CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 120

118

Majesty's Government to make a substantial

contribution towards the Colony's loss of

Revenue.

2.

mendation

I am to point out that the recou-

referred to in the concluding

paragraph of the labber from this Depart-

ment of the 23rd of September last was

that a contribution should be made by His

Majesty's Government covering one half of

the direct loss of opium revenue during

three years after the £9000 granted on

account of the year 1910 had been taken

into consideration.

If the Secratast

State rightly understande Their Lordships'

doy not tharters

present offer be ecmcaivəs

now wholly carry out Lord Crewe's recoin-

mendation.

3.

Though the sum of £12,000 in

respect of each of the years 1911 and 1912

together with the £9000 already given

would cover half the prospective loss

28185/10

(with the promiss o "Vimilar payment

1912-37

normal

erdummy circumstances at home,

there now

Juch they

existing

estimated when the Hong Kong opium farm was

let for the period 1910-12, circu-stances

might mat

arise in which half

the loss would amount to a

z larger

sui.

Mr, Harcourt is however prepared to

accept on behalf of the Hong Kong Government

the proposal that the £12,000 should be

placed on the Imperial Estimates for 1911-

sufficient

12 as instalment on account/

account! on the

understanding that Their Loruships agree in

the principle that half the direct loss

should be borne by the Imperial Government

and that if a contingugey should arise

the

rasulting in a retter loss to Hong Kong

prous grouter

/than that

at first anticipated,

will

the Lords Commissioners wed permit the

whole question to be re-opened and undertake

to give their most favourable and sympathetic

consideration to the Colony's case for

further relief.

estimated

4.

Page 120Page 121