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HONGKONG
LEGISLATIVE |
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held yesterday at the Council Chamber.
The following were present:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINIS- TRING THE GOVERNMENT, Hon. Mr. CLAUD SEVERN.
H.E. MAJOR-GENERAL. F. H. KELLY, C.B.
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Mr. J. A. 8. BUCKNILL, K.C. CAL wy-General).
Hon, Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, C.M.G. (Direc- tor of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
Hon. Mr. C. McI. MESSER (Captain
Superintendent of Police).
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK, C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT, C.M.G.
Hon, Mr. E. SHELLIM.
Hon. Mr. D. LANDALE.
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Hon. Mr. Lau CHU PAK.
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Mr. R. H. CROFTON (Clark of Councils). THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION.
Hon. Mr. HewerT-Sir, I beg to move the resolution standing in my name, but before doing so I will make a few remarks on the subject. Once a year the unofficial members have the privilege of discussing the estimates for the following year, and for many years past a most important item of the estimates has been onr military contribution, this year! 'amounting to very nearly 17 lakhs out of a tutal revenue of 95 lakhs. We are unable to understand why we should not be allowed to discuss such a very impor- tant item of expenditure whenever the estimates are put before us. However, a higher power has ruled that this is not to be, although at the same time we do not see how it is possible that such a regulation has been laid down, and can only suppose that it has been done by the kindly forethought of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who wished to save the unofficial members the almost useless and hopeless task of trying to get this excessive tax reduced. Therefore it is necessary, if we are to have any discus- sion at all on the question of the military contribution, to bring forward a special resolution, and I have done so this year because I think the time has now arrived i to enter the strongest protest we pos sibly can against this unjust tax. Time was when feeling in the Colony was strong as to paying any tax at all. My predecessor. Sir Thomas Sutherland, speaking when the vote was brought before this Council, was no doubt voicing the feeling of the community when he said he considered the Colony should not be called upon to pay any contribution at all. However, a good deal of water has run under the bridge since then. Our j views have changed and we have become more imperialistic in our ideas. I do uct think we will find any people who will object to contributing towards the upkeep of the garrison of the Colony, but we do mat strongly object to this
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excessive tax which identiced upon us, Land H% your Excellency ware we have repeatedly protested Agallist this tax. At the present moment our revenue is 9 million dollars, and it is estimated that we have to expend about 10 million, and have to draw from our reserves iu order to balance the budget. All important item of the revenue is a tax to which we object, and hope to see abolished eventually-I refer to the tax on liquor. Next year it is estimated to produce something like $700,000. That tax was enforced very much against the wishes of the Government, and very much against the wishes of the community. But money had to be raised for the time being, and we agreed to it. Out of that tax next year when money is raised to balance the budget we will have to pa no less a sum than $145,000 towards the military contribution. There is probably hardly any Colony, if any Colony at all, under the British flag which is forced by geographical and other conditions to spend such enormous sums of money in public works. Situated as we are, in the region of typhoons, we have to spend | very large sums on the refuge for small craft, on damage done ashore and afloat and by wreckage of houses; also by damage done to the public gardens, to trees, and by loss of life through the capsizing of boats. And that will always go on. We have to remember that through the formation of the island we have to depend upon our water supply for storage which is collected through a. short time in the year; no one reservoir can drain sufficient water for our needs. I remember the time when the first Tytam reservoir was made, when people were saying. Thank goodness, there will be no more famine." Since then our water supply has been increased by two-thirds, and even this year we suffered from a very severe famine. The sites for our buildings have been provided at great eost, being either hewn out of the hills or reclaimed from the harbour. The same applies to our roads, and I would remind you that a great many of them have been made for military purposes, notwithstanding the fact that they furnish a pleasant walk on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. That being so, it is imperative that we should have as much of our revenue as possible expended upon ourselves. Every few years we see some important publie work completed, and we have to start on something else. Even now, although we are engaged on two very 'important public works costing millions of dollars, a reclamation scheme, the dredging of the harbour and other works +must be carried out if this Colony is to hold the position it does. Therefore it is wrong, absolutely wrong, that the Home Government should force us against our will-for with the exception of Sir Henry May none of us support the tax pat upon us now-to pay such an excessive share of our revenue for this purpose. I think that is all I need say, because the question has been frequently discussed, and the same thing has been said over and over again. As you are aware, how- Lever, & very important Commission met last Spring on the question of the military contribution from overseas possessions. I think that Commission closed in August or September last year, and we should be very glad to hear from his Excellency whether anything has been heard as to
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