Enclosure 8.
hows reveal,
on leaves,
co half per cent. of the gross "after deduching therefrom the proceeds
of land sales and premia such per centage includes the cost of maintenance of all military works, buildings, but does not cover
cover any capital expenditure required for military
military lands
and buildings..
S. H. Meigh Goodman, Attorney General.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 4th, 1896.
THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION BILL. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-In moving the first reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to appropriate a percentage of seventeen and a half per centum of the Colonial revenues as a contribution for the defence of the colony, I trust your Excellency will allow me, as this is probably the last time that I shall have an opportunity of addressing this Council, to offer a few remarks upon this very important subject. I fully recognise, sir, and appreciate the strenuous efforts of the unofficial members of this Council to curtail, so far as they possibly can, the expenditure of this colony, but, sir, it seems to me that this question is not a local question, but a matter of Imperial interest, and it must be dealt with as such. We have no right, sir, I think, to look upon this matter as purely a question of the internal position of this colony but we must consider the point as an Imperial question and we must deal with it in a broad and comprehensive spirit. (Hear, hear). We have heard, sir, from home, and we have received a telegram within the last few days adding to our previous information upon the subject, that the people of England, the people of Great Britain, are at the present moment engaged in strenuous efforts to make our country strong and able to hold her own in the future as she has done in the past. (Applause.) I think, sir, I am right in saying that the people of Great Britain have this year shown a disposition to contribute, and to contribute liberally, to the defence of the Empire of which we are all so proud, and I am sorry, sir, that it may appear from the memorandum of the unofficial members of this Council that Hongkong is not equally willing to bear her share in the burden of the Empire. I speak, sir, in this Council as an Englishman who is proud of the traditions of his country, and I am sure that not only every member of this Council but every British subject in this colony must have rejoiced and felt glad when he received the news that the people in the old country were freely contributing towards the defence of the Empire. Of course, sir, I quite recognize the fact that there is a local aspect of this question to be considered as well as an Imperial aspect, but looking to what we see going on around us out here in the East, looking at the fact that it is necessary out here at the present moment not only that our merchants and men of business should be active and intelligent but also that we should have upon the spot an armament and considerable strength-- looking to that fact, sir, I feel it to be a very great misfortune that at the present moment the unofficial members of this Council should not see their way to allow this money, the military contribution of 17 per cent, to be voted without opposition. (Applause.) Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Exclude the municipal revenue and I am quite willing.
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The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Of course if he excludes the municipal revenue I take it the contribution would be much less.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Increase the percentage if necessary, but let us have justice.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The hon. member speaks about justice and so on, but as I have already said, it seems to me the question is whether we are willing to contribute freely towards the defence of the Empire, and I think it would be evidence of our willingness to contribute towards that defence if the members of this Council unanimously voted this money. I think, sir, it is of paramount importance that we should be well protected in the Far East, that our navy should be kept at a high standard, and that we should have a strong Imperial garrison in Hongkong. I hope these few words of mine--I am sorry that I have not the eloquence of some of the other members of the Council to express myself better-- I hope that the unofficial members of the Council will give some weight to the few words I have spoken and I hope they will, if possible, reconsider their determination and that they will vote this money, this contribution for the defence of the Empire.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I rise, sir, to move that the further consideration of this Bill be postponed until a reply has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the memorandum of the unofficial members on the subject. I concur in much that has fallen from the lips of the Acting Attorney-General in regard to the necessity for England being fortified and in a position, not only on sea but on land, to hold her own against any combination. At the same time I submit that this colony should and has the right to claim to be placed on the same basis as Singapore has been placed and no portion of the municipal revenue should be taken by the Imperial Government for Imperial military purposes.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I have to second the amendment which the hon. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce has proposed. As your Excellency pointed out the unofficial members have sent a memorandum to the Secretary of State for the Colonies asking that the military contribution should be as it has been for the past ten years, namely, £10,000, instead of what it is proposed to be in the Ordinance now before us. In spite of the remarks made by the hon. the Attorney-General, with which I for one quite agree, I think, sir, in justice to the unofficial members an answer to our memorandum ought to be received and we ought to have time to discuss the answer before we agree to the first reading of the Bill. Therefore, sir, I beg to second the amendment of the hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-On behalf of the Government I regret very much that delay is impossible. I do not think that any hon. member of this Council will for a moment deny that this Government has given the question every consideration, and has afforded every opportunity possible to every member of the Council to have this question put before the Secretary of State. Therefore, to come forward now that this Government has given all these opportunities and to try and buck this Bill, as hon. members are trying to do, does not, I think, reflect credit on those Imperial instincts which the hon. member on my right informs me they possess. The representative of the Chamber of Commerce smiles. I congratulate him upon his smile, but I would like to know whether he has consulted the leading members of the community on this question.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I have consulted the leading members of the community, and a very large number of them. They quite agree with what I have stated, that we should be placed on the same basis as Singapore.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I am glad to hear that the hon. member has consulted the leading members of the community. All I can say is that those views are not the same as I have heard expressed; they are entirely opposite.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Will you kindly give names?
Enclosure 8.
hows reveal,
on leaves,
co half per cent. of the gross "after deduching therefrom the proceeds
of land sales and premia such per centage includes the cost of maintenance of all military works, buildings, but does not cover
cover any capital expenditure required for military
military lands
and buildings..
