the present crisis supports a view that is not favourable to any extensive constitutional changes, but that hereafter, when such Public Works as are in hand may be completed, the Secretary of State would be glad to consider, if any practicable scheme can be presented to him, the possibility of giving the residents of Hong Kong some measure of municipal government.
The Governor adds to what the Secretary suggests about the Executive & Legislative Councils a suggestion, which he has made, that the military contribution should be paid in dollars.
The last claim of the petitioners suggests that the public of a Crown Colony should be heard before the amount of their tax for military purposes is settled. It has always seemed to me that the bitter feeling which exists in the Crown Colonies as to the military contribution is not merely due to the amount which is exacted but also to the manner in which it is exacted. The contributions are not levied on any principle, but the weak colonies are made to pay what they can afford, and the strong ones dictate what bargain they will make.
The tax has been levied in a rather more autocratic way of late than ever. At the same time, the public feeling in the Colonies is becoming more organised year by year. The military contributions, it seems to me, will, if levied in the present way, put an end to Crown Colonies such as the three Eastern Colonies. They will demand and eventually get some kind of representative government with a view to making the same fight with the Imperial government, which they see that colonies possessing representative institutions now make.
Would it not be possible, when the contributions now on hand have been settled for a term of years, to look about for some more satisfactory and more uniform mode of treatment?
the present crisis supportent a sheong is not favourable to any othanage constitutional chays, but that of hereafter, when such Public Watche
be dictated by
as are in hand a
may
Walks
the epidemic are completed, the freetary of State would be glad to consider, if any practicable scheme can be
ted to him
presented the possibility of giving the residents of Hongthing some measure of municipal
government
The
governor
adds to what the
Suggests
about the Executive & Legislative
Councils a suggestion, which he has
made, that the military
aluady
contribution
Should be
paid
in dollars.
The last claim of the petitioners suggests
that the public of a frown. Colony should
the amount
1
their tax
be heard before for military purposes is settled It has always scammed to me that the bitter feeling which exists in the frown Colonies as to the military contribution is
merely
not due
to the amount which is
7%
exacted but also to the manner in which it' is exacted. The contributions are not 291
levied on
any principle.
are made to pay
but the weak colonies
What it is
Can afford, and the
thought they
ones medistett
strong matte What bargain they
Thating applic please. The tax has been
ment last come
a rather more autocratic
late levied in
g late
way
than ever,
It. They Camping at the same time the public feeling
Mortunity of Stating teens
case. 27
If their care lähen up 5
Parliament 82
Colmics is
Hilutang mone organised
More
military
ما متالها
in the
year by year becoming
The militars, contributions, it seems to me, will, if levied in the present way, put an end to frown folmies such as the three Eastern colonice. They will demand and eventually get" same Hind of representative government Successful
with a view to me
making
the same
fight with the Imperial government, which they see that colonies possessing representative
institutions now make.
Would it not be possible, when the contributions Now on hand, have been settled for a teem of Yeous,
to look about for
some more satisfactory and more uniform mode of treatment? and
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