[ { "id": 218047, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843", "page_number": 328, "title": "CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843", "content_text": "ance \n\nCou \n\nShatch of the Probable Establishments of the Sovernment of Hongkong \n\nfor consideration and \n\nGovernor \n\nLeutenant Governor \n\nColonial Sertany \n\nDoperty Colonial honetary \n\nChief Clack of & Keeper \n\nRecords \n\nsubmitted \n\nCommande \n\nof the \n\n472.10 \n\n& link \n\nblink \n\n243. \n\nClerk \n\nRecorder or. Chief Justice \n\nJ \n\nAdvocate General \n\n1) Queens Solicitor \n\nblast of the Recorder's Court 600- \n\nChief Magistrate \n\nAssistant Magistrate \n\nсъа \n\nClerk of I'm Magistrates bout 270 \n\nInterput \n\n2nd Interprete \n\nbluk \n\nClick \n\nColack \n\nBarried over t \n\n387.10- \n\n270.- \n\n202.10 \n\n202.10 \n\n202:10", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 224536, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "page_number": 442, "title": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "content_text": "436\n\nAbstract of Proceedings in China\n\n1 Examination of our financial states in detail Fransmitted to Gov - Davis to Lords of the Treasury 19 June 1844\n\n17 June 1844 - London\n\nTransmission of specimens of all Chinese Manufactures to Board of Trade\n\n3rd Report\n\n4th Report to Lords\n\nForwarded to Gov. Davis 29 June 1844\n\non the British currency and monetary exchanges in China.\n\nDV\n\nState of Hong Kong in all its aspects\n\nto Gov Davis 24 July 1844\n\nExamination of our Policy in China\n\nof the Treasury August 1844 6th Report on Chusan in all its aspects\".\n\nTo Gov. Davis 30 August 1844 To Lords of the Treasury 20th Sept. 1844.\n\n6th Comparison between Hong Kong and Chusan Transmitted to Sir R. Peel 14 Nov 1844\n\nTo Lords of the Treasury 14 Nov 1844 Dissent in Council on proposed Legislative enactment for licensing Opium smoking shops in Her Majesty's Settlement Hong Kong\n\nRead before Gov in Commerce 26 Mar, 8th Draft Legislative enactment to enjoin an observance of the Sabbath in Hong Kong\n\n7\n\nPrecis to Governor, Davis and advised my analysis of the Bible to be translated by the Rev. Gutzlaff for general circulation throughout China;\n\nDespatch respecting Brouch intrigues in China. To Sir Robert Peel 24 Dec 1844. To Lords of the Treasury\n\n10th Minute on the British Position and Prospects in China an exposition of the Treaty of Nanking\n\nTo Governor Davis 19 April 1845-\n\nTo Sir Robert Peel - 25 April 1845\n\nTo Lords of the Treasury - 25 April 1845\n\n11th Representations and correspondence on the Governor's violation of Instructions from the Treasury on the disbursement and account of the public monies\n\nTo Lords of the Treasury May June + July 1845\n\n126 Correspondence respecting my request for leave of absence to represent the state of our affairs in China\n\nTransmitted to Governor Davis with explanatory letter 14 July 1845\n\nTo Lord Stanley 8th July 1845\n\nTo Mr. Stephen Under Secretary of the Colonies - same date.\n\n13th Rise progress and condition of the Trade with numerous tabular statements\n\nTo Lord Stanley 23 Sept. 1845\n\n14th Points for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government on the whole of our affairs in China with Appendices A B & C\n\nthe first a necessary reduction of expenditure to the extent of £27,272\n\nand honorable terms of Negotiation with the China Government for the cession of Hongkong $950,000\n\n3. Reply to Lord Stanley's remarks on preferring Hong Kong to Chusan, the means to be adopted immediately for the rectification of our erroneous policy to improve our position, and repairs\n\nTransmitted to Lord Stanley 30 Sept. 1845.\n\nIn addition to the preceding documents (which are very voluminous) Abstracts on the above points have been given to Lord Stanley, to the Earl of Aberdeen, to Mr. Goulburn, to the Earl of Dalhousie, & to Lord Canning in Nov 1845\n\nand a Synopsis of a complete Commercial report on China (for which the materials were collected during a personal examination of all the Consular ports and after visiting every accessible part of China) was forwarded to the Earl of Dalhousie 4 Dec. 1845\n\nwhich has now been under the consideration of the Lords of the Treasury.\n\nThese labours were in addition to the arduous and responsible duties of Her Majesty's Chief Superintendent of Trade and Treasurer for the Colonial Consular and Diplomatic services in China\n\nwhich were rendered excessively harassing and anxious by the departure in China from the clear and positive instructions of the Lords of the Treasury\n\nby the difficulty of procuring proper checks or by their death and absence from duty and by the frequent recurrence of a depressing climatic disease which at once prostrates and often proves fatal.\n\nMar. 1846.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-018 - Others - 1846.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 224537, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "page_number": 443, "title": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "content_text": "437\n\n97817fest\n\nTo pogry\n\nMemorandum of emotions for the\n\nMr Martin to-\n\nPublic welfare.\n\nTwenty years have been sedulously devoted by investigation of the Colonial, Commercial and Financial affairs of the British Empire. Ten of these years have been spent in visiting the Colonies, and digesting the information acquired: the result has been as follows:\n\n4 years in circula- some of his labours.\n\nI History of the British Colonies; five Vols., 28 maps, Charts, &c.\n\n3,500 Copies printed\n\nII Marquess Wellesley's Indian Despatches; five Vols., Maps, Plans, &c.\n\n8,000\n\nIII British Colonial Library; ten vols., Engravings, Maps, &c.\n\n22,000\n\nIV Eastern India: three vols., 200 Drawings, Maps, Plans, &c.\n\n4,600\n\nV Statistics of the British Colonies: one large Vol., 3,000,000 Figures, &c.\n\n3,000\n\nVI Political, Commercial & Financial condition of Anglo-Eastern Empire in 1832.\n\n1,500\n\nVII British Relations with the Chinese Empire in 1832.\n\n800\n\nVIII Taxation of the British Empire; with tabular views.\n\n...\n\nIX Past & Present State of Tea Trade of England, Europe & America.\n\n...\n\nX Analysis of Parliamentary evidence on China Trade, 1832.\n\n...\n\nXI Colonial Policy of the British Empire; Part one.\n\n...\n\nXII Marquess Wellesley's Spanish Despatches: one Vol.\n\n1,500\n\nXIII Ireland as it was - is - and ought to be: Tabular Chart, &c.\n\n878\n\nXIV Colonial Magazine: Seven Vols.\n\n3,000; completed, Engravings, &c.\n\n1,600\n\nXV Poor Laws for Ireland, a Measure of Justice for England.\n\n10,000\n\nColonial Atlas, with Maps of each Colony, including East & West-India.\n\nLugar duties equalization.\n\n40,000 Copies distributed.\n\nMonetary system of British India.\n\n10,000 Copies distributed.\n\nVarious Pamphlets on Commerce, Finance, Shipping.\n\nThe foregoing Publications comprise about Seventy Thousand Octavo Volumes; illustrated by Maps, Engravings, Plans & Statistical Charts, and they all refer to subjects of great national importance. The mere mechanical expenditure on these works, for printing, paper, Engravings, &c., has been upwards of Twenty Thousand Pounds Sterling!\n\nTo defray these heavy charges, to pay Assistants, and to provide for personal expenses during twenty years unremitting toil by costly labour and travel, not the slightest aid has been furnished by Government; but relying solely on his own energies, and out of his own limited resources, Mr Martin has prepared the first complete \"History of the British Colonies\".\n\nAn interest in the Public Mind for possessions, whose extent and condition were heretofore imperfectly known, and their intrinsic value inadequately appreciated, has been awakened.\n\nIn addition to the preceding mentioned labours, Mr Martin has zealously contributed to promote various useful objects. The \"Colonial Society\" of London was consequent...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-018 - Others - 1846.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 224633, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "page_number": 539, "title": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "content_text": "Ischail, and supported\n\ndaschenbund die antwer der be thente hd. Gladstone\n\nmust regard.\n\nnee on this subject as having\n\nIn 673 Whey Senwrandon of Services\n\nPublic gooch.\n\n532\n\nto promote the\n\nI wenty\n\ncars have been devoted.\n\nby years\n\nMr Martin to an investigation of the Colonial, Commercial and Financial affairs of the British Empire. Ten of these years have been spent in visiting the Colonies, and Ten years in circulating the information acquired: the result of some of his labours had been as follows:\n\n8,500 Copies printed\n\n1 History of the British Colonies; five Vols., 28 maps, Charts, &c...\n\nMarquess Wellesley's Indian Despatches; five Vols., Maps, Plans, &c., 8,000.\n\nBritish Colonial Library; ten Vols. Engravings, Maps, &c., 18\n\nEastern India; three Vols., 200 Drawings, Maps, Plans, &c.\n\n22,000\n\n4,500.\n\n3,000.\n\n1,500.\n\nStatistics of the British Colonies: one large Vol., 3,000,000 Figures, Seals, &c. 3,000.\n\n11 Political, Commercial & Financial condition of Anglo Eastern Empire in 1832, 80° 1,000\n\nU British Relations with the Chinese Empire in 1832, 800\n\nTaxation of the British Empire; with tabular views, &c..\n\nPast & Present State of the Trade of England, Europe & America.\n\n8 Analysis of Parliamentary evidence on China Trade, 1832..\n\n11 Colonial Policy of the British Empire; Part one, &c.\n\n1. Marquess Wellesley's Spanish Despatches:\n\none Vol.\n\nIreland before & after the Union\n\nWelland as it was - is - and ought to be; tabular Chart, &c..\n\nIV Colonial Magazine: Seven Vols. 800, completed, Engravings, &c.\n\nPoor Laws for the land, a measure of Justice for England, &c., pamphlet, 10,000.\n\nColonial Atlas, with Maps of each Colony, Engravings•\n\nEast & West India Sugar duties equalization, - 40,000 copies distributed.\n\nmonetary system of British India, - 10,000 Copies distributed.\n\nVarious Pamphlets\n\nfinances of 1844\n\nThe foregoing\n\ndedicated to Sir\n\n$2,000.\n\nThe\n\nPublications comprise about Seventy Thousand Octavo Volumes; Illustrated by numerous Maps, Engravings, Plans & Statistical Charts, and they all refer to subjects of great national importance. The mere mechanical expenditure on these works, for printing, paper, Engravings, &c., has been upwards of Seventy Thousand Pounds Sterling:\n\nTo defray these heavy charges - to pay Assistants, and to provide for personal expenses during twenty years unremitting toil, costly labour and travel, not the slightest aid has been furnished by Government; but relying solely on\n\nhis\n\nenergies, and out of own limited resources, Mr Martin has prepared the first complete History of the British Colonies\" and by his unceasing exertions\n\nhas awakened an interest in the Public Mind for possessions, whose extent and condition were heretofore imperfectly known and their intrinsic value inadequately appreciated.\n\nIn addition to the preceding mentioned labours, Mr Martin has zealously contributed to promote various useful objects. The Colonial Society of London, was consequent on his Works, and he has endeavoured to", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-018 - Others - 1846.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 228136, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848", "page_number": 440, "title": "CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848", "content_text": "433\n\nBoard\n\nof\n\nTradet\n\nEB\n\nEncl. 1, in No. 16.\n\n18\n\nCORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE RESIGNATION\n\nwhether I am deserving of the injury which has been inflicted on me for endeavouring to amend what were deemed national errors of great magnitude, and on which, if I had remained silent and inactive, I should indeed have considered myself unworthy of employment of any kind in Her Majesty's service.\n\nI would venture to suggest the names of three gentlemen well conversant with the subjects referred to; namely, Mr. Trevelyan, Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Lefevre, Secretary to the Board of Trade, and Mr. Otho Hamilton, of the Audit Board; the last named gentleman having had all my accounts as Her Majesty's Treasurer under his supervision.\n\nI will cheerfully bow to any decision at which those three gentlemen may arrive.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(signed) R. M. Martin.\n\nEnclosure 1, in No. 16.\n\nABSTRACT of Proceedings in China.\n\n1. Examination of our Financial state in detail; transmitted to Governor Davis, 17 June 1844; to Lords of the Treasury, 19 June 1844.\n\n2. On transmission of Specimens of all Chinese Manufactures to Board of Trade, London, forwarded to Governor Davis, 29 June 1844.\n\n3. Report on the British Currency, and Monetary Exchanges in China.\n\n4. Report on Hong Kong in all its aspects; to Governor Davis, 24 July 1844; to Lords of the Treasury, August 1844.\n\n5. Report on Chusan in all its aspects; examination of our policy in China; to Governor Davis, 30 August 1844; to Lords of the Treasury, 20 September 1844.\n\n6. Comparison between Hong Kong and Chusan; transmitted to Sir R. Peel, 14 November 1844; to Lords of the Treasury, 14 November 1844.\n\n7. Dissent in Council on proposed Legislative enactment for licensing Opium smoking-shops in Her Majesty's settlement, Hong Kong; read before Governor in Council, 26 November 1844.\n\n8. Draft Legislative Enactment, to enjoin an observance of the Sabbath in Hong Kong; transmitted to Governor Davis, and caused my \"Analysis of the Bible\" to be translated by the Reverend Dr. Gutzlaff, for general circulation throughout China.\n\n9. Despatch respecting French intrigues in China; to Sir Robert Peel, 21 December 1844; to Lords of the Treasury.\n\n10. Minute on the British Position and Prospects in China, and an Exposition of the Treaty of Nankin; to Governor Davis, 19 April 1845; to Sir Robert Peel, 25 April 1845; to Lords of the Treasury, 25 April 1845.\n\n11. Representations and Correspondence on the Governor's violation of Instructions from Lords of the Treasury, on the disbursement and account of the Public Monies; to Lords of the Treasury, May, June and July 1845.\n\n12. Correspondence respecting six months' leave of absence, to represent the state of our affairs in China; Her Majesty's Government, 24th June, July, 1845 transmitted to Governor Davis, with explanatory Letter to Lord Stanley, 8th July 1845, and to Mr. Stephen, Under Secretary of the Colonies, same date.\n\n13. Rise, progress and condition of the Tea Trade, with numerous tabular statements, &c.; to Lord Stanley, 3d September 1845.\n\n14. Points for the consideration of Her Majesty's Government on the whole of our affairs in China, with Appendices A. B. and C., showing 1st. A necessary reduction of expenditure to the extent of 250,000l. a year. 2d. Fair and honourable terms of negotiation with the China Government for the cession of Chusan. 3d. Reply to Sir H. Pottinger's reason for preferring Hong Kong to Chusan. 4th. The means to be adopted immediately for the rectification of our erroneous policy, to improve our position, and to expand our trade, &c. transmitted to Lord Stanley, 3d September 1845.\n\nIn addition to the preceding documents (which are very voluminous), abstracts on the above points have been given to Lord Stanley, to the Earl of Aberdeen, to Mr. Goulburn, to the Earl of Dalhousie, and to Lord Canning, in November and December 1845; and a Synopsis of a complete Commercial Report on China (for which the materials were collected during a personal examination of all the consular ports, and after visiting every accessible part of China) was forwarded to the Earl of Dalhousie, 4 December 1845, which has now been three months under the consideration of the Lords of the Treasury and Board of Trade.\n\n19\n\nOF MR. M. MARTIN, TREASURER OF HONG KONG.\n\nThese labours were in addition to the arduous and responsible duties of Her Majesty's Treasurer for the Colonial, Consular and Diplomatic services in China; which were rendered extremely harassing and anxious by the departure in China, from the clear and positive instructions of the Lords of the Treasury, by the difficulty of procuring proper clerks, or by their death, and absence from illness, and by the frequent recurrence of a depressing climactic disease, which at one period nearly proved fatal.\n\n2 March 1846.\n\nEnclosure 2, in No. 16.\n\nR. M. Martin.\n\nMEMORANDUM of Exertions for the Public Welfare.\n\n TWENTY years have been sedulously devoted by Mr. Martin to an investigation of the Encl. 2, in No. 16. Colonial, Commercial, and Financial affairs of the British Empire. Ten of these years have been spent in visiting the Colonies, and 10 years in circulating the information acquired; the result of some of his labours has been as follows:\n\n \n I.\n History of the British Colonies, five vols,\n 28 Maps, Charts, &c.\n 8,500\n \n \n II.\n Marquess Wellesley's Indian Despatches, five vols.,\n Maps, Plans, &c.\n 8,000\n \n \n III.\n British Colonial Library, ten vols.,\n Engravings, Maps, &c.\n 22,000\n \n \n IV,\n Eastern India, three vols.,\n 200 Drawings, Maps, Plans, &c.\n 4,500\n \n \n V.\n Statistics of the British Colonies, one large vol.,\n 3,000,000 Figures, Seals, &c.\n 3,000\n \n \n VI.\n Political, Commercial and Financial Condition of Anglo-Eastern Empire in 1832,\n 8vo.\n 1,500\n \n \n VII.\n British relations with the Chinese Empire in 1832,\n 8vo.\n 3,000\n \n \n VIII.\n Taxation of the British Empire, with Tabular Views, &c.\n \n 1,500\n \n \n IX.\n Past and present state of Tea Trade of England, Europe and America.\n \n 1,500\n \n \n X.\n Analysis of Parliamentary Evidence on China Trade, 1832\n \n -\n \n \n XI.\n Colonial Policy of the British Empire, Part I., Government-\n \n 3,000\n \n \n XII.\n Marquess Wellesley's Spanish Despatches, one vol.\n 8vo.\n -\n \n \n XIII.\n Ireland as it was, is, and ought to be, Tabular Chart, &c.\n \n 1,500\n \n \n XIV.\n Colonial Magazine, seven vols.\n 8vo, completed, Engravings, &c.\n 12,000\n \n \n XV.\n Poor Laws for Ireland, a Measure of Justice for England, &c., pamphlet\n \n 10,000\n \n \n \n Colonial Atlas, with Maps of each Colony, now engraving.\n \n \n \n \n \n East and West India Sugar Duties Equalization, 40,000 copies distributed.\n \n \n \n \n \n Monetary System of British India, 10,000 copies distributed.\n \n \n \n \n \n Various pamphlets on Commerce, Finance, Shipping, &c.\n \n \n \n\nThe foregoing publications comprise about 70,000 octavo volumes, illustrated by numerous maps, engravings, plans and statistical charts, and they all refer to subjects of great national importance. The mere mechanical expenditure on these works for printing, paper, engravings, &c., has been upwards of 20,000l. sterling.\n\nTo defray these heavy charges, to pay assistants, and to provide for personal expenses during 20 years' unremitting toil, and costly labour and travel, not the slightest aid has been furnished by Government; but relying solely on his own energies, and out of his own limited resources, Mr. Martin has prepared the first complete \"History of the British Colonies,\" and by his unceasing exertions, has awakened an interest in the public mind for our trans-marine possessions, whose extent and condition were heretofore imperfectly known, and their intrinsic value inadequately appreciated.\n\nIn addition to the preceding mentioned labours, Mr. Martin has zealously contributed to promote various useful objects. The \"Colonial Society\" of London was consequent on his works, and he has endeavoured to advance its laudable objects. The \"Central Agricultural Society\" by which the landed interest was united for the protection and encouragement of agriculture, at a period when it was threatened with destruction (1835-36), had its origin mainly in his exertions, and for two years he acted gratuitously as one of its honorary secretaries. He also co-operated as honorary secretary with the \"Society for the Protection of Domestic Industry,\" which was superintended by a committee of 21 Members of Parliament, whereof E. S. Cayley, M.P. was chairman, and which had for its leading object the union of all classes engaged in land, manufactures and trade.\n\nIn order that he might obtain an accurate view of the working of our banking system, Mr. Martin made a tour throughout England and Scotland, to the extent of 2,500 miles, during which he visited nearly every public and private bank in the kingdom; and for 12 months he officiated as honorary secretary to the \"Commercial Bank of London.\" The \"Bank of British North America\" was planned, and its preliminary proceedings were organized.\n\n743.\n\nC 2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 230525, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-033 - General Stavely - Lieut. Governor - 1850 [5-8]", "page_number": 390, "title": "CO129-033 - General Stavely - Lieut. Governor - 1850 [5-8]", "content_text": "334\n\n29\n\npaid into this Treasury; bearing in mind that the loss of the reduction of Rent has alone buoyed up the hopes of earning something hitherto craved and cheered me; without it very Rents; Lot would long since have been surrendered; and now, meditated to resume no more, some speedy relief is administered, I shall of necessity become so large a Crown Debtor that confinement in the Prison must be the mode of liquidation.\n\nI have, &c., (Signed) G. Duddell.\n\n(True Copy)\n\nPoleniat honetary\n\nTabular Statement\n\n \n Lots purchased\n Annual Ground Rent\n Amount of Improvements\n Amount of Profits to January, 1850\n Amount paid, including Fees,\n Remarks\n \n \n Marine\n £\n £\n £\n £\n \n \n \n 2\n 250\n 20\n 840\n 10\n 2/ Surrendered\n \n \n 3614\n 19:15\n \n 19.15\n \n \n \n \n 1844 100\n 100\n 601\n \n ##8] Dec 1845\n |||20|15\n \n \n 60\n 57\n #\n 51\n #\n 65\n \n \n BEA Mar 1846\n 27\n 31\n \n be\n \n \n \n 27\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Sex B25 July 1849\n 40\n 16\n 4\n 29\n 2$9\n \n \n 30\n 30.A\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Inland\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Detr\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 201\n 12\n 2012\n \n 20:12\n 2012\n \n \n il\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 291 Mar 292\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 293\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 294\n #\n \n \n \n \n \n \n A\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 270 A Detz 1846\n 3\n Surrendered\n \n \n \n \n \n 30134\n Surrendered.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 30 134\n Surrendered\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 112\n 106\n 2\n 3\n \n 51 16 3 Surrendered_\n \n \n 100\n 10\n 42\n \n 5 11\n 5 11\n \n \n *) N\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 2\n 2\n 2\n \n \n \n \n \n 114 13\n \n 11 | 14 | 10\n \n 33/10\n \n \n \n 5913\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 12376\n \n |N285 | Dec2 1845\n \n 0.14\n \n \n \n 14\n 10\n Surrendered\n \n \n \n \n \n 2/1\n \n 1844\n \n 67.4\n \n \n \n 500\n \n 150\n \n 337\n \n \n \n 204 Mar: 1846\n \n 84\n \n 326\n \n \n \n 10\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 291A Betr\n \n 35\n \n 300\n \n \n \n 2\n \n #\n \n 9\n \n \n \n 0\n \n 15 10\n \n 32 5\n \n \n \n #\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 293\n \n 200\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 30 Jan 1849\n \n 340 May\n \n \n \n 40/1\n \n 200\n \n 95 5\n \n \n \n 47 #\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 10\n \n 10\n \n 10 7/1⁄2\n \n \n \n 45\n \n 10\n \n \n \n \n \n 339\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"\n \n 7.19 2\n \n \n \n \n \n 451\n \n 138 Dee? 1844\n \n \n \n \n \n 38/3 2% 1000\n \n 150\n \n \n \n \n \n 35 June\n \n 1300\n \n 50\n \n \n \n #\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Farm\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n N° 1 | July 1846\n \n 20\n \n 310\n \n \n \n 20\n \n £467\n \n to\n \n \n \n #\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n (Ime Copy)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Colonial Secretary.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 6136 194610 71 14 4\n \n \n \n 15510\n \n \n \n 13 10 10\n \n \n \n £1,6947\n \n \n \n (Sig?) b. 9.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nPage 390\n\nPage 391", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-033 - General Stavely - Lieut. Governor - 1850 [5-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 232332, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "page_number": 193, "title": "CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12]", "content_text": "the current coin of the place; that in which Mercantile accounts are kept, \n\nand which is really the standard of \n\nhave shown to be \n\nvalue this \n\nwe \n\n Mexican dollars; and there is no probability that the standard will change; for it seems to be the unanimous opinion of every one that nothing short of the abolition of this coin will destroy the prejudices of the Chinese in its favour with a view to this, the Proclamation of 14 May 1845 should be rescinded by another \n\nto its former \n\nstate, and declaring that only Mexican dollars of full weight should henceforth be (as they were previous to the Proclamation of May 1845) a legal tender in this Colony, as they are a customary and therefore legal tender in the ports of China - \n\nEnglish and other Coins would then continue to circulate merely as subsidiary currency at their market value of the day- \n\n11. From what we have above shown of the entire dependence of Hongkong upon China in regard to its monetary affairs, it is clear, that the practice of other Colonies cannot properly be \n\nadduced as a reason \n\nfor the continuance of a system which after a fair trial has proved itself unsuitable to the position of the \n\nColony, productive of great confusion, \n\nand attended by no corresponding \n\nadvantages- \n\n12. The Colonial Treasury would ... suffer neither loss nor inconvenience by the arrangement we propose;", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-039 - Sir Bonham - 1852 [1-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 232753, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-040 - General Jervois - 1852 [3-12]", "page_number": 345, "title": "CO129-040 - General Jervois - 1852 [3-12]", "content_text": "suggesting a few observations\n\nfor consideration touching the\n\nyour\n\nsubject upon which I was addressing\n\nyou\n\nthe first which occurs to my\n\nmind concerns Mr. Michiel. No\n\none is more worthy of every mark of\n\ncare and reward\n\nfor his Services\n\n: your knowledge of his long\n\nservice entitles him. Upon him will devolve, from his knowledge of ... accounts, all the monetary matters treated of in the Ordinance, for in all transactions of this nature it\n\nis\n\nnecessary\n\nthere is\n\nto select one in whom\n\nevery confidence\n\nI have\n\nall that in him, and suggest\n\nthat he should undertake this\n\nbranch with an\n\nincrease. His present Salary is\n\nOne hundred\n\npounds a year. -\n\nC\n\n336\n\nAnother faithful servant I must not pass over, and\n\nwhose duties will be augmented\n\nI must\n\nallude to Ibrahim. I suggest that his pay be raised\n\nmonthly - at present he gets fifteen\n\ndollars\n\nWith reference to additional\n\nappointments I recommend,\n\n£150-\n\n \n 1 Shroff.\n £\n 25.\n \n \n A Special Constable\n £\n 56\n \n \n 4. Messenger-\n £\n 157\n \n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) William Fiddess, Harbour Master &\n\nMarine Magistrate.\n\n(True Copy)\n\nTo the Colonial Secretary\n\nPage 336\n\n...\n\nPage 336", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-040 - General Jervois - 1852 [3-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 232806, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-041 - Public Offices - 1852", "page_number": 10, "title": "CO129-041 - Public Offices - 1852", "content_text": "Teens. 2566.\n\nSo for\n\nDis It. Young\n\nSo. Australia\n\nit shall appear that\n\nthere Stores have\n\nbeen so\n\nJou supplied\n\nwill cause\n\nthe above amount\n\nThe remitted\n\nA the Colonial\n\nAgent foul-\n\nMINUTE 2\n\n18 Unwin MRElliot\n\nM'Merivale s Earl of Desart\n\nSir Pakington\n\n1852\n\nAPR\n\n6687\n\nthe.8.\n\nh\n\nTo Austr.\n\nHong Kong Gibd. & Cape\n\n4:9.2. G\n\n7 April 52.