CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891 — Page 193

190

32

objection to the scheme, as regards his department, in the fact that the anchorage for ships in the neighbourhood of Causeway Bay is not satis- factory. As, however, the ships could remain at their present anchorage, it would seem that the inconvenience arising from the increased distance between them and the Naval Yard, would be nearly balanced by the advantage of decreased distance between them and the torpedo and other establishments, now located in Kowloon, and altogether outweighed by the aggregate benefits of a scheme, which includes the provision of more commodious buildings, an Admiral's house (which is very much required), a club house for the Army and Navy, &c.

4. Even, however, if this view is not accepted by the Lords of the Admiralty, which Lord Knutsford would very much regret, the principle object of the scheme might be obtained, even though the Naval Yard and the other Admiralty establishments be left in their present position; for, on the abandonment of the present military property, it would be easy to increase the width of Queen's Road, or to construct another road at the back of it.

5. Lord Knutsford hopes that carly and favourable consideration will be given to the contents of this letter, and that if General Edwards has not yet reported on the subject he may be asked to do so.

A similar letter has been addressed to the Admiralty.

As far as the War Department is concerned, the scheme would have the advantage of avoiding any expenditure at present of Imperial funds on barracks at Hong Kong, whilst, on the other hand, it is to be remembered that bowever valuable the sites in Victoria, which the War Department is invited to abandon, might become in the hands of the Colonial Government, they can only be regarded as of comparatively small value, so long as the presence of soldiers in that part of the town renders it necessary, in the opinion of the military authorities, to restrict Chinese occupation in that vicinity, and while in military hands they are applicable only to military purposes.

LANDS.

Sir,

JOHN BRAMSTON.

No. 23.

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office,

33

am to point out that in

2. In regard to the first of these resolutions,

40248

of 15th January last, it was suggested paragraph 2 of your letter, No. 183

that the words, "Infantry of the Line, two battalions," in the appendix of the draft despatch, should be altered into "Infantry, two battalions," because one of the battalions might possibly be raised in India, but your letter omitted to notice the consequent necessity to alter the words, "Total Europeaus, 2,525,” in the same appendix, and the words, " Imperial troops, 2,525," in paragraph 6 of the despatch. Your letter of the 15th of January was not communicated to the Colonial Government, but it will be seen that Major-General Edwards informed the Officer Administering the Government of the proposal to send a native battalion of Madrassees as one of the battalions of the Infantry mentioned in Appendix A to the despatch. His Lordship would be glad to learn whether any decision has been come to on this proposal, and what answer can be returned to the Colonial Government in regard to it.

3. 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., 40,000l. 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.

4. In regard to the question of the barracks referred to in the third resolution, I am to observe that no conclusion can be arrived at until it is known whether the troops are or are not to be moved to Causeway Bay. As to this point, I am to refer you to the letter from this department of the 9th instant, to which his Lordship would be glad to receive a reply at Mr. Stanhope's early convenience.

5. Lord Knutsford desires me to add that the liberal manner in which the unofficial Members of the Hong Kong Legislature bave met the demands of the Imperial Government has enabled a constitutional crisis to be averted, and concession which be

may it will, in his Lordship's opinion, be politic to make possible to meet their views.

EDWARD WINGFIELD,

any

Hong Kong

8

1250

22nd May, 1890.

I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant (respecting the Prayas in front of the Naval Yard and North Barracks, Hong Kong).

I am to add that a communication has been addressed to the Admiralty on the subject.

40248

209

CONTRIBUTION.

Sir,

No. 24.

Colonial Office to War Office.

RALPH THOMPSON.

Downing Street,

23rd May, 1890. With reference to the letter* from this department of 24th January last, regarding the Hong Kong Military Contribution, I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, to be laid before Mr. Secretary Stanhope, for his consideration, copy of a despatch from the Officer Administering the Govern ment of Hong Kong, reporting that the Legislative Council had unanimously voted the increased contribution, but had also adopted certain resolutions bearing on the subject.

* No. 18.

Enclosure in No. 24.

Administrator Fleming to Lord Knutsford.

Government House, Hong Kong,

1st April, 1890. My Lord,

Referring to my despatch, No. 64 of 17th ultimo, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the increased Military Contribution from this Colony as asked for in your Lordship's despatch, No. 8 of the 20th January last, was voted at a meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 26th ultimo.

2. On the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, I at once laid it before the Council, stating that while desirous of giving to every member a reasonable opportunity of perusing the arguments contained in it, it would be necessary for me to move for the vote without any unnecessary delay. In the following week, I accordingly stated that at the next meeting of Council the vote would be asked for,

3. A few days after I did so the unofficial members expressed a desire to see me on the question, in order to intimate to me the course they proposed taking with reference to the vote. I expressed my willingness to see them whenever convenient, and they accordingly had an interview with me. They then informed me that after having given the question their best consideration, they had arrived at the conclusiou not to oppose the vote, provided the official members would agree to the substance of certain resolutions which they had prepared and which they submitted to me.