CO129-267 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [4-6] — Page 661

cannot be considered an un- favourable comparison. As a matter of fact at the existing rate it is under £1 sterling.

It is a noteworthy feature of Hongkong Finance that the ~ most oppressive forms of taxation

are non-existent.

General Remarks.

Objections to representation as advocated by Mr. Whitehead. (1) The absence of any leisured

class who would be able to

a

give the requisite amount of time to Government affairs. The Sanitary Board affords a fair example of this, but if further illustration is de- sired an instance in point

be found in the records of Hansard, where W! Whitehead himself is reported to have left the Connoil Chamber ~

Can

during

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}

(2)

(3)

657

during the discussion of an important Financial Bill because he had important letters to write and yet this

same Mr. Whitehead is now

asking for the control of the Finances of the Colony! The necessarily conflicting interests in a small Colony

like Hongkong which even in

of men of the high-

the case

est probity must endanger the first principle of Govern-

ment vir: disinterested sin

partiality.

men

"The ignorance natural to lay- of Chinese interests as evidenced by the unreasonable opposition to the Po Leungkuk du Corporation Bill.

P.S. The Military Expenditure a- mounted in 1893 to £938,000,

of which the Colony paid

£40,000:

:

!