\n\n8\n\nwith trammit to\n\nJou the Copy of a\n\nReceipt for £2:2.6,\n\nand\n\nof an Account (Amounting to £822.14.8)\n\nfor Stores\n\nfor\n\nsupplied by the\n\nNaval Dept. on the 22 of\n\nReceip\n\n2.2.6\n\nRecorent H:bb. D (in Peas. 27 March 502)\n\nJan: 1850 and the 12 July\n\n57 for\n\nthe use of gour\n\nUpon reviewing the original text and the output, I made some minor adjustments to better follow the instructions:\n\n1. Corrected \"Dis It. Young\" to \"Dispatch to Young\" (though it's not entirely clear, \"Dis\" is likely an OCR error for \"Dispatch\")\n2. Changed \"Jou\" to \"You\" where it appeared, as \"Jou\" is likely an OCR error.\n3. Changed \"trammit\" to \"transmit\" as it is a likely OCR error.\n4. Standardized the formatting for the monetary amounts.\n5. Made minor adjustments for spacing and line breaks.\n\nHere's the revised output in HTML format as requested:\n\nTeens. 2566.\n\nSo for\n\nDispatch to Young\n\nSo. Australia\n\nit shall appear that\n\nthere Stores have\n\nbeen so\n\nYou supplied\n\nwill cause\n\nthe above amount\n\nThe remitted\n\nAs the Colonial\n\nAgent foul-\n\nMINUTE 2\n\n18 Unwin MRElliot\n\nM'Merivale s Earl of Desart\n\nSir Pakington\n\n1852\n\nAPR\n\n6687\n\nthe.8.\n\nh\n\nTo Austr.\n\nHong Kong Gibd. & Cape\n\n4:9.2. G\n\n7 April 52.\n\n8\n\nwith transmit to\n\nYou the Copy of a\n\nReceipt for £2:2:6,\n\nand\n\nof an Account (Amounting to £822:14:8)\n\nfor Stores\n\nfor\n\nsupplied by the\n\nNaval Dept. on the 22 of\n\nReceip\n\n2:2:6\n\nRecorent H:bb. D (in Peas. 27 March 502)\n\nJan: 1850 and the 12 July\n\n57 for\n\nthe use of Your\n\nHowever, to perfectly adhere to the instructions without making potentially incorrect assumptions about the text (like changing \"Jou\" to \"You\"), the initial output is already quite compliant. Thus, sticking strictly to the instructions without inferring corrections beyond clear OCR errors like spacing and punctuation:\n\nTeens. 2566.\n\nSo for\n\nDis It. Young\n\nSo. Australia\n\nit shall appear that\n\nthere Stores have\n\nbeen so\n\nJou supplied\n\nwill cause\n\nthe above amount\n\nThe remitted\n\nA the Colonial\n\nAgent foul-\n\nMINUTE 2\n\n18 Unwin MRElliot\n\nM'Merivale s Earl of Desart\n\nSir Pakington\n\n1852\n\nAPR\n\n6687\n\nthe.8.\n\nh\n\nTo Austr.\n\nHong Kong Gibd. & Cape\n\n4:9.2. G\n\n7 April 52.\n\n8\n\nwith trammit to\n\nJou the Copy of a\n\nReceipt for £2:2.6,\n\nand\n\nof an Account (Amounting to £822.14.8)\n\nfor Stores\n\nfor\n\nsupplied by the\n\nNaval Dept. on the 22 of\n\nReceip\n\n2.2.6\n\nRecorent H:bb. D (in Peas. 27 March 502)\n\nJan: 1850 and the 12 July\n\n57 for\n\nthe use of gour\n\nThis version maintains the original text's integrity with minimal intervention, primarily focusing on formatting as per the instructions.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-041 - Public Offices - 1852.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 239324, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-057 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [7]", "page_number": 286, "title": "CO129-057 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [7]", "content_text": "283\n\nPre-clearance from the Harbour Master's office, but pumzilen, with urë sug a Ertitienti from the 7 liigration officer.\n\nUp to that date the Tonnage restriction was not enforced, so it will be seen from the enclosed letter of the Suigration ppien of 21st January, 1855 sienetary.\n\nThe Proclamation to which dus Hillier alluded in his letter was published in the Hongkong Government Gazette of 3rd December 1853, and referred to the amendment of the Passengers' Act 1852, wherein Twelve instead of Fifteen superficial feet were allotted to each passenger.\n\nA native of China, and it comía Hat His Lem heid as regulation had been for to impercent the Consage rectriction - but from the rate of the Colonial Monetary's reply is luodifienta of the ret was canctioned.\n\nIt will be noted all the lus Hillier distinctų buves tirċ tist necessary recanation allowed here would not nccccsarice carry with it any weight at the port of destination, fu quicurkation, and this was doubtine uslained to the owner of the \"William and Martin\" who would thus have suffered the secuel to proceed on sis own risk and recconcibiliti.\n\nThe Chinese Passengers' Act\n\nINDEX", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-057 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 245276, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 355, "title": "CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "# Export from the Minutes of the \nGovernor in Council of Hongkong held on the 25th October 1845.\n\n\"Resolved unanimously, \nthat on reconsideration of the whole of the Documents this Council deems Mr. May \nto have erred in furnishing matter to a local newspaper, \nand more particularly such as he had not communicated \nto the Government's Board as evidence \nof opinion, there is strong prima facie evidence of his having been actuated by \nan ...\n\nI have it in command to humour it for your information accompanying copy of \nthe Resolution unanimously \nat the same meeting. \n\nI have ... \nprized at ... \nSy That Booth \nOct 7. Colonial Monetary. \nJme Opry! Fred Forth \nActing Colonial Secretary. \n\nPage 352 \n2 58/89, 3 \n\nat it's must & on the 25th instant \n\nj", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-069 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 246072, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-071 - Public Offices - 1858", "page_number": 168, "title": "CO129-071 - Public Offices - 1858", "content_text": "# Inclosure 3 in No. 3\n\n## STATEMENT of Sums paid from the Commissariat Treasury Chest on Warrants of his Excellency the Governor, between June 1, 1857, and March, 1858\n\n| Date | Sterling | Dollars | Total |\n|-------------|--------------|-----------|-----------|\n| June 18, 1857 | £0 2 9 | 5,715 0 | |\n| | £3 1,190 15 | | |\n| July 17 | 150 0 0 | 13,680 0 | 3,000 0 0 |\n| | | 14,400 0 | 3,000 |\n| | | 9,600 0 | 2,000 0 0 |\n| | | 14,400 0 | |\n| | | 0 0 | 0 |\n| Aug. 3 | | | |\n| Sept. 29 | 3,000 0 | 28,800 0 | 6,000 0 0 |\n| Oct. 10 | | 24,000 0 | 5,000 0 0 |\n| Oct. 14 | | | |\n| Oct. 29 | | | |\n| Nov. 13 | 7,691 88 | 1,602 9 | |\n| Jan. 28, 1858 | | | |\n| Mar. 10 | 1,000 0 0 | | |\n| | 1,150 2 9 | | |\n| **Totals** | | 171,086 88 | 36,793 + 9 |\n\n## Correspondence\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 3\n**Mr. Caine to Deputy Commissary-General Power**\n\nSuperintendency of Trade, Hong Kong, March 16, 1858.\n\nI have received from Mr. Colonial Treasurer Forth, a statement which I have laid before his Excellency Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c., to the effect that £1000 has been paid by the Commissariat in sovereigns (part of £6,000) on account of the Diplomatic and Consular services in China.\n\nSir John Bowring directs me to advise you that sovereigns are not current in any of the Consulates in China, and that to send them to the ports will entail either upon Her Majesty's servants or the public a heavy loss; that the remittal of sovereigns to the ports has been the source of much dissatisfaction and unpleasant correspondence, and he therefore hopes you will consent to replace these sovereigns with the dollars current in China.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) G. W. CAINE.\n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 3\n**Deputy Commissary-General Power to Mr. Caine**\n\nCommissariat, China, Hong Kong, March 17, 1858.\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 16th instant, stating that in the amount received on a warrant of his Excellency Sir J. Bowring of £6000 by the Colonial Treasurer, £1,000 was paid from the Commissariat Treasury Chest in sovereigns, and that you are directed by his Excellency Sir J. Bowring to advise me that to remit these sovereigns to the ports will entail a heavy loss either upon the public or on Her Majesty's servants, and to request that the sovereigns may be exchanged for the dollars current in China.\n\nI have the honour to state, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that the sovereigns in the Commissariat Chest are paid in from local sources, by far the larger amount from the Post-office, the deposits of which Department are made exclusively in sovereigns. No gold is imported or raised on the spot for the troops; it would therefore be hard on the soldier to make him bear the loss on money paid into the Treasury Chest by services entirely unconnected with the army; harder, in point of fact, on him, than on any one, as the market-people with whom his pay is chiefly spent, object to receive the sovereign even at what may be termed its current rate, viz., 4 dollars 20 cents to 4 dollars 40 cents. The legal rate, as compared with the dollar at 4s. 2d., being 4 dollars 80 cents.\n\nThe only alternative is to keep the sovereigns in the same circle as far as possible, by repaying them to those services from which they have been obtained. That these repayments have not been excessive, the accompanying statement will show. The amount paid in sovereigns on warrants of his Excellency Sir J. Bowring from the period that I took charge of the Department on 1st June, 1857, till the present time, including the payment objected to, being only £1,150 2s. 9d. in 171,086 dollars 88 cents, or about 3 per cent.\n\nAs, however, Sir J. Bowring states that a heavy loss to the public or to Her Majesty's servants, and much inconvenience, will be caused by the remittance of these sovereigns to the ports, I am prepared to exchange the sovereigns in compliance with his Excellency's wish, in case, after taking into consideration the above statement, he is still of opinion that the sovereigns should be exchanged.\n\nIt is worthy of consideration, also, that the sovereigns so exchanged will have to be repaid subsequently to other of Her Majesty's servants, who, in like manner, will have to lose the difference between the value of the sovereign and the dollar.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) W. TYRONE POWER.\n\n### Inclosure 4 in No. 3\n**Mr. Caine to Deputy Commissary-General Power**\n\nSuperintendency of Trade, Hong Kong, March 18, 1858.\n\nI have laid your despatch, dated yesterday, on the subject of the issue of sovereigns for the Diplomatic and Consular service, before Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of Trade, and his Excellency desires me to thank you for the kind consideration you have given to the subject, and your willingness to redress an obvious grievance.\n\nIt appears from your report that these sovereigns are not received by you directly from the Treasury on account of Parliamentary grants, but are paid in by the Post-Office as local income accruing from that Department.\n\nAs the Post-Office is in direct dependence upon Her Majesty's Treasury, his Excellency is of opinion that the special character of its receipts should not be allowed to prejudice the public service generally, and he therefore willingly accepts your offer to replace the sovereigns with such dollars as form the usual currency of China.\n\nThe existing inconvenience will, as Sir J. Bowring hopes, be only temporary, as he is advised of the intention of Her Majesty's Government to make the Post-Office here a Colonial, and not an Imperial, Department; and when this is effected, his Excellency will endeavour to accommodate the Post-Office receipts to the general currency of the Colony.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) G. W. CAINE.\n\n## Original Letter\n\nthe markets and shops, the sovereign, in spite of the Royal proclamation, is not current; and among the Chinese market-people it will not be received at all. If forced upon English shopkeepers or merchants, an enhancement of the price of the goods would be made equal to the difference between the extreme range of the exchanges; but, practically, this is rarely or never done: all payments are made in dollars and cash, and gold coins are disposed of to money-brokers at the market-rate, by whom they are re-sold, at rates scarcely ever exceeding 4 dollars 40 cents, for payment of the Government services above specified.\n\nWith the view of pointing out how completely sovereigns, not current for commercial purposes, are applied to Government services, I inclose two statements of payments into the Commissariat Treasury Chest in the past year, from the Post Office and the Military Storekeeper's Department. From the former Department the payments are all but exclusively made in gold; and from the latter there is also a large proportion of these coins received. The only other recent large payment of gold into the Chest was £1,867, from the Superintendency of Trade, in December 1856, for superannuation fund and income tax.\n\nI do not know whether any alteration or modification could be made in the Royal Proclamation to adapt it to the actual monetary condition of the Colony; but, if practicable, such a modification would be very desirable, as the proclamation is completely inoperative except against the Government.\n\nIt also gives rise to endless disputes and vexatious complications, and sometimes affords shelter, under the letter of the law, to transactions of a very questionable nature which it is difficult to trace and expose.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) W. TYRONE POWER.\n\nPage 4\nPage 5\nPage 105", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-071 - Public Offices - 1858.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 246074, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-071 - Public Offices - 1858", "page_number": 170, "title": "CO129-071 - Public Offices - 1858", "content_text": "# House \n\n## 8 \n\nAccording to the prevailing price of silver relative to gold, but this was not all, for, as in the West Indies, a silver dollar was deemed to be equal to $\\frac{4}{5}$ of a doubloon, it was concluded that 4s. 4d. was also equal to $\\frac{4}{5}$ of a doubloon. Hence it followed that not only silver dollars, but also British gold and silver coins (both being undervalued with reference to the doubloon) were practically excluded from the currency of the Islands.\n\nIt was the object of the Order in Council and Proclamation of 1838 to reduce this confusion to order by ascertaining and fixing the relative value of foreign coins to sterling money. The gold coins were rated for circulation according to their contents of pure gold as compared with the pure gold in the British sovereign: the silver coins were rated on the same principle; but as the simple comparison of weight and fineness would not apply in the case of money consisting of different metals, the uncertain element was introduced of rating the silver coins for circulation according to an average of the relative value of gold and silver in the European market. Though fluctuations in the price of one, as compared with the other, were not infrequent, according to the varying demands arising from the course of exchange between different countries, it was found that for a long series of years the price of silver, of British standard quality, in London, had never greatly deviated from 5s. the ounce, and on this basis the Spanish and Mexican dollar was rated for circulation at 50d.\n\nIt is not unworthy of remark that this valuation exhibited a fortunate coincidence of principle and convenience. It afforded a simple rule for the conversion of the dollar into the denomination of British money; and it equally facilitated the conversion of British money into the decimal system of account founded on the dollar, as the halfpenny represented the $\\frac{1}{960}$th part of that coin.\n\nThe measure was followed by Acts of the Legislatures of the several West Indian Colonies for the purpose of adjusting contracts in the local currencies to the new valuation; and, finally, by the general adoption of the system of account of the United Kingdom corresponding in its terms with the coins of the realm. These proceedings were attended with perfect success. The concurrent use of British with foreign coins at the rates assigned to them was established in the West Indies; but it happened that, although previously to 1838 the currency had been based on a gold standard, the Proclamation of that year led in the first instance to the general use of silver dollars, and the circulation was principally maintained by the importation of dollars from the Mexican Mint, until the discoveries of gold in California and Australia led to a new direction of the trade in silver.\n\nMr. Pennington, whose agency was employed in the arrangements of 1838, was, however, too sagacious to suppose that any measure for the adaptation of coins of different metals for concurrent circulation could be regarded in the light of a permanent settlement. A true standard of value can only be founded on a single metal. What is termed a double standard can, at best, be only an alternative standard, hanging on an uncertain balance. The Proclamation of 1838 assumed gold, the standard of Great Britain, as the basis to which foreign silver coins should be adjusted according to the then existing relative value of the two metals; but it was observed in Mr. Pennington's book on Colonial currency that, \"if the market value of gold and silver should permanently vary from the proportion fixed in the Order in Council and Proclamation of 1838, the cheaper metal will practically become the principal measure of value in the Colonies, and all money contracts will be discharged in that cheaper metal.\"\n\nThis result ensued so soon as the discoveries of gold in California had a sensible effect on silver. It then became no longer a profitable operation for the banks to obtain supplies of dollars from the Mexican Mint, and gold coins, or British silver, the representative of a gold currency, took their place. The transition occasioned, probably, some inconvenience to the banks; but it was effected without disturbing contracts, and without detriment, therefore, to the community at large. British silver, which passes as an unlimited tender in the West Indies, fulfilled an intermediate function throughout, for it continued to circulate as tokens for the fractional parts of the pound sterling, whether that pound was considered to consist of 1,776 grains of fine silver under the Proclamation of 1838, or of 113.001 grains of fine gold contained in the sovereign.\n\n## 9 \n\nThe currency of the other British Colonies in North America has been regulated on the same principle, but, owing to local circumstances, with some variations of detail. It may be observed that, previously to 1838, the proportions assigned by the Mint laws of the United States to the gold and silver coins of that country had rendered the former the cheaper medium of payment. In Canada, foreign silver coins were rated for circulation according to a more strict analysis of the relative value of the two metals, and in consequence there was a tendency to a flow of the silver dollars of the United States from that country, in which they were undervalued, into Canada, where they circulated at their intrinsic value. Some local inconvenience was experienced on the borders of the two countries from this difference in their currency regulations; but, if the attempt had been made to reconcile the discrepancy, by assimilating the law of Canada to the Mint law of the United States, the consequence would have been that gold would have become, by a forced operation, the principal medium on which contracts would have been based in Canada. This change has been since effected, in the natural course of events, by the rise in the price of silver; and the result of the whole series of proceedings is, that gold has become the measure of value throughout North America, the various currencies of the British Colonies and the United States being adjusted to that standard. Many persons who confound the denomination of money with its representative in coins, the sign with the substance, continue to regard the dollar as the general coin of the world; but the dollar of Spain and Mexico, which claimed this attribute, has been banished to the East.\n\nSir Charles Trevelyan observes, that \"the general object of the operations of 1838 was to establish an uniform standard throughout the British Empire, founded on the sovereign.\" Whatever may have been the object of those operations, however, it is obvious that, although they have led to the final establishment of a gold standard in the American Colonies, that result has been the effect rather of accident than design. They have not led practically to the adoption of the sovereign as the basis of account in all those Colonies, since Canada, the most considerable of them, has assimilated its system of account to that of the United States, and the adjoining Colonies have adhered to their nominal currencies or money of account, corresponding with no actual coin, and depending as much on the eagle as on the sovereign. The operations referred to have hardly touched the Eastern Possessions of the Crown. Australia and the Cape of Good Hope have adhered to the monetary system of the mother country, and, as foreign coins did not come into use in those Colonies, no regulations for legalising their circulation were required. The currencies of Ceylon and Mauritius are still in an ill-defined and transitory condition. The East Indies, the most important possession of all, has a system of its own. The proceedings referred to have the merit of being based on an intelligible system, adapting sound general principles to local exigencies, but cannot claim the attribute of an universal system applicable to all cases.\n\nThe currency of Hong Kong is now to be considered. Unlike other British colonies which were originally settlements of this country, or of foreign countries from which they were acquired, the Colony of Hong Kong was established on the confines of a great Empire, amidst a population trained in its own laws and usages, and peculiarly tenacious of its traditions and prejudices.\n\nThe general system of the currency of China, and the various practices which prevailed regarding the circulation of coins, at the time of the acquisition of the Colony of Hong Kong, are clearly and succinctly described in Mr. Pennington's book on the currency of the British colonies. Sycee silver, which is current by weight, constitutes the standard of value to which all subsidiary coins refer, and the retail transactions of the Chinese are carried on by means of a copper coin called cash.\n\nFrom recent information it appears that on one or two occasions gold rose to a premium at Shanghai, above the usual average. It was conjectured that the Chinese functionaries were then buying up gold for transmission as tribute to Pekin, a preference being given to that metal, on account of its being more easily conveyed than silver through the disturbed districts. It would seem, then, that gold is received in Imperial payments as well as silver, but the conditions on which it is received, in regard to the relative quantity of the two metals, are not known; but it is probable that silver is in general the more favourable medium of payment, and that on that account it is the common standard of value. The fact is of no other importance in the present discussion than that it tends to account for some of the excessive fluctuations in the relative price of gold and silver in that part of the world.\n\n## 107", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-071 - Public Offices - 1858.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 246513, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858", "page_number": 348, "title": "CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858", "content_text": "拿\n\nMinute.\n\nOCT 18\n\n1308\n\nan\n\n1001 在300\n\nearly period of\n\nthe evil Government Secretary of State for\n\nand set.\n\nin\n\n346\n\n1852 a memorial from the officers Hong Kong\n\nwas\n\nforwarded to the the Colonies. It was dated in December 18371\n\nset forth very fully the grievance suffered by\n\npayment of\n\ntheir salaries in British\n\nmoney,\n\nthem in the\n\nand not in Dollars\n\nthe natural, the recognized, and practically the only, currency\n\nin\n\ntrouble.\n\nCopy by infer 28 act 758.\n\nthe Island.\n\nI have not a\n\nCopy of\n\nthe\n\npaper by\n\nme. but as it was drawn\n\nup by the late Mr Hiller and myself. I am able to state briefly\n\nfrom memory\n\nthe substance\n\nof\n\nthe\n\nIn\n\n1846 a\n\nthe\n\nday\n\nabout\n\npaid into\n\nwas\n\nrepresentation made. consequence of the introduction of British Coins into the Colony at the instance of the Chief Commercial Officer of large portion of the parliamentary Grant the Colonial Treasury in those coins and thence paid out to the\n\nliquidation of Salaries and\n\nwages \"Foreign Mercantile Community to have there\n\ndifferent civil Establishments in\n\nOwing to the and the\n\nto the disinclination\n\nmonetary affairs\n\nCoins were\n\ndisturbed (the cause however is immaterial) these\n\nregarded with disfavor and were eventually circulated partially and with\n\ndifficulty\n\nan average\n\nat a discount that\n\nmay be stated\n\nother\n\nas\n\nhigh\n\nas from 10 to 15 though sometimes.\n\ntender under the proclamation of 1 of May at the Colonial Treasury,\n\n25 per cent.\n\nThey\n\nwere a\n\nlegal\n\ntender to which\n\nthey found\n\ntheir\n\nway\n\nin 1845, and consequently could not be refused\n\nin\n\npayment of Government Dues having\n\nbeen purchased in the market with this object; again they\n\nwere\n\npaid\n\nout in Salaries viz. at the rate of 4/2d to the Dollar as fixed by Government-were subjected.\n\nto a loss to the extent above Calculated\n\na conclusive incident-is wherein it is shown that a Chinese tradesman had one price\n\nIn the\n\npaper.\n\nto which I am\n\nreferring\n\ngiven\n\nfor the general customer and another, increased · for the government\n\nservant who would tender British money in payment,\n\nIn addition to this hardship on individuals the Government\n\nPublic works, good provisions too,\n\nevery suffered\n\nas the Contractors\n\nyou\n\n(1)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-072 - Indviduals - 1858.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 247119, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-073 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Bowring - 1859 [1-5]", "page_number": 422, "title": "CO129-073 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Bowring - 1859 [1-5]", "content_text": "Then, Shaned vertail Mr Wodes win the HE\n\nben abstricter Lefore scholing WW Morgan, but baring her Witlangen, scurral times, l' wide. 16 are her Idrett Chinese CC.P, & M. Morgan's office Hewer, carl differing under IH and as the M as I the I the more antially might as the responsible C also le considéce allege th cellite a quest incitants on the scheat, it is imposible to heims at amphing lip.\n\nsahifactory An ordusion assuvie Halle lapsti And beat, What to the pemba walis abrasions cuties in the papers dscnumer, by its being supposer Mat From. the pardes of bring wong depende. that \"ist within the post of A. Many in fordenal ! Het if powk of Chinese, Chiese, met 6).\n\n419 chromons papers are entres nouts be abshootte. Holine that Mat Sensing would, are perhaps the, qui a Now, and dellars hoffect abstaction are his apporter demsequent kleration.\n\nThe iligues of İsar. Forg Hand a men litte Mah-mast Chinese with this tamplation or power Wit 1 the Chinese in M. Mengan's office, it is deniable to ist lit that the wav Jail & con rites of the Gatendist Pang Pai. Jean, abe Ivan C had formerly, how a harks b Me Hack ane who is defiaves of his Jail ungalatons pugnically forwards : memorials harder to the Colenial Wode\n\nJonetary fare thinks M-Wack Jil could very well terranges to forward Mal Grom [nong's offers are instructions . and this more particula parkalary a the Gote dust- 205\n\nHowever, to follow the instructions and improve readability, here is the processed text in Markdown format with corrections and adjustments as per the guidelines:\n\n# Original Text Proofread\n\n## Initial Passage\nThen, Shaned vertail Mr Wodes win the HE\n\nben abstricter Lefore scholing WW Morgan, but baring her Witlangen, scurral times, l' wide. 16 are her Idrett Chinese CC.P, & M. Morgan's office Hewer, carl differing under IH and as the M as I the I the more antially might as the responsible C also le considéce allege th cellite a quest incitants on the scheat, it is imposible to heims at amphing lip.\n\nsahifactory An ordusion assuvie Halle lapsti And beat, What to the pemba walis abrasions cuties in the papers dscnumer, by its being supposer Mat From. the pardes of bring wong depende. that \"ist within the post of A. Many in fordenal ! Het if powk of Chinese, Chiese, met 6).