The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 15th, 1896.
MILITARY CONTRIBUTION BILL The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to appropriate a sum equivalent to seventeen and a half per centum of the Colonial revenues as a contribution for the defence of the colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second, Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I rise to move that this Bill be road this day six months. The community admits the fairness of paying a military contribution to the home Government and is agreeable that the charge should be a fixed percentage on the general revenue. The Imperial Government's views, however, as to what constitutes general revenue differ from our views, and they have decided to appropriate for Imperial purposes 174 per cent. of our general revenue, which includes municipal rates. It is unnecessary now to enter into particulars, ns our case is carefully stated in the memorau- dum of the unofficial members of the 31st March last. Sir, you realized the justice of certain of our contentions and supported them in a des- patch to the Secretary of State, dated 21st April last. The people of Hongkong beartily appreciated your Exellency's endeavours on behalf of the colony on that occasion, which I may be permitted to remark are happily of a very different character from these expressions of opinion which have fallen from the lips of the official members of this Council. The official members in Singapore fought manfully with the Government until a satle- fuotary settlement of the military contribution question was arrived at. No reason and no justification whatever have been assigned why Hongkong should be called upon to pay a heavier military contribution than any other Crown colony in her Majesty's dominions--a heavier tax than the colony can afford. It is oppressive, for it prevents the carrying out of necessary public works and delays the construction of argently required public offices. The Secretary of State has not. I submit, given due consideration to your Ex- the un- cellency's representations and to official members' memorandum. He has not answered them and he refuses to entertain our reasonable proposal that we should, with regard to the military contribution, be placed
on the same basis as our sister colony of Singapore.
His EXCELLENCY-I may mention here that I think you are wrong in saying that this colony pays more than any other colony. Ceylon pays £100,000 a year, and there are only 1,500 troops there.
Hon. T.H, WHITEHEAD-I noticed a morning paper the other day stated that Colombo only pays 7 per cent. of its revenue and Mauritius only pays 5 per cent.
Hi EXCELLENCY-In 1894 Ceylon's con- tribution was 1,394,000 rupees.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-That, sir, is 74 per cent. of the revenue of the colony. It may be a larger sum, but I submit it is only 7 per oont., whereas we are called upon to pay 17 per cent, not only on the general revenue, but on the municipal revenue. I must respectfully protest against the Imperial Government ap- propriating 17 per cent. of our municipal revenue for Imperial purposes. I think it is unreasonable and inequitable to take 17 per cent. of such items as charges for water against Departments, which are in reality no revenus at all. There is another clause in this Bill --clause which leaves the door open to the War Office to impose unlimited responsibility on Hongkong in respect of now armaments, new forts, new barracks, and improvements and alterations to old military buildings. I submit respectfully that for the Imperial Government to appropriate 174 per cent. of our purely municipal rates is a monstrous injustice, and I may be permitted to remind your Excellency that loyalty is a very tender plant, but under injustice loyalty withers. (Applause.)
Hon. C. P. CHATER--I beg to second. A vote was then taken on the amendment.
AGAINST
FOR
Hon. Wei A Yuk
Hon. E. R. Belilios Hon. T. R. White-
head
Hon. Ho Kai
Hon. C. P. Chater
The Captain Superin- tendent of Police The Harbour Master The Director of Public
Works
The Anting Colonial
Treasurer
The Attorney-Geo-
eral
The Colonial Seare-!
tary
His Excellency Major-
General Black
The amendment'was therefore lost by seven
Į votes to five.
Bill read the third time.
418
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