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The COLONIAL SECRETARY--I do not think it is necessary for me to give names; I am stating what are facts. It is a feature of this discussion that the two members representing the Chinese have made no opposition and have not joined their unofficial colleagues in opposing this Bill.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD--Hon. Ho Kai signed the document on the subject.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY--That is a fact which is perfectly well known to Hon. Ho Kai and this Council. I can see no reason for the delay, and if the hon. member had listened as carefully to your Excellency's address as he said he did, he would have heard that your Excellency could hold out no hope that their memorandum would be entertained, and I have no doubt that your Excellency has very good ground for that statement.
Hon. C. P. CHATER--With your Excellency's permission, I should just like to make one remark, and that is on the subject of a word used by the hon. Colonial Secretary, namely, to "burk" this Bill. My object is not to burk this Bill. He says that we have had every opportunity for discussing the Bill for some time past. So we have, and the purport of our discussion is the memorandum forwarded to the Secretary of State. All I ask is that the consideration of this Bill, or rather the first reading of this Bill, should not take place until we have had an answer from the Secretary of State. I have no object in burking the Bill.
Hon. HO KAI--I was about to rise to support the amendment when the Colonial Secretary rose; otherwise, there would have been no statement about my silence. My supporting the amendment does not show that I am unwilling to contribute towards an increased contribution to the Imperial Government. On the other hand, we want more security for the defence of our position abroad and at home, and we shall have to pay for it. The only thing I can see in this case is the unfortunate way in which it has been communicated to us. That is to say, we are placed in a position distinctly different from that of Singapore. Seventeen and a half per cent. has been charged on both colonies, but on the one hand, the municipal rates were excepted, while in the case of Hong Kong, our municipal rates have been included. Now we are fighting a difficult question, and fighting for a principle does not in the least, I submit, make us half-hearted to what tends to the protection of the glorious Empire to which we all belong. (Applause.)
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE--The objection to this Bill is that so far no good reasons have been shown why we should not be placed on the same footing as Singapore. May I point out to the unofficial members that very good reasons have been shown by the Secretary of State in the correspondence that took place in 1895 why this colony should be placed on a different footing from Singapore in this matter. The simple reason is that the revenue of Singapore is about three times the revenue of this colony, and although the municipal revenue is eliminated, still they get a large contribution. If you eliminated what is called municipal revenue here--but there happens to be no such thing--you get a less contribution. I understand the unofficial members are quite ready to pay, and I am not in the least surprised to hear that they are as patriotic as any of us here. The hon. member representing the Chamber of Commerce has even said that if you eliminate the municipal revenue, he does not at all object to an increase of the Percentage. It seems to me it is six of one and half a dozen of the other. The question is, how much are we going to pay, and I do not think it matters much whether you include municipal revenue or exclude it and make it twenty per cent.
AYES.
The amendment was then put, with the following result:-
NOES. Hon. Wei A Yuk Hon. F. H. May Hon. C. P. Chater The Harbour Master Hon. T. H. Whitehead The Director of Public Works Hon. E. R. Belilios Hon. Ho Kai The Acting Colonial Treasurer The Acting Attorney-General The Colonial Secretary H.E. Major-General BlackThe amendment was therefore lost, and the motion for the first reading of the Bill was then put and carried.
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The COLONJAL SECRETARY--I do not think Fit is necessary for me to give names; I am stat- ing what are facts. It is a feature of this dis- cussion that the two members representing the Chinese have made no opposition and have not joined their unofficial colleagues in opposing this Bill.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHNAL-Hon. Ho Kai signed the document on the subject.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-That is a fact which is perfectly well known to Hon. Ho Kai and this Council. I can see no reason for the delay, and if the hou. member had listened as carefully to your Excellency's address as he said he did he would have heard that your Excellency could hold out no hope that their memorandum would be eatertained, and I have no doubt that your Excellency has very good ground for that statement.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-With your Exosi- lenoy's permission 1 should just like to make one remark and that is on the subject of a word used by the hon. Colonial Secretary, namely, to "burk" this Bill. My object is not to burk this Bill. He says that we have had every opportunity for discussing the Bill for some time past. So we have, and the purport of our disenssion is the memorandum forwarded to the Secretary of State. All I ask is that the consideration of this Bill, or rather the first reading of this Bill, should not take place until we have had an answer from the Secretary of State. I have no object in burking the Bill.
Hon. Ho KAI-J was about to rise to support the amendment when the Colonial Secretary rose; otherwise there would have beon no statement about my silence. My sup porting the amendment does not show that I am unwilling to contribute towards an increased contribution to the Imperial Government. On the other hand, we want more security for the defence of our position abroad and at home and we shall have to pay for it. The only thing I can see in this case is the unfortunate way in which it has been communicated to us. That is to say, we are placed in a position distinctly different from that of Singapore. Seventeen and a half per cent, has been charged on both colonies, but on the one hand the municipal rates were excepted, while in the case of Hong- kong our municipal rates have been included. Now we are fighting a difficult question, and fighting for a principle does not in the least, I submit, make us half hearted to what tends to the protection of the glorious Empire to which we all belong. (Applause,)
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -The objection to this Bill is that so far no good reasons have been shown why we should not be placed on the same footing as Singapore. May I point out to the unofficial members that very good reasons have been shown by the Secretary of State in the correspondence that took place in 1895 why this colony should be placed on a different footing from Singapore in this matter. The simple reason is that the revenue of Singapore is abont three times the revenue of this colony, and although the municipal revenue is eliminated still they get a large contribution. If you eliminated what is called municipal revenue here--but there happens to bo no such thing-you get a less contribution. I understand the unofficial mem- bere are quite ready to pay and I am not in the least surprised to hear that they are as patriotic
as any of us hore. The hon. member reprosent- ing the Chamber of Commerce has even said that if you eliminate the municipal revenue he does not at all object to an increase of the Percentage. It seems to me it is six of one and half a dozen of the other. The question
is, how much are we going to pay, and I do not think it matters much whether you include municipal revenue or exclude it and make it twenty per cent.
AYES.
The amendment was then put, with the follow- ing result:-
NOES. Hoa. Wei A Yuk Hon. F. H. May Hou, C. P. Chater The Harbour Master Hon. T. H. Whitehead The Director of Public
Hon. E. R. Belillos
Hon. Ho Kai
Works
The Acting Colonial
Treasurer
The Acting Attorney-
General
The Colonial Secretary
H.E. Major-General
Black
The amendment was therefore lost, and the motion for the first reading of the Bill was then put and carried,
416
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