\n\n## Further Details\n419 chromons papers are entres nouts be abshootte. Holine that Mat Sensing would, are perhaps the, qui a Now, and dellars hoffect abstaction are his apporter demsequent kleration.\n\nThe iligues of İsar. Forg Hand a men litte Mah-mast Chinese with this tamplation or power Wit 1 the Chinese in M. Mengan's office, it is deniable to ist lit that the wav Jail & con rites of the Gatendist Pang Pai. Jean, abe Ivan C had formerly, how a harks b Me Hack ane who is defiaves of his Jail ungalatons pugnically forwards : memorials harder to the Colenial Wode\n\n## Conclusion\nJonetary fare thinks M-Wack Jil could very well terranges to forward Mal Grom [nong's offers are instructions . and this more particula parkalary a the Gote dust- 205\n\nLet's correct and reformat it according to the rules:\n\n## Initial Passage\nThen, Shaned vertail Mr Wodes win the HE. Ben abstricter before schooling WW Morgan, but baring her Witlangen, several times, wide. 16 are her Idrett Chinese CCP, & M. Morgan's office. However, differing under IH and as the M as I, the more essentially might as the responsible C also le considere allege the cellule a quest incitants on the sheet, it is impossible to heims at anything lip.\n\nSatisfactory an ordusion assuvie Halle lapsti And beat, What to the pemba walis abrasions cuties in the papers discnumer, by its being supposed Mat From. the pardes of bring wong depend. that \"ist within the post of A. Many in fordenal ! Het if powk of Chinese, Chiese, met 6).\n\n## Further Details\n419 chromons papers are entries nouts be absolute. Holding that Mat Sensing would, are perhaps the, qui a Now, and dellars hoffect abstraction are his apporter demsequent kleration.\n\nThe iligues of İsar. Forg Hand a men little Mah-mast Chinese with this tamplation or power With 1 the Chinese in M. Mengan's office, it is deniable to ist lit that the way Jail & con rites of the Gatendist Pang Pai. Jean, abe Ivan C had formerly, how a harks b Me Hack ane who is defiaves of his Jail ungalatons pugnically forwards: memorials harder to the Colonial Wode.\n\n## Conclusion\nJonetary fare thinks M-Wack Jil could very well arrange to forward Mal Grom[nong's offers are instructions. and this more particularly a the Gote dust-205\n\nIn HTML format as requested:\n\nThen, Shaned vertail Mr Wodes win the HE. Ben abstricter before schooling WW Morgan, but baring her Witlangen, several times, wide. 16 are her Idrett Chinese CCP, & M. Morgan's office. However, differing under IH and as the M as I, the more essentially might as the responsible C also le considere allege the cellule a quest incitants on the sheet, it is impossible to heims at anything lip.\n\nSatisfactory an ordusion assuvie Halle lapsti And beat, What to the pemba walis abrasions cuties in the papers discnumer, by its being supposed Mat From. the pardes of bring wong depend. that \"ist within the post of A. Many in fordenal ! Het if powk of Chinese, Chiese, met 6).\n\n419 chromons papers are entries nouts be absolute. Holding that Mat Sensing would, are perhaps the, qui a Now, and dellars hoffect abstraction are his apporter demsequent kleration.\n\nThe iligues of İsar. Forg Hand a men little Mah-mast Chinese with this tamplation or power With 1 the Chinese in M. Mengan's office, it is deniable to ist lit that the way Jail & con rites of the Gatendist Pang Pai. Jean, abe Ivan C had formerly, how a harks b Me Hack ane who is defiaves of his Jail ungalatons pugnically forwards: memorials harder to the Colonial Wode.\n\nJonetary fare thinks M-Wack Jil could very well arrange to forward Mal Grom[nong's offers are instructions. and this more particularly a the Gote dust-205", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-073 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Bowring - 1859 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 250172, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "page_number": 322, "title": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "content_text": "the Currency of Hong Kong, and although they wrote again to your department in October last, they have not since thought it desirable to call further attention of the subject, because they did\n\nnot think it expedient to adopt any new regulation regarding the currency during the process of the war, which might have the effect of disturbing the arrangements for the payment of the troops, at a time when, from their movements in the field, new complications may arise, the monetary principles of which are uncertain\n\nand anomalous, which might be more difficult to adjust, if the Government Accounts were on a Colonial basis of currency.\n\n320\n\nMy Lords are, however, fully sensible of\n\nthe great inconvenience and loss to Government which arises from the present mixed currency system\n\nat Hong Kong, and they repeat that the question was not considered by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as requested by this Board, before the commencement of the War.\n\nI am, Lord,\n\nYour obedient servant\n\nMy\n\nVADE", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 250174, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "page_number": 324, "title": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "content_text": "the\n\nEffect of disturbing arrangements for paying\n\nthe Troops at a time when, from their movement\n\nin a country, principles of uncertain new complications\n\nto the monetary system may arise, which might\n\nbe difficult to adjust if the Colonial basis of\n\nGovernment Accounts were altered.\n\nWe are fully admitted the necessity however\n\nfor alteration.\n\nIt appears desirable (1) that Government\n\naccounts should eventually be kept in dollars\n\n& cents, and not in Sovereigns & shillings; (2) that\n\nSilver alone, and not gold & silver concurrently,\n\nshould be the legal tender in Hongkong.\n\nIt has been proposed that the bonds of the Currency\n\nproclamation be withdrawn and that the values of\n\ncoins shall be...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 259189, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-098 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [4-5]", "page_number": 289, "title": "CO129-098 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [4-5]", "content_text": "24\n\nthe amount now required for this special Service will not affect the monetary question in any way.\n\nI have to\n\n(signed) Charles St. Ger. Cleverly, Surveyor General.\n\nSame copy)\n\nDocument reference:\n\nTwo Document(s). being\n\n00129/98\n\nEND\n\n(4\n\nPUBLIC RECORD OFFICE\n\n(1) 'Kowloon Peninsula. Plan shewing Areas of Cultivated land to accompany Surveyor General's letter No. 19 of April 20, 1864';\n\n(2) 'Kowloon Peninsula Southern Extremity Plan showing Proposed War Department Boundaries Mare & Soldiers Quarters and Battery Sites to accompany Surveyor General's letter No. 17 dated 6th April 1864'\n\nColonial Secretary.\n\nhas been removed to the Map Room, reference:\n\nDate: 18 August 1996\n\nSigned: MEQ13.7.2(4.5). Gr Beach.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-098 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 260368, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-101 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [10-12]", "page_number": 243, "title": "CO129-101 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [10-12]", "content_text": "upon\n\na great boon by nearly every one interested:\n\nin the welfare of this Colony.\n\nI have yea\n\n(Signed) Frances Chomley\n\nChairman.\n\n(Bruce Copy)\n\nColonial Secretary\n\nIntimations.\n\nTHE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAE BANKING COMPANY,\n\nLIMITED.\n\nCapital - $5,000,000,\n\nIn 20,000 Shares of $250 each.\n\nTO BE INCORPORATED BY CHARTER.\n\nProvisional Committee.\n\nHon. F. CHOMLEY, Esq. (Messrs Dent & Co.)\n\nA. F. HEARD, Esq. (Messrs Aug. Heard & Co.)\n\nTHOMAS SUTHERLAND, Esq. (Superintendent P. & O. S. N. Co.'s)\n\nG. F. MACLEAN, Esq. (Messrs Lyall, Still & Co.)\n\nDouglas Lapraik, Esq.\n\nW. NISSEN, Esq. (Messrs Stemssen & Co.)\n\nH. B. LEMANN, Esq. (Messrs Gilman & Co.)\n\nW. SCHMIDT, Esq. (Messrs Fletcher & Co.)\n\nARTHUR SASSOON, Esq. (Messrs D. Sassoon & Sons & Co.)\n\nROBERT BRAND, Esq. (Messrs Smith, Kennedy & Co.)\n\nPALLANJEE FRAMJEE, Esq. (Messrs P. & A. C. Camajee & Co.)\n\nWM. ADAMSON, Esq. (Manager, Borneo Company Limited)\n\nGEO. J. HELLAND, Esq. (Messrs John Burd & Co.)\n\nRUSTOMJEE DHUNJEESHAW, Esq. (Messrs P. F. Cama & Co.)\n\nCounsel.\n\nE. H. POLLARD, Esq.\n\nTHE Scheme of a Local Bank for this Colony, with Branches at the most important places in China, has been in contemplation for a very long period.\n\nThe local and foreign trade in Hongkong and at the open ports in China and Japan has increased so rapidly within the last few years that additional Banking facilities are felt to be required,\n\nThe Banks now in China being only branches of Corporations, whose head quarters are in England or India, and which were formed chiefly with the view of carrying on exchange operations between those countries and China, are scarcely in a position to deal satisfactorily with the local trade which has become so much more extensive and varied than in former years.\n\nThis deficiency the Hongkong and Shanghae Banking Company will supply, and will in fact assume the same position with relation to this Colony as the Presidency Banks in India, or the Banks of Australia in their respective localities.\n\nThe Establishment of a Mint in Hongkong, providing an adequate supply of proper currency, will render a local Banking medium essential to carry out its operations, and the almost certain disappearance of the existing Compradorie system (so far as money is concerned) will also ensure Banks becoming in course of time the exclusive medium for the transactions of the monetary operations connected with trade.\n\nFor the anticipated success of this enterprise there are therefore ample grounds; and the great prosperity which has attended the working of other local associations in China clearly shows that the largest profits are obtained by those Public Companies which possess an interested local body of Proprietors or Shareholders, whose support naturally forms a chief element of remunerative success.\n\nThe Bank will commence operations simultaneously in Hongkong and Shanghae, and as the importance of its business at the latter place must be very great, it is intended to establish a local Board of Directors there for more effectually meeting the work. As circumstances render it advisable the Bank will establish Branches at other places.\n\nIn the distribution of Shares Hongkong and Shanghae will equally participate. Shares will also be reserved for the other ports in China and Japan and for persons residing elsewhere, who are directly interested in the China Trade.\n\nApplications for Shares must be addressed, until further notice, to the Provisional Committee, care of\n\nMESSRS DENT & Co.\n\nHongkong, July 29, 1864.\n\n241", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-101 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 264738, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-111 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1866 [1-2]", "page_number": 120, "title": "CO129-111 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1866 [1-2]", "content_text": "Mr Heard will also form a revetment to support the steep bank thus made, on the South and west sides of the Parade.\n\n# The expense of the excavation and wall is estimated at about £400. The cost of the construction of a part of this or a similar revetment would probably devolve upon the War Department in a few years as it will be necessary to prevent the rain from washing away the bank and thus endangering the stability of Mr Heard's house.\n\nThe foregoing appears to be the only part of the project which can be considered as advantageous to the War Department, the construction of the covered drain mentioned in Mr Heard's letter being of no service to their interests.\n\nIn return for the expenditure before named, Mr Heard is desirous that the War Department should cede to him through the Colonial Authorities a plot containing about 11,000 superficial feet (or 9,300, more than he gives up), on which he proposes to build a house. Land in this neighbourhood bearing high value, it will be seen that in a monetary point of view, the proposed exchange will be favourable to Mr Heard, not to the Colonial Authorities.\n\nPage 120\nPage 121", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-111 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1866 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 284184, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-149 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [1-4]", "page_number": 79, "title": "CO129-149 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [1-4]", "content_text": "# CREATION of NEW OFFICES and APPOINTMENTS in the Offices of HONGKONG, for the Quarter ended \n30th June \n\n## OFFICE.\n\n| Office | To/Office Agent/Hongs | Annual Salary | Date and description of the authority or instruction (if any) from Her Majesty's Government in England, in consequence of which the appointment was made. | Date of appointment and of authority from the Governor |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Attorney General | to tenn Xame | $600 | S. C. of 1869 | 1st March |\n| Purchase | J.J. Enstic | $love (likely \"$1\" or a specific amount, but OCR result is unclear; however, based on the rule to correct unambiguous OCR errors and the context, \"love\" doesn't make sense and should be a monetary value or a clear term; as per the rules, we keep it as is because it's not clearly correctable) | A 95347 Sextonal Estimates l9w NIPAS of 69 and Colonial | |\n| Colonial Surveyor General's Corporal | Me Korsvan Brants | | Despatch No... (illegible or missing) | |\n| 2 Sappers | Superintending work's Triv. & Cake Scantifon day | | Auditor General's Office 30th November 1870 N7810 | |\n\n*For 18... (text cut off or unclear)\n\n## Date of the Governor's Despatch to Her Majesty's Government in England \nColumn for Remarks in any particular case, respecting the transaction, in cases where no previous authority may have been received, and for the statement of any special circumstances.\n\nThese appointments are but temporary in consequence of the alterations during the rebuilding of the Court House and Praya.\n\n(Signed) **J Gardiner Austin**, \n**Auditor General**.\n\nThe exigencies have necessitated this outlay.\n\nPage 78", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-149 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 288836, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-159 - Sir Kennedy - 1872 [9-12]", "page_number": 209, "title": "CO129-159 - Sir Kennedy - 1872 [9-12]", "content_text": "THE LONDON AND CHINA TELEGRAPH.\n\nIs not a great deal of the work in Siam caused by the doctrine of extra-territorial jurisdiction applying to the inhabitants of British Burmah? Yes, and to British India; I would not separate British Burmah exclusively.\n\nThere is a difficulty in following criminals from British Burmah, is there not, to Siam; do not cases occasionally occur of the escape of criminals into Siam?--I have not heard of any particular case of that kind.\n\nDo you think that work of that kind could be decreased; it has been stated here that there has been a somewhat extravagant interpretation of this doctrine in the case of the inhabitants of British Burmah?--Well, it would be a very great comfort if the work of looking after these men could be taken away from the consul altogether, because it is a terrible responsibility having to give an opinion about cases which happen hundreds of miles away from you, and of which you cannot get any very satisfactory evidence. I do not see how we are to avoid doing it with our Treaty.\n\nThe officers of the consulate are occasionally sent great distances up country, are they not, in these cases?--No, they were not in my time; I have never known of an officer being sent beyond 60 miles about a case.\n\nBut the labour involved in these cases to the consulate is very considerable?--Very considerable, and the anxiety still greater.\n\nDo you know whether it was the custom of other Powers for their consuls to act as agents there?--In some cases the consuls were merchant consuls, trading consuls, and in that case they might of course be agents for anything; the Lloyd's agent in Siam was a merchant.\n\nViscount ENFIELD: Is the cost of living in Siam very great?--It is great as compared with England, because there are certain luxuries which a man must have in a climate of that sort; I mean to say that whereas a young man in England can live very well for £150, out in Siam it is impossible for a student interpreter to live decently on the pay that is given to him.\n\nMR. HARPER in his evidence before the Committee said that H.M. Consuls often acted as agent for Lloyd's, and that the commissions paid on wrecks were at times valuable, he might instance the case £3,000 paid on one ship at Batavia.\n\nCHINA SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH COMPANY (LIMITED).\n\nThe second ordinary general meeting of the shareholders was held on the 13th inst.; Mr. JOHN PENDER, M.P., in the chair. The Secretary (Mr. T. Fuller) read the notice convening the meeting, and the minutes of the last meeting, which were then confirmed; the report of the directors, given in our last issue, was taken as read.\n\n[Nov. 18, 1872.]\n\nThe CHAIRMAN stated that since the opening of the line it had worked in every way satisfactorily; there had been one or two interruptions, but of a slight character. In regard to one which occurred at Saigon in shallow water, they had the satisfaction, in repairing the cable, that it was as perfect as on the day it had been laid down.\n\nIt was also a matter for congratulation to perceive that, even taking into account the low rate of charges that had rated for a considerable period of the company's operations, the result had been about as good as that attained by any submarine line during the first year of its working. It was proposed to pay the shareholders a dividend of 8 per cent. for the whole year.\n\nThe directors entered into arrangements with the Great Northern, by which that company was to receive interest at 5 per cent. on the capital, and the cable to be repaired by them; that all above that sum was to be equally divided; and, although the traffic had been interrupted, the amount received last year from that source was £4,752.\n\nHe thought that at some future time it would be necessary to call upon the shareholders to find the money to lay another cable in conjunction with the Great Northern, as the present cable seemed to be not quite so good as that company had expected it to be. He also believed that an alternate line was necessary to give the public the accommodation they required, and at the same time to secure themselves a fair return.\n\nThis company had put up its tariff to £6, whilst the Great Northern Company were working at £4 10s., but he thought that they were getting as full a share of the traffic as those who went to the expense of telegraphing their messages by both routes.\n\nMr. Forde, a shareholder, said he regretted that the Board had any idea of laying a cable between Hong Kong and Shanghai in conjunction with the Great Northern Company. Such a step would be much in the interests of that company, but against theirs. He must very earnestly urge on the directors the policy of amalgamating with the other companies; a low tariff was only to be obtained by amalgamation. The working expenses of this company—£16,000 on earnings of £85,000—were enormous, and the salaries paid were too high.\n\nMr. HOLMES agreed with Mr. Forde as to the Shanghai line, and he considered the £1,838 for the Agnes repairing ship was excessive, and a contract should be made for the repairs.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN, in reply to these remarks, said that the laying of the cable to Shanghai was merely foreshadowed, but if done, it must be in conjunction with the Great Northern in good faith, according to the bargain made. The policy of amalgamation was quite approved by the Board; but those things required time, and could not be carried out so speedily as Mr. Forde seemed to think.\n\nWith regard to the expenses, he read a statement of salaries, &c., at each port, and explained that the expenses of living were so high at the stations that the salaries of proper officers must be in proportion. The expense for repairs and maintaining cable would be reduced.\n\nThe directors had no objection to half-yearly meetings. The report was then put and carried, as also the re-election of the Baron d'Erlangen as a director, and two auditors. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors.\n\nTHE JAPANESE AT MESSRS. ALLAN, RANSOME AND CO.'S.\n\nYesterday the Minister for Agriculture, with members of his suite, together with American and English employers of labour, visited the works of Messrs. Allan, Ransome, and Co., in King's-road, Chelsea, to view some newly-invented labour-saving machinery of remarkable construction and power.\n\nThe strikes of workmen in the building trades, the increased cost of production in the carpentry and joinery branches of those trades, and the difficulties caused to employers by the restrictions of Trades Unions, have each had their share in directing the attention of engineers to find the means of meeting the pressure caused by the contracted amount of available skilled labour; and the machines exhibited yesterday were in every way so perfect that it is not easy to see how hand labour will hold its own.\n\nThe first machine inspected was a portable saw frame. Any one who has seen the old saw-pits, where the \"top sawyer\" and the \"bottom sawyer\" laboured from morning to night and day after day in cutting a log into planks, would be greatly astonished to see this comparatively small machine, attended only by one man, cut up the body of a large oak into fourteen planks at once, it having twelve saws, which cut through the whole bulk of wood in something less than half an hour.\n\nA mortising machine, the invention of Mr. Richards, of Philadelphia, was set to work, and accurately and cleanly cut in a few moments mortises which would have taken a workman hours.\n\nA moulding machine, for cutting mouldings, did in a minute thirty-five feet of work, which would have taken a skilled workman many hours, and this work could apparently be done by a boy.\n\nIn what was called a \"general joining machine\" there was apparently no limit to the work to be done, the one machine cutting mortises, shaping blocks, planking, carving out banisters, and turning in a few minutes a plain block of wood into a perfectly carved piece of work.\n\nAnother machine, exceedingly small and unpretentious, was shown to be capable of planing any sort of work, oval or flat, and at the same time a revolving chisel cut mortises with celerity and accuracy.\n\nA very fine piece of machinery is one which cuts raised or recessed panels, in other words, which can cut the sunk or raised ornamental work in wood now so highly prized and so dearly paid for, as the best and most skilled.\n\nBy another machine, an American invention, but improved by the Messrs. Ransome, a door can be finished—that is, cleanly sand-papered on both sides—in three minutes.\n\nThe planing and trying-up of work, or what would be properly called the trueing \"up, by which is meant the nice work of making blocks of wood exactly like one another, in order to hand labour, is, by one of Ransome's machines, done at once and perfectly in a few minutes, all the blocks, of whatever size, being placed together and turned out as like as peas, and mathematically correct in every respect.\n\nA band saw machine, by which both fine and rough work was cut in all sorts of shapes, and a saw cutting machine, with F. Ransome's patent stone, were among the other works shown.\n\nWith one or two of these machines an employer with a man and a boy as staff, could turn out as much work as twenty or thirty men, and never be troubled about the nine hours, eight hours, or any other movement.\n\nThe remarkable fact about these machines is that they are not limited to the pattern, shape, or character of wood, for the knives are changed in a few minutes, and whatever the class of work required, it can be done at once.\n\nThe inspection lasted for several hours, and all the visitors expressed themselves delighted with these new machines, some of which are to go to the Vienna Exhibition.\n\nNAVAL AND MILITARY.\n\nThe screw steamer Scotland, Captain James, sailed from Queenstown on the 12th inst. for Singapore and Hong Kong, via the Suez Canal.\n\nThe following are the details of the officers and men who proceed in the Scotland to strengthen the garrisons in the Straits Settlements and Hong Kong:-To Singapore, Captain Battye, Lieutenant Armstrong, and 79 men of the 10th regiment and 10 men of the Royal Artillery.\n\nTo Hong Kong, Captain Stone, with 294 men and 19 women and children of the 80th Regiment; an armourer sergeant, a sergeant, and 10 men of the Royal Artillery: and 3 men of the Royal Engineers.\n\nMajor Watson, of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, Captain Hewson, 73rd Foot, and Lieutenant Chevera, of the 73rd Foot, proceed to Hong Kong on duty with the draft of the 80th Regiment, and will afterwards return to Ceylon.\n\nThe medical officer in charge of the troops is Staff Surgeon O'Halloran, who will, after their arrival at their respective stations, proceed to Penang.\n\nThe Mosquito, composite gunboat, 400 tons, and 360-horse power, which was commissioned at Devonport on the 30th ult., for service on the China station, by Lieutenant-Commander William Henry Bond, was moved into Plymouth Sound on the 9th inst., has made the customary trial of her engines, and has embarked her supply of ammunition preparatory to sailing.\n\nLieutenant-Colonel Joseph H. F. H. Hudson, Grenadier Guards, is to be confirmed in his appointment of military secretary to General Henry Renny, in command of the forces in Ceylon.\n\nMONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.\n\nThe suspension of Messrs. Bowles Bros. and Co., noticed in our last issue, has caused the stoppage of the \"Joint National Agency,\" a company formed for general financial and agency purposes in connection with the Japanese now in Europe, amongst whom we are sorry to say are the agents of the Japanese Government, who have lodged Government funds in the hands of the Company.\n\nJudging from the following circular, it seems that the company is utterly crushed, and will be dissolved.\n\n446, Strand, London, 9th November, 1872.\n\nSIR.—With the greatest regret, and by order of the Board of Directors, I have to inform you that in consequence of the sudden and unexpected suspension of payment of one of the bankers of this company, the firm of Messrs. Bowles Brothers and Co., this company has also found it necessary to suspend payment.\n\nIn order at once to secure the assets of the company its immediate winding up has been determined upon, and with this view an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders will be held here at two o'clock in the afternoon, on Tuesday week, the 19th inst., when a resolution will be submitted to the effect that it has been proved to the satisfaction of the company that it cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business, and that it is advisable to wind up the same.\n\nI am, Sir, your obedient servant,\n\nWALTER H. FARRA, Secretary.\n\nFollowing closely on the failure of Joshua, of Singapore, we have telegrams announcing the stoppage of Chang \"Tee, Watseng and Co., and Absoon and Co., both Chinese firms of importance in the Straits and Saigon trade, with heavy liabilities to European firms.\n\nThe mail also brings advices of the failure and arrest for fraud of A. Velge, a commission merchant at Singapore, by which the banks will also lose.\n\nMessrs. Joshua Brothers and Co., of Great Winchester-street, desire it to be stated that their firms, together with the firms of Joshua Brothers, Melbourne, and Joshua Brothers, Mauritius, are in no way related to or connected with the firm of Joshua Brothers, of Singapore, whose suspension has been announced.\n\nCorrespondence from Shanghai by the last two mails has been very gloomy, and failures are expected before the end of the year, notwithstanding the assistance given here to the Silk market by a combination.\n\nBar Silver has again declined, and the nearest quotation we can give is 59d. per oz., at which rate some small parcels have been sold; the market is weak, and a further slight reduction may be looked for.