that this step is taken in Hongkong,
it must be taken also in the other Eastern
colonies as I do not feel confident that
the change in any
or all of them
will be a change for the better.
(2) because as the Chinese will be
excluded more rigidly, probably,
from the "Executive than from the Legislative Council.
(3) because Sir William Robinson &
other Governors
have already consulted unofficial
Members on matters on
which their advice is valuable.
I am inclined to think that, if any change is made, it should be in the
direction of trying to separate purely
municipal matters from the work
of the colonial government and entrusting
them entirely to an unofficial Board
where there is an unofficial majority.
It will be exceedingly difficult to
make such a division, and it will be
seen that the Governor
does not regard
such scheme with favour.
It occurred to me that the Sanitary Board, which has an unofficial element,
might be expanded into a municipal council.
Being given the proceeds - or such proportion of them
as comes from the Town -
of the "Assessed taxes", i.e. the rates, which now
contribute to the colonial Revenue $400,000
per annum;
Page 459
and I see that some such
change is suggested in the Weekly Press.
13 June
But I have been talking
to M. Cooper
the Director of Public Works, and the difficulty
seems almost insuperable of deciding what
Public Works should be done by Imperial government & what by a municipality.
If the drainage, Water supply, and roads of the Town of Victoria are
placed under municipal
control, there will be little left for
the colonial government & its Public Works department
Still there may
be some practicable compromise on the subject
and it is worth while suggesting
to the Governor for future consideration.
2. I should suggest that the despatch
be answered
1. with a no uncertain declaration that
Hongkong will
remain a Crown Colony;
2. with an addition to the effect that
k this step is taken in Hongkong,
it must be taken also in the other Eastern
colonies a I do not feel confident that
the change in any
or all of them dezad
of d
will be a change for the better.
(2) because as the Chinese will be
My excluded more rigidly, probably,
from the "Executive than from the Legislative Council.
(.3.) because Sir William Robinson &
aheady
ors also consulte conformally
No doubt other
Governors
the
Unofficial
A
Members on mations on
which their advice is valuable.
= 9
am inclined to think that, if any Change is made, it should've in the
direction of trying
of tying to separate perely
municipal matters from the work
the colonial government and entrusting
them entively to an unofficial there is an unofficial majority
Board
"It will be Oxceedingly difficult to
make such a divisich, and it will be
Seen that the
any
does not regard
governor
hope.
Such scheme with
It occurred to me that the Sanitary Board, which has an unofficial element,
Board on which
might be exfouded into a municipal (amcil.
being given the proceeds - or such proportion 9 them
them as comes
from the Porn -
の
the
"Assessed taxes' is. the rates, which now
290
contribute to the colonial Uvenue $400000
and I see that some such
change is suggested in the Weekly Press.
13 June
per aunum;
p.459
the director
But I have been ta
talking
to M. Cooper
Public Works, and the difficulty
score almost insuperable of mathing. If
the
What Public Works should be done by Almial gamenment & what by a municipality
If the diceinage. Water supply, a roads of the Pown of Victoria are
placed
cender municipal
the colonial
control, there will be little left for
ut & its Public Works department
Still there may
Garasiment
to do.
compromise the subject
be some practicable
and it is worth while suggesting
to the
governor for future considerations
2 I should suggest that the despatch
d
be answered
1-1. with a no uncertain declaration that
Hongkong
will
remain a frown Colony
_2. with an addition that to the effect that
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