CO129-484 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [1-7] — Page 164

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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

we are not going to pay over the difference in cash. It remains in an account which the War Office may draw upon to meet their future needs. But in order that future needs may be met it is necessary that these needs should come into existence and it seems to me improbable, if the Garrison is now adequately reprovisioned, that it will be necessary in the near future to provide the additional sum, and I think the greater part of the difference will remain merely as a book entry to our debit for many years to come. The question of that debit may be regarded with equanamity. If it should become necessary to increase the Garrison in the future the sum' stand- ing to our debit would be drawn on to pro- vide additional buildings and we might then have to pay out the whole sum. But, assum- ing that no such bargain as this had been made and that there was no account at all, I think that it is obvious that when the neces- sity for increasing the Garrison arose we should have to pay for it. We cannot ask the British taxpayer in present circum- stances to bear the cost of accommodation for a largely increased Garrison and the War Office would undoubtedly say to us:

"This is the Garrison which is necessary for your safety; we cannot pay for its accommodation. Are you prepared to do it, or will you retain a Garrison which is insufficient for the Colony's safety." I have no doubt the answer of the Council would be that we would pay.

I think therefore that in assuming this liability we are not as- suming a liability greater than in any case we should have to undertake. further point is that it is not as if we were paying out a large sum to the War Office. Very large sums are going to be expended, but they are going to be ex- pended in this Colony. As the Hon. Mr. Lowe said, it is all to the good of the Colony.

A

scheme. Probably the existing balances- will enable us to provide what money is necessary before money begins to come in from the sale of the land, and, if not, my suggestion is that we should get. money on

on short term bills maturing. somewhere about the time we expect to sell the rest of the land.

The Hon. Senior Unofficial Member raised other questions, which the General will be

be able to

to deal with I can only say in better than I am. conclusion that, after spending considerable

the time dealing with

matter, after writing many despatches-which I should like to produce to this Council. I am unable to do so, but I can assure you that I have placed the Colony's point of view very forcibly before His Majesty's Gov- ernment-having, I say, fully considered these things, I am strongly of opinion that the bargain is

which the Colony should accept, and I think that in the future it will be very pleased to reflect that it has taken this opportunity of removing an obstacle to progress.

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H.E. MAJOR-GENERAL SIR J. FOWLER There are one or two points which have been raised on which I should like to say a few words. First of all, it has been said that the Colony has made a bad bargain, and that these are boom prices. It entirely depends on the point. of view. By the time that the Colony is. going to dispose of this land, prices will possibly have risen, and they will there- fore be getting the land at a lesser valua- tion than it will then be worth. His Excellency the Governor has dealt with the reprovisioning and the financial ques- tion the Hon. Member referred to. A statement has been made, which I have already spoken on, that there was an understood agreement between the War I think, therefore, that there are redeeming Office and the Colony as to the valuation features in the situation. I think we are pay-

of the lands which was made in the year ing a very large price but I think it is wise 1920. There were certain recommenda- to pay it. The expenditure will not all tions made to the War Office in regard be incurred at once. It is true we shall to that, but it never amounted to a prac- be out of our money or part of the tical agreement. As to another question money for a considerable time, but by the that has been raised, it has never been time the full amount of expenditure has contemplated, so far as I know, that the been met we shall, no doubt, have been term military authorities " in the able to dispose of a considerable amount Circular Despatches meant

meant the mili- of the military lands and shall, there-tary authorities here on the spot. I fore, have got back a good deal of money before we

we have to spend the whole of it. I do not think there should be any great difficulty in financing this large

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CC.

think from the context that it is fairly clear that it is the War Office that is meant. We recommended certain prices for the land for the War Office to ao-