\n\nThe Bank of Holland has decided to buy no more silver at any price. It has hitherto bought silver at 1.104.65 per Dutch pound, and has not varied the price for years.\n\nBANK AND MISCELLANEOUS SHARES.\n\nTELEGRAPH COMPANIES.\n\n£10\n\nChartered Bank Ind., Aust., and China\n\nAll\n\n59 to 54\n\n13 to 15\n\nAll\n\n23 to 25\n\n10\n\n1 to 15\n\n58 to 60\n\nAll\n\nJOINT STOCK BANKS.\n\n£10\n\nAgra Bank\n\n25\n\nBank of Egypt\n\n20\n\n45\n\nChartered Merc. of India and China\n\n20\n\nCity Bank\n\n+14\n\n1.\n\n100\n\nColonial Bank\n\n500fr.\n\nComptoir D'Escompte of Paris...\n\n2291\n\n100\n\nHong Kong and Shanghai Bank\n\n[Imperial Bank\n\n20\n\n28 to 29\n\n50\n\nLondon and County\n\n20\n\n69 to 58\n\n50\n\nLondon Joint Stock\n\n15\n\n48 to 47\n\n100\n\nLondon and Westminster\n\n20\n\n67 to 62\n\nOriental Bank Corporation\n\nAll\n\n$1 to 42\n\n50\n\nUnion of London...\n\n43 to 44\n\n10\n\nBritish Indian Extension\n\nAll\n\n34 to 144\n\n13\n\nBritish Australian...\n\nAn\n\nA to 99\n\n30\n\nChina Submarine.\n\n10 to 10\n\n10\n\nEastern Telegraph Company\n\n10 to 10\n\n10\n\nGreat Northern\n\nAll\n\n10 to 114\n\n25\n\nIndo-European\n\nAll\n\n14 to 30\n\n30\n\nMediterranean Extension\n\nAll\n\n£ to 7\n\n12\n\nTelegraph Construction Company\n\n£24 to 23\n\n60\n\nIndiarubr.,Gutta Percha &Tel. WorksCo.\n\n45\n\n391 to 301\n\nMISCELLANEOUS\n\n20\n\nBritish India Tea Company\n\nAll\n\n4 to 5\n\nBrit. and Foreign Marine Insurance Co.,\n\n1\n\n6 to\n\n6\n\n20\n\nCeylon Company\n\n***\n\n**\n\nAll\n\n15 to 17\n\n20\n\nDo.\n\n10\n\nLo\n\ndis.\n\n20\n\nDo.\n\nར\n\n4 to\n\n3 dis\n\n50\n\n2 to\n\nI dis.\n\n5\n\nAll\n\nto\n\n53\n\n10\n\nGeneral Credit and Discount Companyj\n\n73\n\nTo\n\n15 pm.\n\n10\n\nHong Kong Gas Company\n\n414\n\n10\n\nInternational Finance Society...\n\n5\n\n1 to dis.\n\n98\n\nJapan Loan, 9 per cent...\n\nAll\n\n110 to 112\n\n$4\n\nLondon and Prov. Marine Insurance Co.\n\n2\n\n24 to 21 pa1.\n\n26\n\nNational Discount Company...\n\n5\n\n121\n\n122\n\n25\n\n50nfr.\n\nOcean Marine Insurance Company\n\nMessageries Maritime of France\n\n5\n\n13 to 14 pm.\n\nAli\n\n50\n\n50\n\n100\n\n21)\n\nP. and O. Steaming Company\n\n170.\n\n1867...\n\n20.\n\nRoyal Mail Steam Company\n\nRealia Marine Insorance Company\n\nAll\n\n51 10\n\n68\n\n10\n\ndis. to par\n\n60\n\n93 to B5\n\nJ\n\n1 to I dis.\n\n4021.\n\nSuez Canal Company\n\n*\n\n20\n\n20\n\nThames and Mersey Marine Lasur. Co.\n\nUniversal Marine Insurance Company!\n\n5 to\n\nFLE\n\nColonial Company\n\nCredit Foncier of England\n\nARTICLES OF IMPORT.\n\nTEA.\n\n1,530\n\n1.360\n\n5pm.\n\n4 to jum\n\nMessrs. Shepard, Harrison, and Rehden's Circular says--\n\nDuring the past few days buying, except at auction without reserve (sales of China or Indian growth taking place daily), has been all but suspended, owing to the disturbance in the money market and the advance in the Bank rate, which is now 7 per cent.; arrivals have also been on an exceedingly large scale; buyers therefore act with extreme caution.\n\nAdvices from China, as to ultimate total shipments, state, \"all will depend on prices paid for common Congou;\" as regards this market, there is no encouragement to ship such here; demand has been \"off\" this class for some time, and late imports of what may be fairly classed as \"good common\" are not saleable over 9d.\n\nThe export trade to all quarters has been inactive.\n\nThe public sales of China have comprised 16,117 packages, of which week amount to 8,211,346 lbs., against 3,161,038 lbs. last year.\n\n14,449 packages have been sold without reserve.\n\nThe deliveries for the sales have been...\n\nBlack-Red leaf: No change as to prices for siftings and leafy; good flavoury kinds at 1s. to 1s 1d. have been scarce, but a better selection is offering from ships now discharging; Souchong and Kaisow kinds at 1s. 3d. to 1s. 5d. offer good value; medium to fine at 1s. 6d. to 2s. are hard of sale; finest sells in small lots at 2s. 1d. to 2s. 6d. per lb.\n\nPakling kinds: No demand.\n\nTayshau leaf: Fall supplies are in course of landing; a few sales at 10d. to 1s, for good common and fair.\n\nBlack leaf: In low and ordinary common there have been occasional small sales at 6d. to 7½d.; fair to good common we quote at 8d. to 10d. per lb., and difficult of sale; preferable kinds 1s. 7d, we make rather lower; fine and finest 1s. 8d. to 2s. 2d., limited at 1s. to 1s. 2d. are scarce; medium to good medium at 1s. 3d. to 1s. 6d. are...\n\nSouchong: Few transactions at no alteration in value.\n\nScented Tea, Canton kinds--Caper: There has been fair trade doing, as late good common to fair 10d. to 1s., good to medium 1s. 1d. to 1s. 4d, fine imports are of desirable quality, many parcels being strong scented; 1s. 5d. to 1s. 8d., finest 1s. 9d. to 2s. per lb.\n\nScented Orange Pekoe: Limited supplies, but sufficient for present wants, Foochow growth being in full supply, and selling at a moderate scale of prices.\n\nGreen Large sales by auction without reserve; the imports, ex Glenroy and Ajax, over 800,000 lbs., offering a varied selection, chiefly of Peling Suey leaf, which has sold at an average 1d. per lb. decline, No. 1 Gunpowder selling down to 2s. 11d., other grades in proportion.\n\nSlogane and Fychow leaf, with the comparatively small supply, has been selling at extreme rates.\n\nCanton and Japan kinds: No change.\n\nSILK.\n\nMessrs. Kilburn, Kershaw, and Co. report as follows:--\n\nThe slight improvement in demand which had shown itself recently has been checked by the movements of the money market, and buyers generally seen disposed to wait; there is no change in quotations.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-159 - Sir Kennedy - 1872 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 290918, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-163 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [4-6]", "page_number": 85, "title": "CO129-163 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [4-6]", "content_text": "4\n\n83\n\nand\n\nverbally reported the matter to The Honorable The Acting Colonial Secretary. From directions received during the day, I permitted Mr. Prior and \"Ng a Thing\" to pay Messrs. Lammert, Altman & Co., and allowed them to return to their havens.\n\nThe following morning, I was surprised by Mr. Smith, the Senior of Trickett & Co., coming to me and representing that he had not received payment, that the Chinese signature Voucher was that of his Shroff, and that he had signed it at the request of Ng a Thing, who at the same time gave him an order upon the Magistracy Shroff (See enclosed Paper 1) with directions to present it on the 4th April. The Shroff had mentioned to Mr. Smith that he had received this Order, and Mr. Smith, considering this Order as equivalent to receipt of the money, had without much reflection, signed the Voucher for the Firm.\n\nOn reaching him, a rumor, however, on the morning of the 2nd April, he had come to me without delay. I expressed my surprise that he had signed showing the regularity of Government monetary matter.\n\nThis new matter necessitated...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-163 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 293655, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-167 - Sir Kennedy - 1874 [1-8]", "page_number": 315, "title": "CO129-167 - Sir Kennedy - 1874 [1-8]", "content_text": "# Governor Kennedy to the Earl of Carnarvon\n\nMy Lord,\n\nGovernment House \nHong Kong, 20th May 1871 \n\nI have the honor to acknowledge \nthe receipt of the Earl of Kimberley's Circular Despatch of the 18th February enquiring whether the Local Audit is substantially carried on in this Colony and when the Colonial Accounts were last finally audited.\n\nI have the honour to enclose, \nin reply, for Your Lordship's information a report \nmade by the Auditor General, by which \nit appears that all monetary transactions \nare", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-167 - Sir Kennedy - 1874 [1-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 297006, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "page_number": 104, "title": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "content_text": "7\n\n44\n\nnot given to this point, and they would impress upon the Secretary of State and the Colonial Government that the first and principal question for discussion is the price at which a British or Hong Kong dollar can be laid down in Hong Kong, as compared with the prices in the colony of Mexican or American dollars. If, as my Lords and the Deputy Master of the Mint anticipate, the cost of the British dollar be the greatest, the Secretary of State will have to consider whether the colony ought to undertake the cost of manufacture; and it is to be borne in mind that the wider the circulation and the greater the expense, the greater will be the success of the proposed coin.\n\nSir Hercules Robinson observes: \"Hong Kong is a mere directing centre and financial capital for a trade carried on outside it. The principal merchants and the banks keep there their central establishments, and there their balances are adjusted and the exchanges regulated; but the real business of buying and selling is carried on at the open ports. The strings are pulled, as it were, in Hong Kong, but a chest of tea or a bale of silk never touches the shores of Hong Kong. Millions upon millions of dollars are thrown into the Colony annually, and pass through it as through a sieve on their way to the open ports.\"\n\nIf the proposed dollar were accepted by the Chinese, it is to be feared that it would only pass through \"the sieve\" not to return at all, or to return chopped and disfigured after the fashion, which gives such good ground for dissatisfaction, and the result would be a constant demand for new dollars, on each of which the Colonial Treasury would incur a loss.\n\nIt remains to be considered whether it would be possible to restrict the internal currency of the colony to clean dollars. The correspondence shows that the mutilated coins now in use cause grave inconvenience, and that there is a general wish for reform. The popular remedy appears to be a proclamation declaring that from a certain date clean coins would only be accepted.\n\nMy Lords, however, feel sure that the Secretary of State will agree with them that no such proclamation should be issued, even if desirable in itself, unless the Government be reasonably assured of its success. Experience has repeatedly shown that legislation on monetary matters, at variance with the wants or convenience of the community, is set at nought, and it needs no instances to prove that laws which do not work are mischievous. The question is: Hong Kong being little more than a suburb of Canton, can the coin current in the latter be kept out of the former? It would be well if the Colonial Government were desired to consider carefully this question in its relation to the proposed remedy, and to report their conclusions.\n\nThe demand for one dollar notes is in some degree connected with the movement for a clean currency, for my Lords observe that allusion is made to it in the correspondence under review, and the general ground upon which the issue has been advocated is the benefit to all classes in Hong Kong of a convenient substitute for the present chopped and disfigured currency, and it is the main argument upon which the Administrator of the Government relies in his despatch of the 10th June, enclosed in your letter of 17th August.\n\nMy Lords hold that departure from safe and sound principle in monetary legislation will sooner or later entail upon the community, when the experiment is tried, evils far counterbalancing the immediate advantages which more speculative proposals may offer. The Colonial Banking Regulations were drawn up with great care, and they embody the accepted principles of safe banking; no mischief, therefore, can ensue if they are obeyed. If in the process of time competent judges of such matters think that changes are required, the regulations themselves should be modified upon a consideration of general principle; again, if the circumstances of a particular colony demand exceptional legislation, the burden of proving the necessity lies on those who plead it, and the demand should be carefully considered by the Secretary of State, with the assistance of this Board, before any action is taken. My Lords think it a most dangerous innovation that the Governors of Colonies, who have not necessarily made such matters their study, should be permitted to sanction departures from the Colonial Banking Regulations, at the instance of the parties for whose control those regulations were devised.\n\nAs matters are now, my Lords understand that the issue of one dollar notes is restricted to the 226,000 dollars, which the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank has actually in circulation, and that there is no impediment to the recall of that limited power of issue, if it be thought expedient.\n\n5\n\nOf course, this restriction will reduce the risk to a minimum, which might follow a panic among an ignorant and alien people, and, for practical purposes, it might not be necessary to press objection further; but my Lords cannot help observing that the monopoly accorded, for no reason apparently, to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank is, even in its restricted form, utterly unjustifiable, and they cannot help thinking that it should be put an end to as soon as an opportunity can be found.\n\nAt this point, my Lords might conclude, but they are anxious to assist the Colonial Government as much as possible in putting an end to the monetary difficulties, which are the subject of complaint. They will, therefore, make a suggestion which they think might be feasible and justifiable, considering the exceptional situation of the Colony. They assume, upon the evidence before them, that the issue of a small note would be of real benefit for internal circulation, and that the object of the Government of the Colony is to provide such a note as a substitute for the degraded currency now in use. My Lords have considered whether it would be possible to secure such an issue against the risks to which it is peculiarly liable, and they make it a condition of their suggestion that the Colony must confine themselves to an issue so secured without regard to profit. It is evident that on these terms, it is not a privilege for the banks to possess, because they could only use it upon ordinary trading principles, i.e., for the purpose of profit; and they, for that purpose, could only retain a small reserve of coin in hand, insufficient to meet such a demand as might be apprehended in case of panic.\n\nIf, however, the Colonial Government were to issue small notes, retaining coin in their cellars against every note, the experiment might be safely tried. There would no doubt be expense to the Government in the first instance. As experience was gained, it might indeed be possible to make other arrangements; but in the first instance, all idea of profit must be abandoned, and the issue regulated simply to supply a want of the community in very exceptional circumstances.\n\nIn making this suggestion for the consideration of the Secretary of State, and without pledging themselves absolutely to its adoption, my Lords wish it to be understood that they have not modified their views on the subject of State issues by small communities. They are proposing a special measure to meet a special emergency.\n\nC\n\nIt has been urged that it is true commercial policy to issue small notes, in order that trade may be diffused among the many, in preference to among the few capitalists.\" It appears to my Lords that such theories are of dangerous tendency. The duty of the State, in the regulation of the coinage, is not to consider the interest of any class, large or small, but to found its legislation on sound and simple principle, assured that such legislation will in the end conduce to the interest of all classes.\n\nMy Lords observe, with some surprise, a statement in the debate of the Chamber of Commerce, that the Yen had been declared legal tender in the Straits Settlements. They presume that such a step would not have been taken without reference to the Secretary of State, but they find no mention of it in the correspondence between the Secretary of State and this Board.\n\nThe Under Secretary,\n\nColonial Office,\n\nI am,\n\nSIR,\n\nYour obedient Servant,\n\nR. R. W. LINGEN.\n\n98", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 297028, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "page_number": 126, "title": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "content_text": "120\n\nfrom safe and sound principle\n\nin\n\nmonetary legislation\n\nlater\n\nwell 200 net\n\nentail upon\n\nthe Community\n\nwhere the experiment is tried, evils\n\ncounterbalancing the immediate\n\nadvantages which mere\n\nproposals\n\nmay\n\noffer.\n\nBanking regulations\n\nframed up\n\nwith\n\ngreat\n\ncare,\n\nembodying\n\nspeculative principles. The Colonial\n\nwere drawn\n\nand they\n\nthe accepted principles\n\nof safe Banking. To mischief, these\n\ncan\n\nensue if they\n\nare obeyed.\n\nIf in the process of\n\ntime competent\n\nJudges\n\nof each\n\nchange\n\nthemselves\n\nare\n\nof the matter think that\n\nrequired, the Regulations\n\nshould\n\nbe modified.\n\nupon a consideration of general\n\nprinciple; again, if the circumstances\n\nof a particular Colony\n\ndemand\n\nand\n\nburthen\n\nexceptional legislation, the\n\nof proving the necessity lies on those\n\nwho plead it, and\n\nthe demand\n\nshould\n\nbe\n\ncarefully\n\nconsidered:\n\nby the Secretary of State, with\n\nassistance of this Board, before\n\nany\n\naction\n\nis taken. But My Lords think it a most dangerous\n\ninnovation", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 297030, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "page_number": 128, "title": "CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875", "content_text": "122\n\nBank, is, even\n\neven in its restricted\n\nform, utterly unjustifiable, and\n\nThey\n\ncannot help thinking\n\nthat\n\nit\n\nshould be put an end to as\n\nan\n\nAt this point My Lords might be feasible and justifiable,\n\nconsidering the exceptional situation\n\nof the Colony. They\n\nassume upon\n\nthe evidence before Them that\n\nthe issue of\n\ncurrency\n\ncan be found,\n\nbe of\n\nreal\n\nbenefit for internal\n\ncirculation.\n\nThe anxious Colonial Government\n\na small note would\n\nof the\n\nGovernment of the Colony\n\nis to provide\n\neach\n\nas much\n\nas possible\n\nin putting\n\nan end to the monetary difficulties,\n\nnote as a\n\nsubstitute\n\nfor the degraded currency in\n\nuse\n\nwhich\n\nare the subject of complaint.\n\nMy Lords have considered\n\nThey\n\nwill, therefore,\n\nmake\n\na suggestion\n\nwhich they think\n\nmight\n\nbe possible\n\nto secure such\n\nan issue against\n\nthe", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-172 - Public Offices & Others - 1875.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 298657, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12]", "page_number": 8, "title": "CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12]", "content_text": "6\n\n... held purely financial matter, then the General is responsible for all that has occurred; but, if on the other hand, we are not to have interpreted correctly the plain and straightforward question put to the General through his \"Military Secretary, and his seemingly decisive and comprehensive reply, then we are subject to what may be claimed.\n\nI am well aware that a defence may be claimed by the General to the effect that the cessation of official financial correspondence did not preclude direct monetary payments, and that the Colonial Government, being liable for certain liabilities, was bound to discharge them, irrespective of any claim made by letter.\n\nThis would be correct under ordinary circumstances, but as it has been the custom of the Commissariat to send in its claims, the Colonial Government has, as a rule, awaited the demand before ordering payment.\n\nIn respect to the overdue payments of the Military Contribution for the Quarters ending March 31st and June 30th, which are due to the present...\n\nPage ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 298861, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12]", "page_number": 212, "title": "CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12]", "content_text": "delayed beyond the usual time in consequence of my desire to have the large monetary operations connected with the Praya, Central School and Civil Hospital disposed of during the ensuing year. Your Lordships will observe that in respect to the expenses of the Departments, the Estimates for 1877 are in close accord with those of 1876. The differences save such as have been already sanctioned by Your Lordship are as follows:- Colonial Treasury. 3rd clerk a small increase of $300 per month.\n\n02. Auditor General). 1st Clerk an addition of $150 per annum in consequence of his meritorious services during a period of 20 years.\n\nSurveyor General: Several. The Inspector of Miramar, 2 Interpreters and 2 Grave Diggers are but transfers from other Departments.\n\nPostmaster General the salaries of two of the Sorters have been increased on the staff respectively payable out of the $100 provided by the Imperial Post Office.\n\nRegistrar General. Another Market Scavenger has been added to this establishment.\n\nHarbour Master. This increase is but $48 and...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-175 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 304047, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-184 - Governor Hennessy - 1879 [1-5]", "page_number": 639, "title": "CO129-184 - Governor Hennessy - 1879 [1-5]", "content_text": "## elimite by the Colonial Monetary \n\n634 \n\nI have not sufficient acquaintance, I may say I have hardly any acquaintance, with the mode in which the business of the Courts is carried on here. I am unable therefore to express a very decided opinion. I think however that the scheme is a good one and am inclined to support the recommendations of Mr. Francis that it should extend to Civil Courts also.\n\n(signed) W.H. Marsh, Colonial Secretary \n\n30th May, 1879.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-184 - Governor Hennessy - 1879 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305166, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-186 - Public Offices & Others - 1879", "page_number": 425, "title": "CO129-186 - Public Offices & Others - 1879", "content_text": "## MINUTE PAPER\n\n**R** Memo - a that summary – without details Wt Dates of th\n\nA Registrar is wanted for the Supreme Court\n\nTwo Judges.\n\n(Monetary)\n\nof Hong Kong - which proposes a structure.\n\nThe Supreme Court has various duties with jurisdictions which in England are discharged by the several Divisions of the High Court of Judicature, and The Admiralty Division.\n\nAdmiralty matters are dealt with by the Judges of The Supreme Court in the Vice Admiralty Court, which is regulated not by Colonial Ordinance but by Imperial Statutes.\n\nThe Registrar with his subordinates discharges the duties of the Registrars, masters, including the master of the Supreme Court, & chief clerks & other officials who form the staff of the English Courts, under the provisions of Local Ordinances, of which the principal is a Court Ordinance. He is also Registrar of Companies under the Joint Stock Companies Ordinance (No.5 of 1864), under which he is also Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, and an ordinary adopting of the Joint Stock Companies Act of the English act of 1862 (which having a Registrar in Bankruptcy, as under that act). Part of his duty is to conduct the examinations in Bankruptcy.\n\nThe Registrar is also Official Administrator & intestate Estates, Collecting and distributing the property in cases when Administration is not taken out by any relative or creditor (Order 8.4.1860).\n\nGovernment especially which should be done by the Supreme Court is that the incidence of probate duty that the income...\n\nCost to let us amend this amount what the Government collects by the shape of not the case the question of fees and duties but even of these...\n\nSupreme Court as compared with the other Colonies are small. Authors and others 20 bear...\n\nI be of your RECE C.O. 16 SEP 6/81 Sept 18. 412 Knowledge receipt of 15 August, enclosing report of lately appointed Commission to enquire into and stunning Kong...\n\nForemost recommendations for amendment have been considered amongst other things...\n\nregards to the respects custom duty and disbursement...\n\nI property charges of Supreme Court you store anche...\n\nThe Registrar and the Supreme Court has various duties with Commissioner...\n\n`62/018771`\n\nPage ...\n\nThe practice and the twin increased cost which have been considered necessary slight...\n\n... \nRECE C.O. 16 SEP 6/81 \n\nKnowledge recept of 15 August \nenclosing report of lately appointed \nCommissioner to enquire into and \nstunning Kong \nmatted \nForemmin dations for umenit \nha \nthe practice \nkware ate la caren the tweninsed cost wheel ho been consideredd peaessary slight \namongst other things \nregards to the \npects custo chy and dis beroend \n\nfully consuetered this Report \nbor & the Supreme Court. has'vamous duties with \nComminaonerj", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-186 - Public Offices & Others - 1879.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305580, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "page_number": 321, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "# \n\nseeing prospect of advancement in India slow: are there who retiring with a certain amount of pension would leave and continue serving in a permanent station? Captains of 20 years' service who under present regulations cannot be continued.\n\nThe Volunteer force would absorb any officers who might be available.\n\nI have not sufficient data to calculate the cost. Certainly not for reasons already given.\n\n11. The raising of Chinese in the Colony is not contemplated.\n\nIt would be advisable to have assistance in the shape of Interpreters. I have already answered this.\n\n14. In time of peace to a certain extent, but in time of war certainly this is what I contemplate would be the best way to employ them. Already answered.\n\n16. \n17. \n\n18. I believe the present Volunteers have no monetary allowance in court of age. I think something might be done from Colonial funds to encourage training, notably for prizes for good shooting. A good Volunteer Rifle Corps would be valuable in time of war, and the numbers of good shots in the police, dockyard police, and various other departments show how easily a corps could be formed if encouraged.\n\n19. The police would be employed in their proper duties, and as they are armed to a certain extent, would be utilised easily in aid of the defence but under their officers.\n\n20. With the limited numbers of Chinese proposed to be enrolled, I do not think the Chinese Government would take much interest.\n\nHang sun & Co./873 Candi 27 Lenschellinge \n\n12 18.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 309537, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "page_number": 198, "title": "CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9]", "content_text": "196\n\nBee that in the Riga I carried Excellency's far do a 20. Я -matter of the ont Stis in instructions asonably could I most respectfully to be permitted to make ask DRAFT. You. No. 15 126 Hong Kong 17054 Jir. J. P. Hennessy - KemG. Mr. MINUTE. Lucas. 11. Nov. Mr. De Robeck //. Mr. Wingfield. Mr. Bramston. Mr. Meade. Mr. Herbert. Countney 12 X Mr. Grant-Duff. such reports as might 13 X Lord Kimberley. inv ma a king. will justify FIL doing 20 I hope Excelloney will not find and viv Stis that his con has been fidence in misplaced I have 401 22re (Sga) 4. G. Thomsett R, r. Harbor Master. The Hon'ble F. Stewart. L.L. L. Secretary Acting Colonial honetary Ans d2675. Sin 15 NW. 1881.\n\nI have the honour to ack. the receipt of you desp. the 186 No. 126 of August enclosing letter from of a Capt Thomselt Elation to a difficulty which has arisen on the in respect to his duties as Emigration officer. And I have also to Adinowledge the receipt i : 1 te.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 316419, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-199 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [4]", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-199 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [4]", "content_text": "# CIRCULARS\n\n## 1838\nMay 1. Colonial Bank Notes.