CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 458

S

10.488.

Rongkong.

Rec

C. €

44083

REGE7 DEC 13

Goverment House, 454

Hongkong, 26th. October, 1903.

17356

02

Sir,

You

-40123

With reference to my Despatch No. 464 of

the 5th. instant, in which I dealt with the subject of the

Estimates for 1904, I have the honour to inform you that when

the grant in aid of Ecclesiastical services was being consider

ed by the Members of the Legislative Council, it was moved by

Mr. Gershom Stewart, seconded by Sir Paul Chater and supported

by the other Unofficial Members of Council, that the vote of

$2,400 entered in the Draft Estimates should be increased to

$4,800, in view of the increase in the visiting work done by

the Chaplains in Government Institutions and in ministrations

at burials and the fact that the Government would have to pay

considerably more for religious ministrations if the work were

declined by the Protestant and Roman Catholic Clergymen by

whom it is now performed.

2.

The small increase which was recommended

in my Despatch No. 130 of the 5th. April, 1902, and which met

with Mr. Chamberlain's approval, was referred to at the Meet-

ing of Council to which I have alluded and as the recommenda-

tion of the Unofficial Members was made in full knowledge that

such

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE

COLONIES.