CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 382

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

The situation regarding Public Works, which the unofficial members are anxious to press on with, would hardly be underestimated at a million dollars - whereas there are no funds to meet this expenditure beyond the falling balance of $431,000 referred to above; and to expend the whole of the available balance or even a large part of it would surely be most unwise, especially as the probable result would be that they would find themselves with several large public works begun but without enough money to finish them.

The situation admits, I think, of only two alternatives. Either they must content themselves with the expenditure on Public Works Extraordinary provided in the Estimates, take things as they are, and not press on with such large works for a few years. Having begun the new Law Courts, they must go on with it, and perhaps one or two other costly works like the Post Office.

Or else, and this is the alternative that I greatly prefer, they must put on a pretty stringent programme of extra taxation ahead and spend as much as they can, say a good half million dollars a year on Public Works.

Apart from the question of Public Works, having regard to the fact that, as matters now stand, the estimated balance for the year is absorbed in toto and in fact turned into a heavy deficit to be met by taxation, I think the moment has come to insist on fresh taxation. In the answering Despatch, I would absolutely insist on fresh taxation (I leave it to the Governor's discretion - we only get put off again and again) and I would clearly lay it down that whenever they increase taxes, they may increase Expenditure on Public Works Extraordinary.

So much for the Estimate. In reply to the Governor's Despatch and the memo of the Unofficial members of Council, we...

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The situation regarding Public Works, which the unofficial members are anxious to press on with, would hardly be underestimated at a million dollars - whereas there are no funds to meet this expenditure beyond the falling balance of $431,000 referred to above; and to expend the whole of the available balance or even a large part of it would surely be most unwise, especially as the probable result would be that they would find themselves with several large public works begun but without enough money to finish them. The situation admits, I think, of only two alternatives. Either they must content themselves with the expenditure on Public Works Extraordinary provided in the Estimates, take things as they are, and not press on with such large works for a few years. Having begun the new Law Courts, they must go on with it, and perhaps one or two other costly works like the Post Office. Or else, and this is the alternative that I greatly prefer, they must put on a pretty stringent programme of extra taxation ahead and spend as much as they can, say a good half million dollars a year on Public Works. Apart from the question of Public Works, having regard to the fact that, as matters now stand, the estimated balance for the year is absorbed in toto and in fact turned into a heavy deficit to be met by taxation, I think the moment has come to insist on fresh taxation. In the answering Despatch, I would absolutely insist on fresh taxation (I leave it to the Governor's discretion - we only get put off again and again) and I would clearly lay it down that whenever they increase taxes, they may increase Expenditure on Public Works Extraordinary. So much for the Estimate. In reply to the Governor's Despatch and the memo of the Unofficial members of Council, we...
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! - Public Works which the unofficial members are anxious to press on would ONCL hardly be underestimated at a million dollars - whereas there are no funds to mest, whatever ростой this Expenditure cabe de beyond the falling balance or rather #stawa 299,000 of $ 431,000 referred to above; and ow to expand the whole of the available balance or even a large part of it would surely be most unciise, expecially as they probable result would be that they would find themselves with several large But there w be public works began & on their hands & by the fruit without enough money to finish them. The situation admits, I thich, of only alternatives. futing Land which ought two a ; 1) lither they must content themselves with the Expenditure on 1. W. Extraordinary " provided in the Estimates, take things o not press on such large & enough the warts. Ito f few years. one Having OM C вида the Law Canks work must be to on with the new Law Courts, stud Wasay an Che a rev by one A costly works as Post Office 2) or else, & this is the Alternative that forgave at precessary be began finished existing 1.C. 3 General Pool Office { aft their being as I greatly prefer, they must put on a pretty string down of extra laxation ahead & spend a can go o thew they 379 to stand a good half. million dollars a year a thas half o dothang in on Public Works. "us Event apart from the question of Public Works, having regard to the fast (x)-12435-~2000-1-99 22317-8000-10-90 that as matter now stand, the latinated balance for the year is absorbed in toto, for "fresh" and in fact turned into a heavy seficit to be met by sands of I think the moment has some taxation. In the answering Despatch I would absolutely inwist on fresh taxation, it I leave it to the gour's (4 we urge а discretion we only get put off again & again) and I would Charly lay it down that quants' they increase taxes 'tanto' they may increase Exfense: there on Public Works Extraordinary. So much for the Estimate. In reply to the Gowns Despatch and the memo: of the Unofficial members of Council we :
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!

- Public Works which the unofficial

members are anxious to press on would

ONCL

hardly be underestimated at a million

dollars - whereas there are no funds

to mest,

whatever

ростой

this Expenditure

cabe de beyond the falling balance

or rather #stawa 299,000

of $ 431,000 referred to above; and ow to expand the whole of the available

balance or even a

large part of it would

surely be most unciise, expecially as they probable result would be that they would

find themselves with several large

But there w

be

public works began & on their hands & by the fruit

without enough money to finish them.

The situation admits, I thich, of only alternatives.

futing Land which ought

two

a

; 1) lither they must content themselves with

• the Expenditure on 1. W. Extraordinary

" provided in the Estimates, take things

o not press on such large &

enough

the warts.

Ito f

few years.

one Having

OM C

вида

the Law Canks work must be to on with

the new Law Courts, stud

Wasay

an

Che

a rev

by one

A

costly works as

Post Office

2) or else, & this is the Alternative that forgave at

precessary be began

finished

existing

1.C.

3 General Pool Office

{

aft their being

as

I greatly prefer, they must put on

a pretty string down of extra laxation

ahead & spend a can go o thew they

379

to stand a good half. million dollars a year

a

thas half o

dothang in

on Public Works.

"us Event apart from the question of

Public Works, having regard to the fast

(£ (x)-12435-~2000-1-99

22317-8000-10-90

that as matter now stand, the latinated

balance for the year is absorbed in toto, for "fresh"

and in fact turned into a heavy seficit to be met by sands of I think the moment has some

taxation. In the answering Despatch

I would absolutely inwist on fresh taxation,

it I leave it to the gour's

(4

we urge

а

discretion we only get put off again & again) and I would Charly lay it down that quants' they increase taxes 'tanto' they may increase Exfense: there on Public Works Extraordinary.

So much for the Estimate. In reply to the Gowns Despatch and the memo: of the Unofficial members of Council we

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