-Sco Guiana Gazette, 15 January 1888. This note taken from Circular Book.\n\n## West Indies.-Monetary System\nAug. 15. Report on subject requested.\n\n## West Indies-Currency\nAug. 15. Question considered by Privy Council. Meantime Mint will supply persons with British silver coin on receiving an equivalent and expenses for coinage.\n\n## West Indies.-Currency\nSept. 15. Explains evil of system in force. States that Order in Council of 23 March 1825 has been revoked, and that new Order declares that 4s. 2d. and 64s. of British silver shall be a legal tender for one dollar and one doubloon respectively.\n\n## West Indies.-Currency\nSept. 15. Encloses Orders above referred to of 7 and 14 September, and Proclamation of 14 September, and explains their effect.\n\n## West Indies.-Currency\nSept. 15. Encloses two Minutes drawn up for the assistance of Colonial Governments in the question.\n\n## West Indies\nOct. 1. Encloses manuscript copies of the Orders in Council and Proclamation above referred to attested by the Seal of the Council Office.\n\n## 1840\nMay 4.\n\n## 1846\nMay 30. **Charters.-Banking Companies' Regulations**\n\n## 1848\nDec. 28. Mr. Pennington's Memo on Currency enclosed.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-199 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317221, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5]", "page_number": 302, "title": "CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5]", "content_text": "## GOVERNOR SIR RICHARD GRAVES MCDONNELL TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY.\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 20th January, 1872.\n\nMY LORD,\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No. 99 of the 1st August last, calling for a report on the duties performed by Mr. CECIL SMITH in his double capacity of Registrar General and Treasurer, with various details connected with the work of the two offices.\n\n2. As Your Lordship's despatch was received here on the 3rd October last, referred to Mr. SMITH the 9th of that month, and reported on by him on the 26th of October, I am unable to account for the delay which has taken place in replying to Your Lordship's communication, especially as the Colonial Secretary's observations on Mr. SMITH's report are dated the 31st of last October.\n\n3. Your Lordship's despatch and the reports thereon having been laid before me about the 5th instant, I directed a further reference to Mr. SMITH that he might see the Colonial Secretary's opinion and, with the knowledge I possess of the works in progress, the distance separating one from the other, and the number of labourers being employed daily there, I have been able to draw tolerably accurate conclusions as to the general efficiency of the department and the possibility of making reductions in the staff.\n\n4. Having given full consideration to these subjects, I am of opinion that, on the whole, there is no just ground of complaint, and that so long as the undertakings engaging the services of the department are so important, numerous, and widely distant, it would not be prudent to attempt any reduction, other than those consequent on the approaching completion of the Reservoir at Pokfúlam.\n\n5. I enclose, for the information of Your Lordship, a copy of the report made by Mr. MOORSOM, to which is appended a tabular statement which will afford very valuable information in respect to the Survey Department. I have also to draw Your Lordship's attention to the necessity for a more constant personal supervision by the Treasurer of payments into and disbursements from the Treasury.\n\nI have, &c., \n(Signed) RICHARD GRAVES MCDONNELL.\n\nThe Right Honourable THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY, \nHer Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, \n&c., \n&c., \n&c.\n\n295 \n(2)\n\n2. As regards Your Lordship's first enquiry, I have to observe that the Surveyor General and the Acting Assistant Surveyor General are the only Officers with whom I have come into personal contact, and that consequently it is only in respect to them that I am able to form any reliable opinions. The latter Officer is but temporarily employed, and therefore the only one on whose ability and general efficiency I am in any way qualified and called upon to report is Mr. MOORSOM himself. Of him, I am able on the whole to give Your Lordship satisfactory assurance, as although there are failures in respect to activity and method in the administration of the office, Mr. MOORSOM is nevertheless one on whose capabilities full reliance may be placed.\n\n3. In respect to the duties which are assigned to the Officers and Clerks serving under him, I have been under the necessity of calling upon him for a report, as I am necessarily unacquainted with the detailed management of the department.\n\n## THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY TO THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG.\n\nDOWNING STREET, 21st August, 1871.\n\nSIR,\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 76 of 5th June, applying for instructions as to the amount of security to be given by Mr. CECIL SMITH as Acting Treasurer, and stating that you yourself do not see how \"he can be called upon to give any security for the intromissions of a department the supervision of which he can in no way control.”\n\nUntil the return of Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL to the Colony, I am not disposed to make any alteration in the recent arrangements for the management of the Treasury which he recommended.\n\nIn the meantime, however, I shall wish you to procure from Mr. SMITH a full and detailed statement of the manner in which he executes the duties of the two offices now placed under his supervision, showing what are the hours of his attendance in each office, and what portions of the work in each department require his personal attention or presence, and what can be and are done by Officers under him. I should wish also to be informed what is the exact procedure at the Treasury in respect of the receipt and payment into the Bank of public money; what checks are established to insure the correct and punctual transfer to the Bank of money received, and to prevent the improper drawing out of money on public account.\n\n4. Mr. SMITH's enclosed memo. of the 10th instant disposes in my opinion very satisfactorily of AUSTIN's suggestion of more continuous personal supervision being required. Indeed, if the Colonial Secretary's objections were to prevail, it would seem impossible that any great mercantile or banking business could be carried on, because no head of a large establishment could personally superintend the actual receipt and payments of the numerous and large sums of money perpetually going on.\n\n5. In the Treasury here, such payments over the counter are reduced to a minimum by the plan which I suggested and sketched for that purpose in my despatch No. 783 of the 1st September 1869. Thereby the Oriental Bank is made the principal payer, as well as recipient of all moneys on Public Account, and consequently this system, combined with that of a daily payment into the Bank every Afternoon of monies received before 2.30 P.M., is the best guarantee to the Colony of the safety and regularity of all monetary transactions at the Treasury. Therefore, although Mr. SMITH may be, as he alleges, actually in the Treasury pending most of those transactions, I submit that the real security afforded to the Public depends on arrangements quite unconnected with Mr. SMITH's accidental presence or absence in the Treasury.\n\n6. On the whole, I see no reason to suppose that any undue risk is incurred by the public now, or that a person of Mr. SMITH's active habits and special experience is unable to attend adequately to the double duties of Treasurer, as now reconstituted by me, combined with those of Registrar General.\n\n7. The enclosed explanation, however, will enable Her Majesty's Government to decide for itself how far it is desirable that further security be required from Mr. SMITH or any Acting Treasurer. I must, however, observe that I find it often very difficult to provide for the discharge of the duties of officers absent on leave, a difficulty greatly augmented by their receiving two months' vacation leave annually in this Colony and being permitted lately to hoard up that leave so as to use four months at once on full pay, added to a long half-pay absence, to revisit Europe. Thus Mr. AUSTIN, by Your Lordship's permission, will soon have four months' vacation leave and twelve months half-pay leave. Now, if in addition to the difficulty of finding suitable persons to fill gratuitously important and hard-worked offices during so many months, there be added the difficulty of giving security, Your Lordship will perhaps admit that there are grave reasons for insisting on the latter only to the extent absolutely essential.\n\n8. I trust Your Lordship will excuse my offering the above suggestion, but I foresee so much increasing responsibility to the Governor from the practice of combining the exceptionally long vacation leave of absence allowed in this Colony with the regular half-pay leave, that I think the whole question fully, if that consequence of its application, to which I shall advert in another despatch, be lost sight of.\n\nI should be glad also to receive from you and Mr. AUSTIN any observations as to Mr. SMITH's statement that you may think desirable.\n\nI approve of your having for the present left the question of the amount of security to be given by the Acting Treasurer in abeyance.\n\nI have, &c., \n(Signed) KIMBERLEY.\n\nThe Officer Administering the Government of \nHONGKONG.\n\nPage 927 \n(3)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317272, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5]", "page_number": 352, "title": "CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5]", "content_text": "# 345 \n\n(2) \n\n2. As regards Your Lordship's first enquiry, I have to observe that the Surveyor General and the Acting Assistant Surveyor General are the only Officers with whom I have come into personal contact, and that consequently it is only in respect to them that I am able to form any reliable opinions. The latter Officer too is but temporarily employed and therefore the only one on whose ability and general efficiency I am in any way qualified and called upon to report is Mr. MOORSOM himself. Of him, I am able on the whole to give Your Lordship satisfactory assurance, as although there are failures in respect to activity and method in the administration of the office, Mr. Moorsom is nevertheless one on whose capabilities full reliance may be placed.\n\n3. In respect to the duties which are assigned to the Officers and Clerks serving under him, I have been under the necessity of calling upon him for a report, as I am necessarily unacquainted with the detailed management of the department.\n\nWith this report before me, I have, with the knowledge I possess of the works in progress, the distance separating one from the other, and the number of labourers being employed daily thereon, been able to draw tolerably accurate conclusions as to the general efficiency of the department and the possibility of making reductions in the staff.\n\n4. Having given full consideration to these subjects, I am of opinion that, on the whole, there is no just ground of complaint, and that so long as the undertakings engaging the services of the department are so important, numerous, and widely distant, it would not be prudent to attempt any reductions other than those consequent on the approaching completion of the Reservoir at Pokfúlam.\n\n5. I enclose, for the information of Your Lordship, a copy of the report made by Mr. MOORSOM, to which is appended a tabular statement which will afford very valuable information in respect to the Survey Department.\n\nThe Right Honourable **THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY**\n\nNo. 99.\n\nI have, &c., \n(Signed) \n**H. W. WHITFIELD, Major-General & Lieut-Governor**\n\n**THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY TO THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG**\n\nDOWNING STREET, 21st August, 1871.\n\nSIR,-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 76 of 5th June, applying for instructions as to the amount of security to be given by Mr. CECIL SMITH as Acting Treasurer, and stating that you yourself do not see how \"he can be called upon to give any security for the intromissions of a department the supervision of which he can in no way control.\"\n\nUntil the return of Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL to the Colony, I am not disposed to make any alteration in the recent arrangements for the management of the Treasury which he recommended.\n\nIn the meantime, however, I shall wish you to procure from Mr. SMITH a full and detailed statement of the manner in which he executes the duties of the two offices now placed under his supervision, showing what are the hours of his attendance in each office, and what portions of the work in each department require his personal attention or presence and what can be and are done by Officers under him.\n\nI should wish also to be informed what is the exact procedure at the Treasury in respect of the receipt and payment into the Bank of public money; what checks are established to insure the correct and punctual transfer to the Bank of money received, and to prevent the improper drawing out of money on public account.\n\nI should be glad also to receive from you and Mr. AUSTIN any observations as to Mr. SMITH'S statement that you may think desirable.\n\nI approve of your having for the present left the question of the amount of security to be given by the Acting Treasurer in abeyance.\n\nI have, &c., \n(Signed) \n**KIMBERLEY**\n\nThe Officer Administering the Government of \nHONGKONG.\n\nNo. 927.\n\n(3)\n\n**GOVERNOR SIR RICHARD GRAVES MCDONNELL TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY**\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 20th January, 1872.\n\nMY LORD, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No. 99 of the 21st August last, calling for a report on the duties performed by Mr. CECIL SMITH in his double capacity of Registrar General and Treasurer, with various details connected with the work of the two offices.\n\n2. As Your Lordship's despatch was received here on the 3rd October last, referred to Mr. SMITH on the 9th of that month, and reported on by him on the 26th of October, I am unable to account for the delay which has taken place in replying to Your Lordship's communication, especially as the observations of the Colonial Secretary on Mr. SMITH's report are dated the 31st of last October.\n\n3. Your Lordship's despatch and the reports thereon having been laid before me about the 5th instant, I directed a further reference to Mr. SMITH that he might see the Colonial Secretary's opinion as to the necessity for a more constant personal supervision by the Treasurer of payments into and disbursements from the Treasury.\n\n4. Mr. SMITH's enclosed memo. of the 10th instant disposes in my opinion very satisfactorily of Mr. AUSTIN'S suggestion of more continuous personal supervision being required. Indeed, if the Colonial Secretary's objections were to prevail, it would seem impossible that any great mercantile or banking business could be carried on, because no head of a large establishment could personally superintend the actual receipt and payments of the numerous and large sums of money perpetually going on.\n\n5. In the Treasury here, such payments over the counter are reduced to a minimum by the plan which I suggested and sketched for that purpose in my despatch No. 783 of the 1st September 1869. Thereby the Oriental Bank is made the principal payer, as well as recipient of all moneys on Public Account, and consequently this system, combined with that of a daily payment into the Bank every afternoon of monies received before 2.30 P.M., is the best guarantee to the Colony of the safety and regularity of all monetary transactions at the Treasury. Therefore, although Mr. SMITH may be, as he alleges, actually in the Treasury pending most of those transactions, I submit that the real security afforded to the Public depends on arrangements quite unconnected with Mr. SMITH's accidental presence or absence in the Treasury.\n\n6. On the whole, I see no reason to suppose that any undue risk is incurred by the public now, or that a person of Mr. SMITH's active habits and special experience is unable to attend adequately to the double duties of Treasurer, as now reconstituted by me, combined with those of Registrar General.\n\n7. The enclosed explanation, however, will enable Her Majesty's Government to decide for itself how far it is desirable that further security be required from Mr. SMITH or any Acting Treasurer. I must, however, observe that I find it often very difficult to provide for the discharge of the duties of officers absent on leave, a difficulty greatly augmented by their receiving two months' vacation leave annually in this Colony and being permitted lately to hoard up that leave so as to use four months at once on full pay, added to a long half-pay absence, to revisit Europe. Thus Mr. AUSTIN, by Your Lordship's permission, will soon have four months' vacation leave and twelve months half-pay leave. Now, if in addition to the difficulty of finding suitable persons to fill gratuitously important and hard-worked offices during so many months, there be added the difficulty of giving security, Your Lordship will perhaps admit that there are grave reasons for insisting on the latter only to the extent absolutely essential.\n\n8. I trust Your Lordship will excuse my offering the above suggestion, but I foresee so much increasing responsibility to the Governor from the practice of combining the exceptionally long leave of absence allowed in this Colony with the regular half-pay leave, that I think the whole question of the security to be required from any Hongkong Officer cannot be placed before Your Lordship fully, if that consequence of its application, to which I shall advert in another despatch, be lost sight of.\n\nI have, &c., \n(Signed) \n**RICHARD GRAVES MCDONNELL**\n\nThe Right Honourable **THE EARL of Kimberley**, \nHer Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, \n&c., \n&c., \n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 329020, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10]", "page_number": 280, "title": "CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10]", "content_text": "## 276\n\nsmall differences, to maintain a system of accounts essentially troublesome to both offices. He further suggested that the Colony would probably not object to pay £3800 a year in discharge of all claims, and added that my proposals must be regarded as tentative, as of course the consent of the Colonial Government would have to be obtained.\n\n## 5.\n\nI have now received a reply from the London Office, in which it is admitted that simplification of the accounts in question might be effected with mutual advantage, but the Secretary points out, what is doubtless correct, that the more permanent arrangement is not easily open to revision as the accounts which would be a basis for such a revision would be abolished.\n\n## &\n\nM. Blackwood suggests that the exchange of mails between London and Hongkong should be placed strictly on the basis of Postal Union arrangements, each Office keeping all the Postage it collects, and paying all the territorial and maritime transit charges to which it is liable. This is a proposal I should have ventured to make had I thought there was any chance of it being accepted. Its result would be that our relations with London would be precisely the same as with Italy, except that we should be paying £6000 a year towards the Imperial loss on the P.O. subsidy.\n\n## 7.\n\nI have gone carefully into the monetary aspect of the question and I find that the result, as far as it can be predicted, will be a slight saving to the Colony.\n\n## 8.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 329614, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "page_number": 423, "title": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "content_text": "# Lives 26 May 85\n\n## ENGLISH POLICY AND NATIONAL DEFENCE.\n\n**(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)**\n\nHONGKONG, March 25. I recent letter I had occasion to sketch for you the conduct of our foreign affairs in the far East, and I then showed how deep is the apathy and indifference and ignorance of our statesmen regarding the Eastern world, how this found representation in the platform of detachment or dis-connexion, and how the doctrine was preached and the belief bred by this school of the millennium that we could thus surely avoid misunderstanding, collision, and war.\n\nThe belief has had several shocks of late, the rudest being the move made by Russia on Afghanistan. There may therefore be a chance of appealing once more to the people, with some hope of attracting the attention of the public to some purpose.\n\nA small proportion of our statesmen honestly believe, or delude themselves into believing, this most convenient and comfortable doctrine, but there are others, and these the large majority, who do not believe it at all. But they find it easy to smother their consciences and are silent when they should be straining every energy, using every talent which Nature has given them, to reveal the true facts of the case and instruct the nation. Both these classes of politicians, however, thoroughly agree in one common line of action - not to ask the voter for money for the purpose of defence. Demands for increased expenditure, no matter how needful, would damage the place-seeking party and Ministry.\n\nThe few isolated statesmen who, knowing the truth, dare to hold the safety of the country and its interests dearer than political place and power, and dare to do their duty - how few they are! - have, as has elsewhere been ably pointed out, three classes of the public arrayed against them - (1) the indifferent and fearless, who care and fear nothing because ignorant; (2) the peace-at-any-price class, who belong heart and soul to the \"detachment platform\", who will have no preparations, no defence, because it is settled by them that we are never to be at war; (3) the ultra-economists, the school of penny-wise pound-foolish men, who abhor anything in the shape of expenditure, especially for defence.\n\nThe nation is profoundly ignorant of the supreme importance to Great Britain of that portion outside the mother country forming Greater Britain, and especially that part of it forming our Eastern Empire. Yet it cannot be gainsaid that upon the political supremacy of England in the East, upon the possession and defence of India and our Eastern possessions, depends the continuance of her commercial prosperity and, as a sequitur, the ability to support the dense population of England. It is not necessary here again to recapitulate what has been so often advanced on the subject, as demonstrating beyond doubt the commercial value of India and the Eastern possessions in contributing to the enormous volume of home and intercolonial traffic now possessed by England and her colonies. To willingly lose these English possessions, or part of them, there is happily now no longer any desire, and there is less indifference than there was a short time ago. To lose them would not only involve the loss of an invaluable position for commerce and the loss of an enormous volume of trade, but would also hand them over to rivals, who are not at all averse to undertake the responsibilities, and thus reap the advantages to be gained therefrom. In one word, it would mean the loss of the commercial supremacy of England and the rapid disintegration of the Empire.\n\nIf national defence is, then, so important, why is it that our defences all round have become relatively so terribly weak? The fault lies with the nation, as well as with the Houses and Government which serve it.\n\nThe criminal apathy and indifference of our statesmen as to this question of defence, one of national insurance, is the reflex of the temper of the House, as the House is supposed to represent that of the country. But surely a House of Commons professing to safely guard the real interests of Britain, and the statesmen forming the Government, should make it their business to break down this terrible barrier of apathy and clear the way to an appreciation of the real condition of affairs. Surely, instead of pandering to the popular taste of drastic domestic legislation and busying themselves with party contests to the exclusion of foreign and colonial affairs and Imperial defence - surely they have other and higher duties imposed upon them. Is it not their duty to instruct and educate the people, and tell the truth at any cost, even at the cost of party votes? How many such statesmen are there? They can be counted on the fingers of one hand.\n\nIn recently reviewing the foreign policy both in India and the further East I had occasion to point out how in energy and intelligence, in study and appreciation of Eastern problems and neighbouring countries, we have fallen far behind our old level, and behind that of our Western rivals. The policy of the Imperial Government has been persistently to show no real appreciation of the value of India and other Eastern dependencies or develop them, and much that is done - for instance, railway extension in India - is accomplished only under the pressure of public opinion excited by the agitation of some vigorous community. The country then, being ignorant and indifferent, will remain so until ruin comes, unless a revolution is brought about by education of the country - education surely needed in matters not only political but industrial and commercial. Unless reform comes in this quarter, and more radical than any that has been or can be applied to the franchise or land, England must lose her possessions and colonies, as through want of education and earnestness of purpose she is fast losing in the industrial race, especially in competition with the Germans. Our system of education is largely to blame for this. We have no means of education in our country such as the German of to-day understands the word - education which fits him so well for the struggle of life. The individual members of the State are so wrapped up in their own concerns, so engrossed in the sordid search for wealth, so enervated by affluence and luxury, that they have no time to pay attention to such questions as the defence of the country and its commerce. The Government should do that they say. But the Government, knowing the indifference of the people, do not trouble themselves about it. Thus we live on from day to day in a fool's paradise from which we are certain to be rudely awakened, and that very shortly, while we find ourselves in Europe surrounded by nations all armed to the teeth, and the tension so great that it cannot possibly last long; alienated in Europe; committed by common interest in Turkey, \"the sick man;\" in India menaced by Russia, now ready to make one more move towards India, which she would command from Afghanistan that country once occupied; in Egypt involved by unforeseen circumstances accentuated by the policy of indecision, whose motto is \"too late,\" and by the absence of military preparation; in the far East estranged from our Eastern neighbours by the abject and impossible policy of no responsibility; worst of all, the loyalty of the colonies is put needlessly to the test.\n\nYet, in spite of such a state of affairs, our statesmen, with only two exceptions, Mr. Goschen and Mr. Forster, so far as one can judge out here from an examination of the English Press, find nothing better to talk about than domestic and parochial questions. That there will not be wanting self-sufficient statesmen who will be found ready to pooh-pooh any indictment which can now be made, as they have done in the past with such perfect success, I am well aware. We know all the arguments to be used. War is improbable or (if it can possibly be maintained at the time) impossible. They explain to their own satisfaction - and it tickles the ear of the public - that no Power would be mad enough to face the resources of England. To attack England will ruin any single Power or combination of Powers they say. But if in the process they break the power of England, what satisfaction is it to us to know that the process was costly to them? Defences can be arranged when the time comes, for we shall make a prolonged resistance; we have never been prepared, &c. No theory could be more mischievous. Defences cannot be arranged \"at the time.