CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11] — Page 510

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CONFIDENTIAL.

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59380 [REC.

REGE DE 16

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 26th. October, 1916.

503

Sir,

With reference to the telegraphic correspondence

noted in the margin, I have the

from Governor to Secretary of State

21st.September 1916.

state

roin Secretary of State to Governor:

22nd.September, 1916.

rom Secretary of State to Governor:

6th.October, 1916.

13.7.

197407

honour to request your further con- -sideration of the proposal that

light dues should be temporarily increased in order that this Colony

may be in a position to make an additional contribution to Imperial War Funds.

2.

I may say at once, in reply to the contention of the Board of Trade, that the dues now received do not meet the expenses directly incurred in respect of aids to navigation which are provided for ships paying the dues.

3.

The matter is not one that can be demonstrated

with mathematical exactitude, as opinions differ regarding the services rendered to shipping that may properly be described as aiding the navigation of ocean-going vessels. The expenditure upon lighthouses would seem to fall entirely within the category, and

it would seem fair also to include in it at least two-thirds of the

annual cost of the Observatory and one-half of the net cost of up-

-keep of the Cope d'Aguilar Wireless Telegraph Station, after deducting revenue received. The anually recurrent expenditure upon

these services amounts to some $75,000; to which must be added

interest

HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREW BONAR LAW, M.P.,

&c..

&C..

&c...

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