10
November to a Committee of Her Majesty's advisers. But in the meantime, they are prepared to accept for two years the contribution of 40,000%. a-year recommended by the Committee, and accepted by the Secretary of State.
My Lords further consider that the arrangement should be strictly observed under which, in carrying out plans of defence, the Colony provides the works, and the Imperial Government the armaments. The Colony should therefore refund 9,0007, expended on aubmarine mining works.
Lastly, any excess of expenditure and the estimate upon new barracks should be equally divided between the Imperial and Colonial Governments.
11
The following table shows the recommendations of the Committee more clearly, on the basis of Sir L. Nicholson's confessedly very rough estimate.
Expenditure.
Mode of provision.
R. E. WELBY.
£
£
Cost of erecting additional buildings..
Cost of replacing North Barracks
212,000 | Proceeds of sale of North Barracks.. 140,000
50,000 Payment by Imperial Government (two-thirds of balance)
81,333
Payment by Colony (one-third of
balance)
40,667
262,000
262,000
T. No. 15171
89
Hong Kong
2
4279
LANDS.
Sir,
No. 7.
Treasury to War Office.
Treasury Chambers,
12th October, 1889. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury desire me to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. De la Bère's letter of the 18th ultimo," Gen. No. 2
2389
2
respecting the estimates of barrack and hospital accommodation
at coaling stations abroad, and more particularly at Hong Kong, the cost of which will be chargeable to the Imperial Defence Loan (Land).
My Lords will confine their remarks to the case of Hong Kong.
The Secretary of State for War explains that the estimate of 50,0001. at this station, is for certain of the more important services only, and that no complete estimate can be framed until my Lords have decided upon the sale of property proposed in Mr. Kuox's letter of the 9th January last; but he hopes that my Lords will approve of the estimate, as a provisional one.
My Lords request that the attention of the Secretary of State may be drawn to their letter of the 28th ultimo, in which further information was asked regarding the proposed sale of property, pending the receipt of which they must suspend their decision upon it. They would also refer to the last sentence of their letter of the same date to the Colonial Office, a copy of which accompanied the letter above mentioned, which shows that they are not prepared to sanction any estimate of the cost of erecting barrack and hospital buildings at Hong Kong, unless it be on the understanding that not less than one-half of such cost is to be borne by the Colony.
Until this understanding has been arrived at, my Lords must withhold their approval of even the provisional estimate of 50,0001.
My Lords would take this opportunity of correcting paragraph 10 of their letter to the Colonial Office above referred to, relating to barracks at Hong Kong. That paragraph speaks of the site of the new barracks which will have to be erected if the North Barracks are sold to the Colony, as estimated to cost 50,000l. But this is really Sir Lothian Nicholson's estimate of the cost of building these new barracks, apart from cost of site, the presumption being that the site will be provided free by the Colony. Again that paragraph supposes that Sir A. Haliburton's Committee recommended that the Imperial Government should pay only two-thirds of 72,000, whilst in fact that Com- mittee recommend (sic) that the Imperial Government should pay two-thirds of whatever the barracks may cost, after applying to them the proceeds of the land to be sold to the Colony, such excess cost being estimated at 122,000, though it might prove to be more.
* Not here printed.
† No. 26.
Enclosure in No. 26.
My Lords have no objection to offer to the proposed application of the proceeds of barrack property towards the provision of new barracks; but they object to the apportionment of the balance of cost recommended by the Committee. That apportionment was grounded on the fact that the cost of the Hong Kong fortifications of 1884-89 has been roughly divided in like manner. But the latter division is very different from what had been originally intended, and, in my Lords opinion, affords an unfair criterion for dividing future expendi ture. As stated therefore in their letter to the Colonial Office, they must ask that the Colony should contribute not less than one-half of the balance of cost whatever it may be.
They understand that "erection of buildings" includes first outfit of furniture, and that all sites are to be provided for by the Colony, so far as new ones have to be acquired at all.
FRANK MOWATT,
CONTRIBUTION AND LANDS.
No. 8.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street,
Sir,
17th October, 1889. I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for War, copy of a letter which has been addressed to the Treasury respecting the Hong Kong Military Contribution, in reply to their letter of the 28th September*, which is understood to have been communicated to the War Office.
Lord Knutsford would be obliged if he can be informed whether a more complete estimate has yet been made of the cost of the new barracks, and generally to be informed of the position in which the question of their con- struction now stands. His Lordship would also observe that whatever estimate is finally made, must necessarily form the basis of the demand upon the Colony, for it cannot be expected that the Colony will consent to provide more than the sum which is first asked for, or to allow that sum to be increased at the will of the military authorities, in whose arrangements it will have no voice or control.
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Enclosure in No. 8. Colonial Office to the Treasury.
Downing Street,
Sir,
13191
17th October, 1889. I am directed by Lord Knutsford to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 28th of September, respecting the Hong Kong Military Contributions,* in
88
* Enclosure in No. 6.
179
40248 157
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.