\" Listen to what has been said by Lord Overstone, one of the greatest of civil, financial, and commercial authorities: \"Our riches, the composition and nature of our social and monetary system, the limited extent of our country, the necessity for internal order, and confidence for the maintenance of our manufactur... \n\nPage 422", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 340792, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889", "page_number": 521, "title": "CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889", "content_text": "414\n\n516\n\nFind would barely suffice to make the adjustment.\n\nYou will readily notice the completed security we give the holders of our notes as compared with what the above Banks do.\n\nIn the Chief Manager's letter to the Colonial Secretary dated 8th June 1889, he gives the aggregate of issue of the Bank as $6,791,838 on the 30th April last. I consider said amount very much above the average. Even $5,000,000 is more than we usually have in circulation. I have seen the circulation in Hongkong down to about $900,000 in a time of pressure, when silver was required for shipment to Canton and elsewhere;\n\nagainst $3,025,437 the amount in circulation on 30th April last. I have known the circulation as in Singapore and Penang down to $600,000 or $700,000 against $1,874,150 as referred to in the statement re\n\nIn times of monetary pressure our note circulation becomes very small. The Chinese then want\n\n201", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 352378, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8]", "page_number": 543, "title": "CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8]", "content_text": "PREFACE.\n\n[From the HONGKONG DAILY PRESS of 29th August, 1893.]\n\nThe Government has succeeded in staving off the much talked-of Retrenchment Commission. The whole history of the affair will be found in the correspondence published in another column, and very interesting reading it will be found to be. The Secretary of State directed an enquiry, and the Governor, in pursuance of this direction, expressed his intention to appoint a Committee. The composition of this Committee, however, was such that the Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD felt himself compelled to decline to serve. The matter will now go on before the Secretary of State again, and if the unofficial members of the Legislative Council remain quiescent, no doubt his Lordship will be very willing to let it rest, but if they persevere in their demand for an independent enquiry there can be little doubt that it will be granted. However this may be, it would certainly be better to have no enquiry at all than a mere whitewashing Commission, and the Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD has taken the proper course in declining to serve on the Committee the Governor proposed to appoint. At first His Excellency proposed rather a large Committee with a very decided preponderance of officials, but after much correspondence the number of members was reduced to four--- two officials (of whom one was to be Chairman) and two unofficials. Mr. WHITEHEAD rightly declined to serve unless the unofficials were in a majority, and as the Governor declined to accede to this, and the enquiry could not well go on without Mr. WHITEHEAD's assistance, the present dead-lock has come to pass.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary in his last letter to Mr. WHITEHEAD endeavours to show that the constitution of the Committee ought to be a matter of indifference to that gentleman, because it would have no power to decide anything; its functions would be strictly limited to enquiring and recommending, and any recommendations which the Committee or any of its members might make would by no means necessarily derive weight in proportion to the number of the members making the several recommendations, but solely from the amount of reason and good sense which the recommendations might severally contain. \"Will you walk into my parlour, said the spider to the fly.\" Mr. O'BRIEN must have thought Mr. WHITEHEAD a peculiarly foolish fly if he imagined that gentleman was likely to be taken in by such sophistry as this. Or was it the public that was looked upon as the fly to be taken in and done for? Mr. WHITEHEAD's refusal to serve on the Committee was already final, so that the argument could have no effect upon his course of action, but Mr. O'BRIEN perhaps thought that it might serve to make the gullible public think Mr. WHITEHEAD was in the wrong.\n\nWhenever an important Commission is appointed its constitution is always narrowly watched, especially when the matter is one as to which public opinion is strongly divided. The appointment of the delegates to the Monetary Conference and the more recent appointment of a Royal Commission on the opium question are instances in point. Although the functions of such Commissions are confined to enquiry and recommendation their constitution is never looked upon as a matter of indifference, because the fact that force of argument avails little against preponderance of numbers has unfortunately to be taken into consideration. In the present instance, between the Chief Justice and the Colonial Secretary, the Governor has been placed in a hopelessly untenable position. The Chief Justice writes to His Excellency that \"he must decline to accept a position by which he would be bereft of all influence,\" meaning a position as Chairman of a Commission in which there was any fear of the side to which His Honour belongs being outvoted, for, as he says in subsequent letter, \"it is impossible to escape the conclusion that there are sides.\" So we have the officials on the one side and the public on the other, and the officials want to have a trained lawyer like the Chief Justice to conduct their case for them as Chairman of the proposed Committee, backed up by another official. These two would be able to hold the fort against two unofficials, who, being unacquainted in detail with the routine of the various offices, would have to grope about blindly for information while their supposed colleagues looked on with amused contempt. The arrangement was naturally one which could not be accepted on the unofficial side. If, as Mr. O'BRIEN says, the recommendations of the Committee would not derive weight in proportion to the number of the members making the several recommendations, but solely from the amount of reason and good sense which the recommendations might severally contain, why should the Government have exhibited such fear of an independent enquiry? The confession that \"there are sides\" explains the whole thing; the officials are on one side, the public on the other, and the Government wants the official side to have a preponderance of strength on the Retrenchment Committee. By insisting on this unfair arrangement they have managed to stave off the unwelcome enquiry altogether for the time being.\n\nPage 538", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 373251, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9]", "page_number": 608, "title": "CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9]", "content_text": "605\n\nCopy.\n\nLetter No.292 of 20/8/99 to Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G. Chairman\n\nJubilee Committee..\n\nHonourable Director of Public Works..\n\nWhat is the estimated cost of the section between\n\nShaukiwan and Aberdeen, and how much money would be required\n\nthis year towards the construction of that section - which you\n\nrecommend should first be undertaken.\n\nYou will observe from these papers and from the answer\n\ngiven to Mr. Belilios' question in Legislative Council the other\n\nday that His Excellency the Governor has decided that the section\n\nround Mount Davis is not to be made in view of Military objections.\n\nIt remains therefore to decide what section of the road is to\n\nbe made first and from what starting point. The Hon. Treasurer of\n\nthe Jubilee Committee must be asked to furnish funds, so please\n\nsubmit your recommendations and state your initial monetary\n\nrequirements.\n\nHonourable Colonial Secretary.\n\n(Initialed) J.G.T.B.\n\np.. Colonial Secretary.\n\n18-3-99.\n\nThe Estimate for a road from Shaukiwan to Aberdeen, a distance of 12 miles is $209,538.20.\n\nI", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 379142, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900", "page_number": 95, "title": "CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900", "content_text": "It has become impossible to keep pace with public demands for both Imperial and Colonial Coinages without a further enlargement of the Mint involving considerable initial expenditure, which, in present circumstances, My Lords do not feel justified in incurring.\n\nMy Lords observe that the Orders in Council regulating the currency of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, the two Colonies from which the largest demands for subsidiary coinages arise, provide that the coins may be manufactured either under the directions of the Master of the Mint or at one of the Mints of British India, and I am to suggest that the Governments of these Colonies might find it convenient to avail themselves of this provision instead of or in addition to the employment of private firms in England under the direction of the Master of the Mint.\n\nI am to point out that, as the existing Indian Mints are not at present fully employed owing to the recent change in the Monetary standard of India, the Indian Government might be glad to undertake commissions for Colonial Coinages, while the greater proximity of India to the Colonies concerned should have the effect of obviating delay and reducing charges for freight &c.\n\nMy Lords desire to invite Mr Chamberlain's special consideration to the adoption of this alternative. If it commends itself to him, he will probably place himself in communication with the Secretary of State for India in Council, with a view to the conclusion of some arrangement.\n\nIn the meantime, the Mint will make every effort to execute the commissions entrusted to them, but as regards the present large requisition from Hong Kong they see no prospect of being able to make any delivery before July next, nor can they thereafter undertake the fortnightly deliveries suggested. It is hoped, however, that it will be found possible to supply about 2,500,000 ten-cent pieces per month from July onwards.\n\nI am,\nsir,\nYour obedient servant,\nE. Hamilton\n\nPage 93", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 383903, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-309 - Public Offices & Others - 1901", "page_number": 439, "title": "CO129-309 - Public Offices & Others - 1901", "content_text": "435\n\nprofessionally to deal with the transport by water of the corpses. In view therefore of the fact that hitherto my early professional training has not in any way circumscribed my colonial service to any particular line or department but rather I venture to hope been a convenience to the Governments I have served, I earnestly submit that if in face of the peculiar conditions of the eastern colonies I cannot be placed on the same footing as regards official position as the majority of the officers in those colonies, I may at least receive such personal allowance as not to further emphasize the distinction socially.\n\n7. In 1891, on the plea of being the holder of a professional appointment I was not granted the 35% increase given to other officers on account of the depreciation of silver, The recent increase however has been granted owing to the greatly enhanced cost of living in the Colony, and which is still increasing most painfully.\n\nIn view therefore of these facts and those set forth in my application for transfer dated 10th May last, I earnestly hope my petition may be favourably considered and such relief afforded me as may enable me to discharge my duties unharassed by monetary troubles.\n\nA man's best services cannot be given to his work if the perpetual problem of how to avoid debt is persistently", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-309 - Public Offices & Others - 1901.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 388113, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4]", "page_number": 289, "title": "CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4]", "content_text": "## 273 \n## 282 \n\nFor the reasons I have stated, this Government, being under no obligation to engage you and, in the circumstances, having no desire nor intention to do so, cannot recognise the claim to monetary compensation which you put forward.\n\n4. With reference to the threat contained in the concluding portion of your letter of the 3rd instant, I am to add that you must act as you may be advised.\n\n(Sd.) \nI have etc., \nF. S. May, \nColonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 388237, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4]", "page_number": 413, "title": "CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4]", "content_text": "## Enclosure to Governor's Despatch No. 29 of the 13th March, 1903.\n\n**REPORT BY THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.**\n\nBon. Colonial Secretary.\n\nThe body was found about 6 A.M. by Tam Yik, 138 Third Street, who reported the matter at No. 7 Station. Death is supposed to have taken place about 1 A.M. A report was sent to the Police Magistrate but he did not hold an enquiry as it was a clear case of suicide. P.C. Martin joined on 14th October 1899 from the Marines. During his 3 years odd of service, he had been several times on the report for drinking and on January 28th, 1902, he was cautioned that if it occurred again he would be dismissed. From that date, he was clear of the defaulter list until the 23rd January last when he again got drunk on duty at midnight, but his case had not been dealt with when he committed suicide. Probably the expectation of dismissal was the motive for the act. He was not observed to be in low spirits and so far as I have been able to learn was in no monetary or other difficulties. I wrote to his father on the 5th ultimo. His address is \"19 Whitaker Street, Eaton Square, London, S.W.\"\n\n12th March, 1903.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391804, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 764, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "ENCLOSURE E.\n\nC.\n\n1\n\n757\n\nHongkong.\n\nD\n\nColonial Secretary's Office.\n\n27 February, 1903.\n\nI am directed by His Excellency the Governor to state in reply to your letter of the 3rd instant, that inasmuch as in your reply of the 21st of December to my letter to you of the 29th of October you attached conditions by which you were to render Assistance not contemplated by this government when the offer contained in my letter of 29th of October was made to you, His Excellency on further consideration decided to withdraw that offer and make other arrangements for the execution of the work; and consequently in complying with the request made by you in the fourth paragraph of your letter of the 21st December you were in my letter of the 17th of January 1903 informed accordingly.\n\nWith reference to the inconvenience to which you allege you have been put I am all to your recollection that the offer made to you in my letter of the 29th of October 1902 was made \"in the event of your return to Hongkong next year\" and that this Government neither asked nor expected you to cancel any engagement in order to take up the work on which you sought employment; and I am to remind you that when you left Hongkong last year you stated that you would probably return in 1903 to complete your own researches here.\n\nWith reference to the 11th paragraph of your letter of the 3rd instant I am to state, for the reasons I have stated, this Government being under no obligation to you and in the circumstances having no desire nor intention to do so, cannot recognise the claim to monetary compensation which you put forward.\n\nWith reference to the threat contained in the concluding portion of your letter of the 3rd instant I am to add that you must act as you be advised.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSigned\n\nF.A. May,\n\nColonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 403421, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 330, "title": "CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# Annex 2\n## Governor of Hong Kong to Colonial Office\n**(Confidential.)**\n\nGovernment House, Hong Kong, 16th July 1903.\n\nSir,\n\nWith reference to your Confidential Despatch of the 22nd May last, I have the honour to transmit, for your favourable consideration, the enclosed copies of a letter from the Managers of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, with reference to the approaching termination of the agreement made in 1894 between those Banks and the Secretary of State for India, for the coinage of British dollars at the Indian mints at a seigniorage of one per centum. It is pointed out that if silver deposited for coinage into British dollars is allowed to lie in the Mint for long periods owing to the priority given to Indian and Straits coinage, the effect may lead to grave monetary crises within this Colony. It is most desirable, in the interests of the trade of the Colony, that no such risks should be incurred, and I have to request that you will be so good as to make suitable representations on the subject to the Government of India.\n\n2. In the last paragraph of their letter Messrs. Smith and Cochrane point out that if Hong Kong is not provided with certain means of converting bullion into currency in the quantities required from time to time, the only alternative that suggests itself is the re-establishment of a local mint. On this subject I have to refer you to your Despatch, No. 179, of the 23rd May 1901, and the previous correspondence therein mentioned.\n\nI have, &c.,\n**HENRY A. BLAKE,**\nGovernor, &c.\n\nHong Kong, 6th July 1903.\n\nWe have the honour to inform you that the under-mentioned Banks received notice on 10th ultimo of the termination of the agreement made on 14th December 1894, between them, and the Secretary of State in Council of India, for the coinage of British dollars at the Indian Mints at a seigniorage of one per cent.\n\nThe said agreement was subject to six months' notice and therefore terminates on 10th December 1903.\n\nThe Secretary of State in Council of India states:--\n\nThat the Government of India propose to raise the seigniorage to two per cent. in future.\n\n\"Moreover, they anticipate that the re-coinage of rupees issued in the years 1840 to 1862, which are being steadily withdrawn from circulation, will provide work for the mints for some years to come, and that they will from time to time have to undertake fresh coinage from bullion in order to maintain the volume of the rupee currency, and they therefore desire further to modify the agreement so as to provide explicitly that the coinage of rupees shall, whenever necessary, have precedence over the coinage of British dollars.\n\n\"Should it be decided in accordance with the recommendation of the Straits Settlements Currency Committee, to issue a special dollar for use in that Colony, it is probable that the new coin will be manufactured at the Indian mints. In that case priority will be given to the Straits dollar as well as to the rupee, over the British dollar.\"\n\nWe now wish to bring to your notice that in our opinion this attitude on the part of the Government of India would not only result in great inconvenience to the trade of this Colony, but would be almost certain to lead at times to serious contraction of currency, and on occasion might bring about a grave financial crisis.\n\nIt is seldom possible to foresee actual requirements a long way ahead, and with the rupee and the Straits new dollar having priority, it is readily conceivable that silver bullion deposited in the Indian Mints for coinage into British dollars might be subject to indefinite delay at a time when coin was urgently required in Hong Kong.\n\nIt is true the Mexican dollar is also legal tender by weight of `717/1000` Hong Kong dollars, and it is quite possible may be available in sufficient quantity for some time, but its supply is governed by the balance of trade in Mexico and experience has proved that it cannot be relied on with any degree of certainty. Moreover, the Government of Mexico are at present considering the question of changing the basis of their currency, and if this should be carried out the coinage of the present Mexican dollar will cease, so that it is not safe to depend on relief from that quarter.\n\nIn view of the fact that this Colony is entirely dependent on outside sources for its supply of currency, we trust you may be able to make such representations to the Government of India as may lead them to re-consider their intention of giving priority to both India and the Straits, in order that silver deposited for coinage into British dollars may continue to be minted within reasonable time, and also to appeal to them to modify their present proposal to double the seigniorage.\n\nWe venture to think that this small concession to the needs of this Colony will not greatly inconvenience the Indian mints as owing to the demonetisation of the British dollar in the Straits, the amount of silver deposited for coinage is not likely to be on a large scale for some time to come.\n\nThere is no doubt, however, that the British dollar is gradually making its way into circulation throughout China, more particularly in the North, and as this cannot help proving advantageous to British interests generally, it would seem desirable that instead of placing restrictions on the supply, every encouragement should be given to increase its circulation.\n\nIt seems to us indispensable that the Colony should be provided with some certain means of converting bullion into currency, as required, and, if the Government of India do not see their way to meet us in the matter, the only alternative appears to be to re-establish a local mint.\n\nWe have, &c.,\n\nFor the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation,\n**J. R. M. SMITH, Chief Manager.**\n\nFor the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China,\n**T. B. COCHRANE, Manager, Hong Kong.**\n\nThe Hon. E. H. May, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary.\n\n## Annex 3\n## Colonial Office to Governor of Hong Kong\n**(Confidential.)**\n\nColonial Office, Downing Street, 28th August 1903.\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential despatch of the 16th ultimo on the subject of the coinage of British dollars.\n\n2. You will have observed from the letter from the Government of India enclosed in my confidential despatch of the 22nd of May, that the ...\n\nPage 330\nPage 331", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 406512, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "page_number": 517, "title": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "content_text": "! \n\nada bura \n\nA vor but \n\n1 \n\n14 \n\nbehalf of -- Government of this country and of India make most the invariable practice, except in the case of Loans of the very largest amounts, to issue Loans by tender instead of at a fixed price, feeling doubtless as we do that it is better that they should be subjected to the ignorant and often interested criticisms of the newspapers and of the Stock Exchange rather than lay themselves open to the charge of having sacrificed the interests of the Government which had been entrusted to them by making an issue at too low a price.\n\n14. I would add as showing that the remarks which I have made are of a practical and not merely of a theoretical nature that when in the middle of the war in South Africa we found ourselves under the necessity of raising a loan on behalf of the Government of Ceylon at a fixed price, owing to the refusal of the Stock Exchange to have anything to do with a tender Loan in the then existing circumstances, the loan owing to a sudden improvement in the monetary and political position proved such a success that it was subscribed several times over and we were subjected to the charge of having given away the interests of the Colony. Subsequently the Loan dropped to a considerable discount on the issue price and remained below that price for a long period of time but the criticisms made upon us had their effect and had given the Colonial Government the impression that they had not been well served in the matter.\n\n15. Of course the object to be arrived at in all Loan issues is to obtain the happy mean, i.e. that the Loan shall ..., but shall not be so rushed as to throw discredit on the judgment of the issuers. In order however to secure this object the issuers of Loans must be infallible.\n\n16.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 424145, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-364 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "page_number": 278, "title": "CO129-364 - Public Offices & Others - 1909", "content_text": "276\n\nthat the Colonial Government caused considerable monetary loss by cancelling my leave, when I had obtained an \"Indulgence passage\" on the troopship which left that colony last November. My leave was stopped in respect to the case Rex. V. Bird, in which Engineer English had been committed to stand his trial for culpable manslaughter, my evidence being considered of such importance to the Government by the Crown Solicitor, yet only four days after the troopship sailed, the Government decided not to proceed with the case. And on my petitioning through the Hon. D.P. W to be allowed a free passage, (which (2)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-364 - Public Offices & Others - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 437619, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "page_number": 275, "title": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "content_text": "Mr. Stubb.\n\nM' Ross is not drawing salary through The C.A. who have now asked by telephone what they are to do. I think in the circumstances this has better cancel our letter.\n\nMonetary Agents will\n\nJR\n\nY\n\na time Mrs. with you can better understand?\n\nMr Robinson\n\nCould, we will take letter in on action quotation\n\nPay Office, Crown Agents, 3/572 NO 123.\n\nSir,\n\nC O 12923\n\nGOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 30th March, 1912.\n\nI have the honour to confirm my telegram of 27th March which read as follows:-\n\n\"Your telegram of 20th March: Ross, no objection to course proposed\".\n\n2. I shall no doubt hear from you in due course as to how Mr. Ross's salary will be met during the time he is employed in the Colonial Office.\n\nI have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant,\n\nThe Officer Administering the Government.\n\nRIGHT HONOURABLE LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P., &c., &c., &c...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 438227, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6]", "page_number": 433, "title": "CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6]", "content_text": "C \n\n418 \n\nment issue of notes, to invest any considerable portion of the funds representing such notes, as in the event of pressure on the Government for silver, the Banks would also be pressed, and would probably be unable to purchase Government drafts, even at more than ordinarily remunerative rates. And that times of such pressure might be apprehended is certain. The Committee learn that the Banks here have to be constantly prepared for a drain of silver to Canton and other Chinese ports setting in with great rapidity. A sudden drain of this kind last year is said to have amounted to $5,500,000 in four months. It would seem to be undoubted that combinations to bring about a monetary crisis are not unusual amongst native capitalists.\n\n5. The proposal of the Directors of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank is that the Bank should issue as many one Dollar notes as may be required, keeping the issue so made entirely separate from the issues of notes of larger denominations, and making it upon an entirely metallic basis. That is to say, the Bank would ear-mark and deposit in a separate vault, the keys of which would be kept by the Colonial Treasurer, a special reserve of Mexican Dollars equal to the full extent of its One Dollar Notes in circulation. By the local Ordinance constituting the Bank (as will be more fully shown below) this reserve would be, in case of a suspension of payment, inalienable to any other purpose than that of paying the Notes. It is evident that this part of the Bank's proposal saves the Government the expense of building a suitable vault and also of guarding it.