipt of your
40248 letter of the 13th instant, No, transmitting a copy of the report of the
40 Committee on the Hong Kong Military Contribution, together with a copy of a letter which you had addressed to the Treasury on the subject; and I am to
LANDS.
No. 5.
War Office to Treasury.
War Office,
2 4123
Sir,
9th January, 1889. With reference to the sum of 350,0007, provided in the Imperial Defence Hong Kong Act, 1888, for barracks at coaling stations in aid of the sums to be contributed by the Colonies, and also of the proceeds of the sale of lands belonging to the Government at the various stations, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, that at Hong Kong there is much property which is held by the War Department in the town of Victoria, which is very valuable, and also that as the place is rapidly increasing, and building sites are very restricted, the Colonial authorities are anxious that the War Department should consent to sell as much of their property as can be spared from military requirements: The proposed disposition of the increased garrison will admit of this being done to a limited extent, and though a certain amount of accommodation will be lost thereby, the land is so valuable that the proceeds of the sales will far more than suffice to reprovide that accommodation, thus leaving a substantial balance to go towards erecting the additional accommodation required for the increased garrison.
* No. 2.
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