S. H. Meigh Goodman, Attorney General.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 4th, 1896.
THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION BILL. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-In moy- Ł ing the first reading of the Bill entitled an Or. dinance to appropriate a percentage of sevED- teen and a half per centum of the Colonial revenues as a contribution for the defence of the colony, I trust your Excellency will allow me, as this is probably the last time that I shall have an opportunity of addressing this Council, to offer a few remarks upon this very important subject. I fully recognise, sir, and appreciate | the strenuous efforts of the unofficial members of this Council to curtail, so far as they possibly can, the expenditure of this colony, but, sir, it seems to me that this question is not a local ques- tion, but a matter of Imperial interest, and it must be dealt with as such. We have no right, sir, I think, to look upon this matter as purely a question of the internal position of this colony but we must consider the point us an Imperial question and we must deal with it in a broad and comprehensive spirit. (Hear, hear).. We have heard, sir, from home, and we have received a telegram within the last few days adding to our previous information upon the subject, that the people of England, the people of Great Britain, are at the presont moment engaged in strenuous efforts to make our country strong and able to hold her own in the future as she has done in the past. (Applause.) I think, sir, I am right in saying that the people of Great Britain have this year shown a disposition to contribute, and to contribute liberally, to the defence of the Empire of which we are all so proud, and I am sorry, sir, that it may appear from the me morandum of the nuoffloial members of this Council that Hongkong is not equally willing to bear her share in the burden of the Empire. I speak, sir, in this Council as an Englishmau who is proud of the traditions of his country, and I am sure that not only every member of this Council but every British subject in this colony must have rejoiced and felt glad when ho received the news that the people in the old country were freely contributing towards the defonce of the Empire. Of course, sir, I quite recognize the fact that there is a local aspect of this question to be considered as well as an Imperial aspect, but looking to what we see going on around us out here in the East, look- ing at the fact that it is necessary out here st the present moment not only that our merchants and men of business should be active and in- telligent but also that we should have upon the spot an armament and considerable strongth-- looking to that fact, sir, I feel it to be a very great misfortune that at the sent moment the anofficial members of this Conncil should not see their way to allow this money, the military contribution of 17 per cent, to be voted without opposition. (Applause.) Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Exclude the mut- nicipal revenue and I am quite willing.
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The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Of course if he excludes the municipal revenue I take it the contribution would be much loss.
Hon. T. H. WHITRIIRAD-Increase the per- venlage if necessary, but let us have justice.
The AOTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The hon. member speaks about justice and so on, but as I have already said, it seems to me the ques tion is whether we are willing to contribute freely towards the defence of the Empire, and I think it would be evidence of our willingness to contribute towards that defence if the members of this Council unanimously voted this money. I
REMB
2331 415
think, sir, it is of paramount importance that we should be wall protected in the Far East, that our navy should be kept at a ligh standard, and that we should have a stong Im- perial garrison in Hongkong. I hope these few words of mine-I am sorry that I have not the eloquence of some of the other mem- bers of the Council to express myself hetter-- I hope that the unofficial members of the Coun- cil will give some weight to the few words I have spoken and I hope they will, if possible, recon- sider their determination and that they will vote this money, this contribution for the defence of the Empire.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER SE- conded.
Hen. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I rise, sir, to move that the further consideration of this Bill bo postponed until a reply has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the memorandum of the unofficial members on the subject. I concur in much that has fallen from the lips of the Acting Attorney-General in regard to the necessity for England being fortified and in a position, not only on sea but on laud, to hold her own against any combination. At the same time I submit that this colony should and has the right to claim to be placed on the same basis as Singapore has been placed and no portion of the municipal revenue should be taken by the Imperial Government for Imperial military purposes.
Hon, C. P. CHATER-I have to second the amendment which the hon. member who re presents the Cha abor of Commerce has proposed. As your Excellency pointed out the uuofficial in your opening address members have sent a memorandum to the Secretary of State for the Colonies ask- ing that the military contribution abould be as it has been for the past ten years, namely, £10,000, instead of what it is proposed to be in the Ordinance now before us. In spite of the remarks made by the hon, the Attorney- General, with which I for one quite agree, I think, sir, in justice to the unofficial members an answer to our memorandum ought to be re- ceived and we ought to have time to discuss the answer before we agree to the first reading of the Bill. Therefore, sir, I beg to second the amendment of the hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-On behalf of the Government I regret very much that delay is impossible. I do not think that any hon. member of this Council will for a moment deuy that this Government has given the question every consideration, and has afforded every opportunity possible to every member of the Council to have this question put before the Secretary of State. Therefore, to come forward now that this Government has given all these opportunities and to try and buck this Bill, na hon. members are trying to do, does not, I thiuk, reflect credit on those Imperial instincts which the hon. member on my right informs me they possess. The representative of the Cham- bor of Commerce smiles. I congratulate him upon his smile, but I would like to know whe ther he has consulted tho leading members of the community on this question.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-1 have consulted the leading members of the community, and a very large number of thera. They quite agree with what I have stated, that we should he placed on the same basis as Singapore.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I am glad to hear that the hun, member has consulted the leading members of the community. All I caz say is that those views are not the same as l have heard expressed; they are entirely oppo. site.
Hou. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Will you kindly give uames?
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