\n\n6. The Committee understand that the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank has a large stock of One Dollar notes in hand, and that the staff necessary to conduct the issue is already in existence.\n\n7. The Committee invited the attendance of the Managers", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 438652, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8]", "page_number": 451, "title": "CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8]", "content_text": "Page 440\n\nEnclosure 8.\n\nHon. Colonial Secretary,\n\nThe Crown Solicitor retained these papers with the view of conferring with me on them.\n\n12.7.10:-\n\n1. Paragraph 4 of His Excellency's minute of\n\nAlthough we were of opinion as a matter of public policy that the system adopted at home should be followed here, there is no legal right to compensation in a licensee, and there is therefore no legal impediment to substituting a term of notice for monetary compensation, nor is there any legal right to notice at all, the licence running up to the 30th November, following the date on which it is granted.\n\n2. As regards the question raised in 2nd paragraph of His Excellency's minute of 13.6.10, we have already expressed the opinion that licences should be extinguished subject to compensation and in our judgment a five years' notice is not fair equivalent. The alternative is for the Government or Public House Trust to take over the premises on payment of compensation duly ascertained in some manner similar to that existing in England.\n\nThere is, however, no legal bearing on this question and His Excellency will doubtless defer to the matured recommendation on the Licensing Board.\n\n29th August, 1910.\n\n(sd.) H. Ress Davies,\n\nAttorney-General.\n\nPage 441", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 441521, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-397 - Public Offices & Others - 1912", "page_number": 285, "title": "CO129-397 - Public Offices & Others - 1912", "content_text": "# TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS. BONIFACE, LONDON.\n\nALL LETTERS TO BE ADDRESSED \nAND \nREMITTANCES MADE PAYABLE TO THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION, \nNOT TO INDIVIDUALS.\n\nSir,\n\n283 \nHongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation. \n31, Lombard Street, London, E.C. \n27th September, 1912.\n\nJ.C.O. \n30410 \nVEGS17 STP 12 \n\nI have the honour to forward herewith, at the request of Dr. G. Vissering, four copies of his **Preliminary remarks about the monetary reform in China**.\n\nI beg to also send you four copies of the last Report of the Javasche Bank, which Dr. Vissering informs me is one of the Central Banks of Issue he refers to in his treatise which is more or less distinctly acting on the basis of a gold exchange system.\n\nI am, \nSir, \nYour obedient servant,\n\nThe Secretary of State for the Colonies, \nCOLONIAL OFFICE, London, S.W.\n\nManager.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-397 - Public Offices & Others - 1912.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 453866, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6]", "page_number": 80, "title": "CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6]", "content_text": "# To accompany \n\nGeneral Post Office, Hongkong, 12th February, 1913.\n\nTwo years have now elapsed since the transfer of the British Postal Agencies in China from the Colonial to the Imperial Post Office, but instead of giving relief to our respective departments by this change, the burden of the work has increased considerably by the creation of additional work in keeping separate accounts where heretofore one was sufficient. Owing to the officers in charge of the various agencies not being familiar with the keeping of statistics and other accounts with other Administrations, the whole work of preparing the same has had to be done by the officers of our departments. All this additional work has necessitated an increasing amount of overtime to be spent in obtaining and tabulating the information required.\n\nYou are personally aware that, besides working late every day, we devote every Saturdays and Sundays to the office in order to be able to supply the returns and information called for, and it is a common occurrence to take home work to do at nights so as to avoid current work of the departments being neglected or falling into arrears.\n\nWe are certain that it needs only the representation of the facts above alluded to, to the notice of His Majesty's Postmaster General that the extra work thus entailed on us will meet with the equitable consideration of the Home Government.\n\nWe therefore humbly request that you will kindly endorse our statements and, in forwarding our request to the General Post Office, London, accord us your valuable recommendation with a view of obtaining some monetary compensation for the past two years and for such further period as these agencies may still be conducted under your directions.\n\nWe have, etc.\n\nSd. \nA. J. Read \nAccountant and Superintendent, Money Order Office.\n\nSd. \nH. nizon \nThe Postmaster General, Hongkong.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 458685, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915", "page_number": 246, "title": "CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915", "content_text": "Any reply to this letter should be addressed to-\n\nTHE SECRETARY,\n\nTREASURY,\n\nWHITEHALL, LONDON, S.W., and the following number quoted.\n\nGov\n\n26015/15\n\nSir,\n\nTREASURY CHAMBERS.\n\n24th November 1915\n\nI have laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury Mr.Read's letter of the 4th instant (50493/15) and its enclosure relative to the export of sovereigns from Hong Kong.\n\nIn reply I am to request you to inform Mr. Secretary Bonar Law that if the Governor of Hong Kong sees no objection to this exportation from the point of view of local monetary conditions, My Lords for Their part have no objection to permission being granted to the Manager of the Netherland Bank to ship 5,000 sovereigns to the Netherlands Oversea Trust, Amsterdam.\n\nThe Under Secretary of State,\n\nColonial Office.\n\nI am,\n\nSir,\n\nYour obedient Servant,\n\nHarold Monro\n\n6579", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 465459, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916", "page_number": 258, "title": "CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916", "content_text": "## \nAny reply to this letter should be addressed to \n**THE SECRETARY, \nTREASURY, \nWHITEHALL, LONDON, S.W.**, and the following number quoted. \n`1251/16` \n\n**TREASURY CHAMBERS.** \n21st January 1916. \n\nSir, \n\nIn reply to Mr.Read's letter of the 13th instant (`867/1915-16`) I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury to request you to inform Mr. Secretary Boner Law that My Lords, for Their part, see no objection to the export of gold from Hong Kong to Holland, provided that there is no objection from the point of view of local monetary conditions and provided that in every case the gold is consigned to the Netherlands Oversea Trust and the consent of the Trust to accept the consignment is received before shipment is actually made. \n\nI am to add that in the present state of the exchanges between this country and Holland My Lords are disposed rather to favour than to discourage shipments of this nature. \n\nI am, \nSir, \nYour obedient Servant, \n**Under Secretary of State, \nColonial Office.**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 497845, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-485 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [8-12]", "page_number": 17, "title": "CO129-485 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [8-12]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n6. The boiling of water supplied from the taps, though it may be considered desirable, is not essential. Unless boiling and filtering are properly supervised, they are likely to become a source of danger rather than a protection.\n\n7. Chlorine solution is added to the water in definite quantities.\n\n## The Floods in Kwangtung\n\nHON. MR. KOTEWALL - Sir, I beg respectfully to move the following resolution:\n\n\"That this Council approves of the grant of the sum of Fifty thousand Dollars for the relief of the distress caused by the recent floods in the Province of Kwangtung.\"\n\nIn submitting this resolution, I need scarcely dwell upon the widespread distress caused by the disastrous floods. Representatives of the Tung Wah Hospital and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, who were sent up to Canton to make enquiries, have reported that owing to the great difficulties in obtaining supplies of food from the more fortunate parts of the Province, the conditions of the sufferers are worse than those in the disaster of 1914. The Hospital and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at once took steps to raise a public subscription, and they have made satisfactory arrangements with the Merchants' Volunteers' Association of Canton for the conveyance and proper distribution of food. So far, $21,000 has been received from the Chinese abroad, and about $90,000 raised locally. A sum of $20,000 has been remitted, and 3,500 bags of rice have been sent to the Merchants' Volunteers' Association in Canton, and more food is being sent up. Large as is the amount which the Tung Wah Hospital and other public institutions have been able to raise, it is far short of what is needed, and I venture to express the earnest hope that should we unfortunately find that further assistance is needed from Hong Kong, this honourable Council will readily make another monetary grant, as it did so generously in the case of the Swatow typhoon disaster two years ago. I am sure that I am voicing the feeling of honourable members when I say that we deeply sympathise with our neighbours in the great calamity that has befallen them.\n\nHON. MR. HOLYOAK - I rise to second the motion proposed by my hon. friend.\n\nHON. MR. CHAU SIU-KI - I beg, sir, to support the motion and to endorse the remarks made by my hon. colleague.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR - The hon. member Mr. Kotewall has my permission to bring forward a financial motion. ... I have no hesitation in accepting this motion, but in accordance with custom, it is necessary to ask the approval of the Secretary of State to a grant of money outside the Colony. I shall have no hesitation in recommending the Secretary of State, if this Council approves, that we make this grant of a sum of $50,000 on the understanding that if this amount is insufficient, it will be open to this Council to make a further grant.\n\nThe motion was agreed to.\n\n## Libels on the Colony Resented\n\nHON. MR. HOLYOAK, in accordance with notice previously given, moved the following resolution:\n\n\"That the following resolution be forwarded to the Secretary of State:\n\nThat having regard to the announcement by the Press that an Advisory Body has been appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to advise and enquire into the 'Maisons tolérées and Social Hygiene in Hongkong amongst other places, the Unofficial Members of this Council welcome any enquiry which has the object of improving the conditions of life in and upholding the good name of the British Empire and Colonial Possessions, but resent the fact that the inclusion of Hongkong in this enquiry should have resulted from malicious, misleading, and exaggerated representations to the Government which have been widely circulated in England for some time past.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-485 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 497854, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-485 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [8-12]", "page_number": 26, "title": "CO129-485 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [8-12]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n## Questions Regarding The Water Supply\n\nHON. MR. H. W. BIRD, in accordance with notice previously given, asked-\n\n\"In view of the widespread want of confidence in the purity of the water supply of the Colony, will the Government give reassuring information on the following points :-\n\n1. How does the purity of the water compare with that of London (or any large British town) and what is the exact comparison from a bacteriological and clinical point of view?\n\n2. Is the water analysed chemically and examined bacteriologically at regular intervals at the following points? (1) Nullahs entering reservoirs. (2) Reservoirs. (3) Filter beds. (4) Actual tap supply. If so could the exact results be stated for the water supplied from Pokfulam Reservoir during the last few months? Is it a fact that the water from Pokfulam Reservoir is used at such a rate that it is not stored for a proper length of time?\n\n3. Is there any question whatever of the filter beds being overworked in order to cope with the amount of water required?\n\n4. If the filter beds are overworked or are not supplying a really high quality water, is it not possible to use some more efficient methods of filtration?\n\n5. If filter beds are working efficiently what is the reason of (1) the present brown coloured water supplied from taps? (2) the addition of chloride of lime?\n\n6. Is there any necessity to boil and filter the water supplied from our taps? If so, why?\n\n7. What arrangements are made for the correct addition of chloride of lime, and is it satisfactory when the water tastes of chlorine?\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied | 1. The standard of purity in force in Hongkong was only adopted after correspondence with eminent specialists in England. Particulars of British towns are not available.\n\n2. (1) The answer is in the negative. (2), (3) and (4) The answer is in the affirmative. Early in July a report was received from the Bacteriologist that the Pokfulam water was below standard, previous reports having been very satisfactory. Additional chlorination was at once undertaken, and more recent tests show that the water is now above standard. During the rainy season it is impossible to state what storage period is obtained from any reservoir owing to the new water mixing with the stored water.\n\n3. In the summer time on full supply the filter beds have to be worked at an undesirably high speed. The present restrictions in districts supplied from Pokfulam are due to the necessity for the relatively slower filtration of Pokfulam water.\n\n4. Slow sand filtration as in operation in Hongkong is the general type of filtration in use in London and most large English towns and is considered the most suitable type under certain conditions. Large extensions to the Hongkong filter beds are at present under construction and tenders have been invited for the extension of the existing filter beds at Kowloon and the supply of fast gravity filters for both Hongkong and the mainland.\n\n5. (1) Some of the water being dealt with at present is of an exceptionally muddy character carrying very finely divided kaolin in suspension. To eliminate entirely this fine silt would require very slow filtration or probably precipitation. (2) As indicated in the answer to question No. 3 the capacity of the present filter beds is insufficient to meet the increasing demands of the Colony, and a speed of filtration which would ordinarily be considered undesirable is rendered necessary. Chlorine is added, as in London, in order to sterilise the water, without so far as can be avoided giving it a disagreeable taste.\n\n6. The boiling of water supplied from the taps though it may be considered desirable is not essential. Unless boiling and filtering are properly supervised they are likely to become a source of danger rather than a protection.\n\n7. Chlorine solution is added to the water in definite quantities. Water tasting of chlorine is harmless for drinking purposes.\n\n## The Floods in Kwangtung\n\nHON. MR. KOTEWALL-Sir, I beg respectfully to move the following resolution:\n\n\"That this Council approves of the grant of the sum of Fifty thousand Dollars for the relief of the distress caused by the recent floods in the Province of Kwangtung.\"\n\nIn submitting this resolution I need scarcely dwell upon the widespread distress caused by the disastrous floods. Representatives of the Tung Wah Hospital and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, who were sent up to Canton to make enquiries, have reported that owing to the great difficulties in obtaining supplies of food from the more fortunate parts of the Province, the conditions of the sufferers are worse than those in the disaster of 1914. The Hospital and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at once took steps to raise a public subscription, and they have made satisfactory arrangements with the Merchants' Volunteers' Association of Canton for the conveyance and proper distribution of food. So far, $21,000 has been received from the Chinese abroad, and about $90,000 raised locally. A sum of $20,000 has been remitted, and 3,500 bags of rice have been sent to the Merchants' Volunteers' Association in Canton, and more food is being sent up. Large as is the amount which the Tung Wah Hospital and other public institutions have been able to raise, it is far short of what is needed, and I venture to express the earnest hope that should we unfortunately find that further assistance is needed from Hongkong, this honourable Council will readily make another monetary grant.\n\nHON. MR. CHAU SIU-KI-I beg, sir, to support the motion and to endorse the remarks made by my hon. colleague.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR-I have no hesitation in accepting this motion, but in accordance with custom it is necessary to ask the approval of the Secretary of State to a grant of money outside the Colony. I shall have no hesitation in recommending the Secretary of State, if this Council approves, that we make this grant of a sum of $50,000 on the understanding that if this amount is insufficient it will be open to this Council to make a further grant.\n\nThe motion was agreed to.\n\n## Libels on the Colony Resented\n\nHON. MR. HOLYOAK in accordance with notice previously given moved the following resolution:-\n\n\"That the following resolution be forwarded to the Secretary of State:\n\nThat having regard to the announcement by the Press that an Advisory Body has been appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to advise and enquire into the 'Maisons tolérées' and Social Hygiene in Hongkong amongst other places, the Unofficial Members of this Council welcome any enquiry which has the object of improving the conditions of life in and upholding the good name of the British Empire and Colonial Possessions, but resent the fact that the inclusion of Hongkong in this enquiry should have resulted from malicious, misleading and exaggerated representations to the Government which have been widely circulated in England for some time past.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-485 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1924 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 516209, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-511-7 Watchmen Ordinance- 1928- petition against certain clauses 18-5-1928 - 21-11-1928", "page_number": 21, "title": "CO129-511-7 Watchmen Ordinance- 1928- petition against certain clauses 18-5-1928 - 21-11-1928", "content_text": "# Enclosure No. 1\n\n6 Des Voeux Road Central, \nHong Kong, 29th October, 1927.\n\n## Re Watchman's Bill, 1927\n\nThe Honourable Colonial Secretary.\n\nSir,\n\nIn reply to your letter of yesterday's date, we have the honour to inform you that we desire leave by Motion to speak by Counsel on the second reading of the Bill relating to Watchmen.\n\nAs at present advised, the principal, if not only, points which it is desired to place before the Legislative Council are:\n1. Discrimination against Indians.\n2. The measure virtually conscripts into the Police Force.\n3. Negation of the individual right of bargaining one's services.\n4. Exceptionally arbitrary power conferred upon the Captain Superintendent of Police.\n5. Total prohibition of the business of money-lending.\n6. Power of arrest.\n7. Monetary imposition upon the individual, by making him pay a fee, pay for his uniform, pay (presumably) travelling expenses to and from Ranges, Drill Grounds, etc.\n8. Inroad upon leisure hours for purpose of being trained on semi-military lines.\n9. Supervision by members of the Indian branch of the Regular Police.\n10. The entering of \"characters\" by employers on licences.\n\nWe have the honour to further inform you that Mr. F. C. Jenkin has obtained from the Honourable Sir Joseph Kemp a promise to discuss these points in detail with him early next week. We are sending a copy of this letter to the latter gentleman.\n\nShould there be any further information required, we are at your service at any moment.\n\nWe have, etc.,\n\n**(Sd.) Lee & Russ**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-511-7 Watchmen Ordinance- 1928- petition against certain clauses 18-5-1928 - 21-11-1928.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519826, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-10 Honoraria paid for extra work in connection with Report of River Steamer's Commission 26-8-1929 - 25-10-1929", "page_number": 4, "title": "CO129-518-10 Honoraria paid for extra work in connection with Report of River Steamer's Commission 26-8-1929 - 25-10-1929", "content_text": "Noted in Frecedent Book (c)\n\nexcess on a subhead or the opening of a new subhead. But the Colonial Regulations do not purport to lay down all the cases in which a Governor ought to consult the Secretary of State before taking a decision. And C.R. 282 definitely excepts from the permission to incur expenditure and seek sanction afterwards, which is given by it, cases of expenditure, whatever the amount, which raise some question of principle or involve a breach of some regulation or previous ruling by the Secretary of State. Some of the Colonies have high monetary limits under C.R. 282; e.g., Kenya has £2,500, and Fiji, Gold Coast and Uganda have £1,000 and £1,000 has been proposed for Trinidad. It would hardly be right for a Governor to sanction a gratuity of £1,000 (or even of an amount a good deal less than £1,000) to an officer without consulting the Secretary of State first.\n\n## \nA.1. standing Director of Colonial Audit.\n14th October, 1929.\n\nThen I think we had better simply... I think right in submitting small gratuities with Mr Harding... the four... then... uns... section... Apper 141514 intr... in...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-10 Honoraria paid for extra work in connection with Report of River Steamer's Commission 26-8-1929 - 25-10-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519961, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 1, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## CLOSED UNTIL 1929\n\n| No. | 6B | 100 | No.6 | 2897 |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| | | | 2897 | |\n\n## SUBJECT\n**Hong Kong Previous Development of the Colony Schemes under Imperial Act.**\n\n| 129 | 518 | CO129/154 | 72815/30 |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| | 518 | | |\n\n`CO129/154`\n`72815/30`\n`FILE C`\n`85065`\n`780/13`\n`5,000`\n`7/48`\n`N.M.Ltd.`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519962, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 2, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "**Destroyed**\n\n2\n\n1.\n\n**Govt**\n\n**Govt Tel**\n\nReports loans required, works held up through lack of funds requests special consideration.\n\n30.8.29\n\nX. **Govt Tel**\n\n30.8.29\n\nRefers to correspondence regarding grant towards cost of aerodrome.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519963, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 3, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "3 \n\nMh G \n\nFir G. Handle 6.5.24 \n\nMr. Eastwood left copies of these telegrams with me, and asked that the Department would let him have their views on the Governor's proposals. \n\nThe Governor puts up three proposals for immediate consideration, that is, \n(1) Engines for the Kowloon Canton Railway; \n(2) Cross Harbour Water Pipes; \n(3) Development of Aerodrome. \n\nAs regards (1) and (2), the purchase of the engines and pipes has already been authorised (see No. 4 on `62 26` and No. 16 on `62735`), and it is quite possible that the Crown Agents have already contracted for them. It seems obvious that it is not the sort of expenditure which is intended to be met from the Colonial Development Fund, which is meant for expenditure which the Colony itself is not able to afford. I think, therefore, that these must be definitely ruled out. The reasons will, no doubt, be explained to Hong Kong in due course. \n\nAs regards (3), there has been much correspondence about Imperial assistance towards the cost of the Aerodrome (see `52753/28` and `62753/29`). There is clearly no possibility of getting the decision revised so far as it relates to work already on foot (in any case such work would, as stated above, not fall within the proper scope of the Fund). There remains work proposed but not yet decided upon. This includes: (a) proposed new hangar; (b) enlargement of the Aerodrome as recommended by the Air Ministry expert (see No. 30 on `52753`). \n\nAs regards (a), the position is that Hong Kong proposed", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519964, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 4, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \nproposed to go shares with the Air Ministry \nin the erection of the hangar. \nThe Air Ministry consented, and we are waiting for \nTreasury agreement. So far as Hong Kong are \nconcerned, therefore, they are already committed \nto their share, and the objection already made \nto Items (1) and (2) applies here also. The \nTreasury might, of course, welcome the idea of \npaying their half share out of the Colonial \nDevelopment Fund, but I think we ought to oppose \nany such suggestion as the Air Ministry have \nalready consented. \n\n## \nThe enlargement of the Aerodrome is \nmore the sort of work which might be met from \nthe Fund. It has been recommended by an Air \nMinistry expert but has not been proceeded with \nbecause neither Hong Kong nor the Air Ministry \nis prepared to pay for it. The Air Ministry \nhave not committed themselves as to the \nnecessity or otherwise \nof Mr. Dawson's proposals, \nbut merely said that they did not consider \nthem necessary at present. I do not, however, \nsee how this work can be brought within the \nscope of the Fund as laid down in Section (1) of \nthe Colonial Development Act. It can hardly be \nbrought within the words \"aiding and developing \nagricultural industry in the Colony\" although \nthe reclamation part might be brought within Section \n(g). Moreover, I do not see how any of the \nwork would give employment to this country. \n\n## \nThe only part of the Governor's \nproposals which can even be considered for \ncommunication to the Committee is the \nenlargement", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519965, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 5, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## E.E.\n\n5 \n\nenlargement of the Aerodrome. Mr. Eastwood will perhaps advise whether it is worth putting before the Committee. Personally, I should think not.\n\nAs regards the other works mentioned which are not put forward for immediate approval, I do not see how the new gaol, public offices, and school could be brought within the scope of the Fund. The new General Civil Hospital is a measure for promoting public health, and the vehicular ferry is an improvement of internal transport and communications. These two items may, therefore, be worth consideration when details are available.\n\nThe Governor is apparently also thinking of getting the help of the Fund in floating a loan for water works and other public works. He does not give details, but considerable further expenditure on water works has already been authorised, and if it is this he has in mind, I do not think it could be brought within the scope of the Fund for the ready reason always stated. Further work on the development of water supplies is under consideration, and when details are available, it may be possible to invoke the Fund's assistance for this.\n\nCopies of the Colonial Development Act and the Circulars sent out to the Colonies are attached.\n\n(Signed) S. CAINE.\n\n2.9.\n\nThe Committee has not yet had the opportunity to create a body of precedent which would", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519966, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 6, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "( \nA. \nمان \nwould guide us to an opinion whether or not \nthese three schemes are fit subjects for \nassistance from the fund. But from the experience \nafforded by the Empire Marketing Fund I don't \nthink we should be right in interpreting the \nAct too literally. If a \nscheme is directed \nto the development of a Colony's resources, and \nmay at the same time directly or indirectly \nassist employment in Home Industries, it is \nprima facie a scheme for consideration.\n\n(1) Locomotives for Chinese Section of \nKowloon-Canton Railway. \n(£27,000). \n(2) Cross Harbour Pipe line. \n(£12,000). \nBoth of these schemes are in hand \nbecause of their urgency, but the expenditure \nhas the effect of delaying other schemes which \nif undertaken would satisfy the requirements \nat A.\n\nThere are distinct advantages in \nproviding expert facto assistance from the \nFund, rather than in holding up any assistance \nuntil the further delayed schemes mentioned \nby the Governor are prepared in detail, but in \nthe case of the locomotives, in respect of which \nthe Governor asks for a £27,000 loan without \ninterest, the fact is that the Kwantung \nGovernment are to repay as soon as possible \nwith interest at 6% the cost of the engines \nand incidental charges and pay hire for their \nuse when running on the Chinese section of the \nline.\n\nHong Kong cannot reasonably ask for \na", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519967, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 7, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "a loan free of interest from the Development Fund in these circumstances, and I should rule out that application without reference to the Committee.\n\nThe Cross Harbour Pipe line application is a very minor one, but the work is the first stage in an extensive and costly programme of essential importance in the water supply of Hong Kong. It would be a welcome gesture on the part of the Committee if they agreed to recommend the loan of this sum for a short term of years at a low rate of interest.\n\nThe Third scheme put forward by the Governor is the aerodrome at Kai Tak. This no doubt includes the cost of the proposed hangar. Briefly the position on that subject is that the Treasury agreed to provide a grant of £100,000 towards the cost of the area immediately required for the aerodrome. The total cost was then (in 1927) estimated at about £200,000, the Colony to pay the balance. There was certain extra land which the Colony was asked not to alienate or permit to be developed in a manner which would prejudice its incorporation in the aerodrome later on if circumstances required it. The position about the hangar is that the Air Ministry have now obtained Treasury consent to the provision of half the cost (about £16,000), the Colony paying the other half.\n\nThe aerodrome and hangar are for the joint purposes of Service and Civil Aviation. The Governor and the Air Ministry attach importance to the development of civil aviation at Hong Kong, and the Air Ministry are holding a conference", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519968, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 8, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## Memorandum\n\nThere will be a conference in the next few days to discuss how British commercial aviation can be promoted in South China. Proper facilities at Hong Kong are, in the Governor's opinion, an essential first step, and full development of the aerodrome plans is beyond the Colony's present resources, but could be hastened by a grant from the Development Fund. I suggest that the aerodrome scheme should therefore be put before the Committee, but before doing so, we should tell the Gov. that the S. of S. proposes to do so, and ask him for a definite proposal as to the extent and nature of the assistance needed, and we should at the same time inform the Air Ministry.\n\nBut if one takes a wider view, I do not think a direct investment in Hong Kong aerodrome will be supported by H.M.G. There is no scope for internal wireless.\n\nTo march in all felicity with China under the new regime.\n\nI saw Sir John for Blackett, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, today and he told me that the Committee will be glad to know at their meeting that officials have gone so far.\n\n### Schemes\n\nWould it be possible for the Committee to circulate a copy of the telegram from Hong Kong with a note from the Dept. on the necessary schemes (1), (2), and (3) referred to above? Sir Henry H. would in a memorandum explain why (1) is unsuitable for reference and (3) is not yet ripe for consideration; and submitting (2) formally for investigation.\n\nAn outline of the procedure for dealing with applications for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund should be circulated shortly. It should mention that all schemes for former colonies be very anxiously examined by Col. Sart Committee, although the S. of S. cannot no doubt finally approve. The Committee would like the views expressed by the Colonial Office.\n\nAs regards the aerodrome, we must remember it is important to get an aerodrome scheme going, and if it were well on its way, it is essential to get it into the clutches of the Committee when anything emerges.\n\n### Correspondence\n\n`6.9.29` G.G. to M-Sent Mollis \"Mr. Bayd. no one knows would exceed...\". Memo attached.\n\n`7.9.29` & draft tel submitted. Corrs.\n\n`10.9.29` Governor's proposals for assistance from Colonial Development Fund put by V.\n\nPage 9 \nPage 10 \nPage 11", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519969, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 11, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \n5-10-29\n\nOAG Tel. Estimate approximate cost of acquiring and forming aerodrome, advice desired.\n\nFor no apparent reason the news only reached me through Mr. Boyet.\n\nMemorandum previously prepared (4) has not yet gone to the Boyd for circulation to the C.D.A. Committee. I discussed the issue with you already.\n\nOn the whole it seems best to add supplementary note as Yes, I understand that mob. to Memo already like preliminary information as soon as possible prepared.\n\nR in acti send to No. Boyd for circulation to the Committee with copies of (1) and (5).\n\n8. write to A.M. as in draft submitted on `62753`. And request preparation of memo on waterworks schemes.\n\n1.1. Martini 10/10/29 \n1.7.0.! \n\n11.10", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519970, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "I am writing to you about the forthcoming Colonial Development Advisory Committee meeting. This entailed some modification to the original memorandum; and, after discussion with the Canton, embodied the draft \"supplementary note\" in the memorandum. I have also spoken to the Gentleman about the particulars of which we have put forward for consideration by the Committee before them.\n\nThe practical schemes can, of course, be formally submitted to the Committee (reference my letter of 13th at hand). Destroyed, 11/10/29.\n\nG.G. 11.10.29\nabduce 6.C.D.A.C.31 14.10.29\n\n7 To A.M. (file 1,2,305) No.30 m 62753/24 - 1/10/29 ✓ \n\nWe had better wait no longer for A.M.'s reply to our letter about the Aerodrome, but proceed with submission to", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519971, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 13, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## C.D.A. Commme about Waterworth. C.D.A.Comm\n\nI submit attached Memo.\n\nSee also letter referred to `62735` and also official letter on `62775PQ` file.\n\nMr Rod \n`1.72. Martin 161/1/125` \n13 \n\nI agree that the b-thing will matter separately to his amendment about the water scheme. The Tell... that we can do without referring to the Con estimate of specific questions &c., amount of future orders resulting for home and industries.\n\nW \nYou say how far it is satisfactory for the queue. What point for inform before memo or whether...\n\nA \n...chdasta \n...present \na \nMN Cent. \n`22.11` \nCow \n1. Geut.\n\nThe memo affords sufficient material for the head to consider the proposal subject to the following:\n\n**(A)**. The car may ask for a very brief description of the Colony, I...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519972, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 14, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \nIts handling financial condition, etc.\n\n### Principal Articles\n\n8 \n\nTrade \n\nCustoms \n\nRevenue and Expenditure figures for the last 2 or 3 years, \nrevenue and Expenditure figures for a similar period, surplus balances, \npublic debt.\n\n**(6)**. They also require, where a loan is asked for, proposals of its repayment.\n\n**(C)**. As regards the fiscal paragraph, if a deficit Expression of support or then wire by the C.O. can be given, so much the better.\n\n**(d)**. The CO would appreciate it if sterling £ equivalents could be given.\n\n[It is conceivable that as this project is already being carried out the Treasury will take the line that it is outside their scope, on the ground of existing commitments. It is not proper to use the Fund to relieve Crown Colony funds]. In that event it would presumably be for the Hong Kong Govt to make out a case for the assistance towards the \"further water Scheme\" mentioned in tel of 30 Aug. But this can be left until it is seen whether the Treasury take this line].\n\n`2.5771/29`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519973, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 15, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "I understand from the Board that the C.D.A. Committee meets on Tuesday, and the memorandum is to be considered then; it must reach him by tomorrow (Friday 29th Nov).\n\nAs regards points raised by Roseel,\n(a) I attach below one of two introductory paragraphs. It has been necessary to draft these in extreme haste where there has been no time to have them corrected.\n\nAs H.K. is almost entirely free trade, customs statistics would have little value: they are omitted.\n\n(b) There are proposals as to repayment: but the loan is asked for \"easiest possible terms\".\n\n(c) I have amended memo. to indicate recommendations (see end).\n\n(d) See note on M.5. addition \"A\" below.\n\n## Page 3\n1.2. Martin 258/11/29", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519974, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 16, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## The Elliot Memorandum for Colonial Development Committee\n\nSubmitted for comment.\n\n29.11.29\n\n Memorandum No. 8, 9, bdac 105 dated 2nd Dec. 1920, is resubmitted for consideration on 6-12-29. We were unable to recommend any assistance.\n\n10. e.D.A.C./F/32\n\nThe Aberdeen Valley and Shau Kei Wan schemes, along with other proposals, would welcome submission. The statement that assistance with the Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan schemes would accelerate other schemes is not true without qualification. Assistance would likely cause more trouble in the development.\n\nWe should inform the Government at once by telephone.\n\nAs in draft.\n\n9.12.29\n\nAs proposed. The reply will be framed better. `XCR(29)46`, `2(2.25)`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519975, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 17, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "I think, if they had said that where I had that band of the 17 they cost assist, scheme already of which the details Subarutted they would have to consider favorably that applicant for assistance towards expediting frome bations of the scheme monded they had full details of their further portions, which showed Men to be sintable • possible for assistance under The terms of the Act. That I suppose is what they Umad Fate • Tel d.h a1 Som not requires at In Gent. 13/12 the decision of the Other - but wyrs to put all fromite in ure schemes M13/14 \n\n11. Do Gov. Fel - Cons: o deco 18 \n12. Tee to Goi 7-1-30 on `62753/29`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519976, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 18, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \nI assume the task is to proofread the given OCR output. However, the text appears to be fragmented and lacks context.\n\n\n18\n13. Jel. I for.\nKayy\ncom\n28 Jab.-30.\n\n\nGiven the lack of context and the fact that the text does not form coherent sentences or paragraphs, I will attempt to correct minor errors and formatting.\n\n\n## Possible Corrections\n\n- \"Jel.\" could be \"Jel.\" as is, or potentially corrected to \"Tel.\" depending on context.\n- \"I for.\" is unclear; it might be \"I for\" or \"If or\".\n- \"Kayy\" is likely \"Kay\" or another proper noun; without context, it's hard to correct.\n- \"com\" could be \"com\" as is, or potentially expanded to \"company\" or \"committee\" depending on context.\n- \"28 Jab.-30.\" appears to be a date range, potentially \"28 Jan.-30.\" or another month abbreviation.\n\n\nWithout more context or a clearer understanding of the original document's content and structure, further corrections are challenging.\n\n\nFor the sake of providing a response in the requested Markdown format, here is a version with some minor adjustments:\n\n\n18\n\n13. Tel. I for.\nKay\ncom\n28 Jan.-30.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519977, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 19, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## C.O.\n\nMr. (2mx 27/2 Lius) Mr. Eilis \nMr. Bottomley \n27 \nSir J. Shuckburgh. \nSir G. Grindle. \nPermt./U.S. of S. \nParly. U.S. of S. \nSecretary of State. \n287 \nHay Kiny \nanser \n7281576 \n62877/29 \n13. 19 \n\nCoded sent 4.0pm 28.2.30 \n25 \n\n**DRAFT. TA.**\n\n(i) Your lip. \n\n306 \nAny. Cornsal \nCobuial \nzapis \nDevi Ehment Ichines. May \n∙pplications in respect of large Schemes referred to be expected date?\n\narly da \nd at", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519978, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Hong Kong\n(sent 12.10 p.m. 7th January, 1930)\n\n**Confidential**\n\nYour telegram of 5th October. Colonial Development Fund. Assistance from Aerodrome. Air Ministry state that Royal Air Force requirements for some years are likely to be met by present aerodrome and hangar referred to in my telegram of 30th September supplemented by such temporary accommodation as may from time to time be necessary.\n\nProvision of extensive facilities on scale now proposed would only be reasonable if there is prospect of demand for them by civil aviation in near future. Reports of projects for operation of services in southern China and your Government's scheme for assistance to commercial aviation (as regards which I have requested further detail in my despatch of 17th December No. 326) suggest that such demand may in fact be forthcoming. Before proposal is submitted to Colonial Development Advisory Committee it will be necessary to have further information on this.\n\nPlease report fully by despatch and supply in fullest possible detail particulars indicated in my circular despatches regarding applications for assistance from Colonial Development Fund.\n\nIt is not expected that Air Ministry's drawings and specifications of hanger will be in hands of Crown Agents until February. Tenders have therefore not yet been invited.\n\nPage 20 \nPage 21", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519979, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 21, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## C.O.\n\n**M**\n\n31-12artun 9/12/29 Mr Gent. 13 \n\nAlr.. Mr. the Ellis 13 Deck \nttomley. Sir J. Shuckburgh. Sir G. Gindle. \nPermt. U.S. of S. Parly U.S. of S. Secretary of State.\n\nDRAFT telegram code to Governor Hong Kong `CR1/62897/29` \n14.1 R 14DEC. 160 21 11.\n\nGoded Ment 14.15pm 12/12/29 \n\n**Assistance from Colonial Development Fund**\n\nC.R.\n\nIn some degree only relieves AHK of existing financial liability and would not...\n\nSend a copy to...\n\n(1) Aerodrome Scheme is at present under discussion with Air Ministry.\n(2) Proposed Loan in connection with Aberdeen Valley and SHENG-MUN schemes. Colonial Development Advisory Committee have been unable to recommend assistance, which they consider would have the effect of accelerating work that would not otherwise be undertaken. They would not make it possible... however welcome submission of other...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519980, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 22, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## other proposals enter towards completion \nof water supply developments of the \nprojects falling within proper scope of \nColonial Development Act which \nare not in a position to take up \nimmediately without rush assistance, \n\nAny proposals should be submitted by \ndespatch giving fullest possible information \non \nroutes indicated in my circular \ndespatches on this subject- \n\nLoan to cover cost of enquiries for \nKowloon Canton railway proffered in your \n930 9 30th Aug \n\nI did not consider \nthis suitable for submission to Committee \n\n**SECRET**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519981, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 23, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "C.D.A.C./F/32.\n\n**RECEIVED**\n7 DEC 1929\nCOL.UFFIQ\nCOLU\n23 10\n\n## Colonial Development Advisory Committee.\n\nColonial Office, \nDowning Street, \nSir, \n6 December, 1929.\n\nI am directed by the Colonial Development Advisory Committee to request you to inform Lord Passfield that at their tenth meeting, on the 4th December, they had under consideration the application of the Government of Hong Kong for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund in respect of the cost of water schemes in Hong Kong and Kowloon.\n\n2\\. The Committee observe that the two projects in question, the Aberdeen Valley Scheme and the Shing-mun Scheme which are together estimated to cost some £686,050, have already been put in hand, and that orders to the extent of £49560 have already been placed in this country in connection with these projects. The effect of granting assistance from the Colonial Development Fund would thus be, not to make possible or accelerate work which would not otherwise be undertaken, but merely to relieve the Government of Hong Kong in some degree of an existing financial liability.\n\n3\\. In these circumstances the Committee decided with regret that they were unable to recommend any assistance.\n\nTHE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE, \nCOLONIAL OFFICE.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519982, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 24, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "24 \n\nassistance from the Colonial Development Fund in \nrespect to these two Schemes. \n\nThey observe, however, that the two schemes form the first portion of developments on an extensive scale which are regarded as essential if the urgent and increasing water requirements of Hong Kong are to be met. They have accordingly instructed me to state that they would welcome the submission of other proposals for assistance, either towards completion of the water supply project above mentioned or in respect of development projects, falling within the scope of the Colonial Development Act, which the Government is not in a position to take up immediately without such assistance. \n\n4. A similar letter is being sent to the Treasury, and a copy of this letter is being sent to the office of the Lord Privy Seal. \n\nI am, \nSir, \nYour obedient servant, \nE. St. Boyd \nSecretary to the Committee.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519983, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 25, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## C.D.A.C. 105.\n\n9. 25\n\n**Summary of Answers**\n2.12.29\n\n**C.O. Memorandum.**\n29.11.29\n\n**Colonial Development Advisory Committee.**\n\nWith reference to `C.D.A.C. 31`, I circulate to the Committee a memorandum by the Head of the Far Eastern Department of the Colonial Office, submitting for the Committee's favourable consideration the application of the Governor of Hong Kong for assistance from the Colonial Development Fund in respect of the cost of water schemes in Hong Kong and Kowloon.\n\n2. The cross-harbour water pipe line mentioned in paragraph (2) of the Colonial Office Memorandum circulated with `C.D.A.C. 31` is part of the Shing-Mun scheme described in the memorandum now enclosed.\n\n3. The usual summary of answers to the Scheduled questions is prefixed.\n\nE.B. BOYD.\n**Secretary to the Committee.**\n\n**COLONIAL OFFICE.**\n2nd December, 1929.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519984, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 26, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## SUMMARY OF ANSWERS TO \"SCHEDULED QUESTIONS\"\n26\n\n| 1. Description | 2. Estimated Total Cost | 3. Date of Commencement | 4. Date of Completion | 5. Allocation of Cost | 6. Reasons for not undertaking work before | 7. Method of financing | 8. Advantages | 9. Detailed Estimates | 10. Assistance desired under Act | 11. Security for advances to non-official concerns |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| (a) Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme; (b) Sheng-mun Water Scheme. To provide adequate supplies for the increasing population of Hong Kong Island and the mainland territory of Kowloon. | (a) $2,702,000; (b) $4,158,509 | (a) Uncertain; (b) 1923 | No information available | £270,200 approximately; £415,850 approximately | (a) Orders for £34,090 in United Kingdom already placed; (b) Orders for £15,470 do. No information available as to allocation of future expenditure. | Work is already in progress. | The Sheng-mun scheme has been hitherto financed by local loan at 6%. Future works are to be paid from Current revenue or surplus balances pending reimbursement from further loan | See (1) above. No estimate of revenue to be earned is available. | Have been prepared. | Loan of £49,560 (value of orders in United Kingdom) on easiest possible terms. No suggestion is made as to the terms of repayment. | Does not arise. |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519985, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 27, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## Memorandum by the Head of the Far Eastern Department of the Colonial Office\n\n### APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT FUND FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG\n\nThe Colony of Hong Kong comprises the island of that name, situated off the South China coast near the mouth of the Canton River, together with a small area on the mainland and territory known as Kowloon and the New Territories. The total area is about 390 square miles with a population estimated to exceed 1,075,000.\n\nHong Kong derives a large entrepot trade from its position as the ocean port of a considerable area of Southern China and important banking, dock, steamship, and insurance companies have grown up. There are also some manufacturing industries, but the scale of local consumption and production of commodities in the Colony is small in comparison with the scale of its activities as a distributing centre.\n\nAs Hong Kong is a free port, detailed trade statistics are not available, but the total annual value of its trade is estimated to stand at about 200 million pounds sterling.\n\nHong Kong is one of the principal ports of the world. During 1928, 26,039 vessels (of a total tonnage of 18,805,978) entered and 26,239 vessels (with a tonnage of 18,834,716) cleared.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519986, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 28, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## (3)\n\nThe following is a statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the last six years:\n\n| Year | Revenue | Expenditure |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1923 | $24,783,673 | $21,577,905 |\n| 1924 | $24,209,640 | $26,726,428 |\n| 1925 | $23,244,365 | $28,266,817 |\n| 1926 | $21,131,582 | $23,524,716 |\n| 1927 | $21,344,536 | $20,845,065 |\n| 1928 | $24,968,399 | $21,230,242 |\n\nIt should be pointed out that the public finances of the Colony have been very seriously affected in recent years by the prolonged period of trade disturbance in the neighbouring provinces of China.\n\nPublic debt outstanding at the end of 1928 was as follows:\n£240,000 at 4% incurred in 1887 (Public Works).\n£200,000 at 3% * 1893 (ditto)\n£1,799 at 3% \n£1,143,933 at 3½% * 1906 (loan to Chinese Provincial Government for Railway Construction)\n$4,927,000 at 6% * 1927 (Public Works)\n£1,485,732 (total sterling debt); the sinking fund on the same date amounted to £631,050.\n\nIn view of violent fluctuations in the dollar exchange it is not possible to give sterling equivalents for the sums mentioned in this memorandum. It may, however, be taken that the average value of the dollar in the last 2 or 3 years is approximately 2/- and that the sterling equivalent would be on this basis one-tenth of the dollar figures.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519987, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 29, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## The balance of surplus assets in recent years has been as follows:-\n| Description of schemes | 31.12.25 | 31.12.26 | 31.12.27 | 31.12.28 |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| | $8,113,482 | $3,486,290 | $3,985,760 | $8,091,633 (of which $6,604,345 represented liquid assets) |\n\n(a) The Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme. \n(b) The Shing-mun water scheme.\n\nDespite extensive developments in the reservoir system of Hong Kong, it has not been possible to keep abreast of the ever-growing demand for water, due to the increasing population on the island of Hong Kong and the developing urban area in Kowloon on the mainland opposite. During periods of drought, the supply has always been precarious and the cause of much anxiety. The last two summers have witnessed a period of abnormally low rainfall.\n\nA number of schemes have been put forward to meet this situation: the present proposals are concerned with two of these.\n\n(a) The \"Aberdeen Valley\" scheme offers a new source of supply within the Island and thus possesses obvious advantages from the points of view of convenience and of defence.\n\nThe scheme provides for the resumption of the Colony's water rights in the Aberdeen Valley (on the South of the Island), an area where these had been alienated for commercial purposes at a time when the rapid expansion of Hong Kong was not foreseen. The Government is taking over a storage reservoir with a capacity of 92 million gallons constructed by the Tai Shing Paper Manufacturing Company, on payment for", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519988, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 30, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "30 \n\n+ (5) \n\nThe cost for the Company's rights, lands and buildings is $525,000 to be paid up early in 1930. An additional reservoir, to contain 175 million gallons and to cost $900,000, is being constructed, together with ancillary works, estimated to cost $1,277,000 (including catchwaters, mains, filters, an access road, and a pumping station). \n\n(b) The Shing Mun Valley scheme will provide supplies from the main and, partly to meet the needs of the greatly increased population of Kowloon and partly also to supplement the inadequate resources of the Island. \n\nThe full scheme consists of the complete development of the Shing Mun Valley from Lead Mine Pass to the sea and the Southern and Eastern slopes of Tai Mo Shan, a mountain 3,130 feet in height. At present, however, only a section of this scheme has been taken in hand and the references to the scheme in the present memorandum refer only to this first section. The following description is taken from a recent speech delivered by the Governor:- \n\nThis is part of the Second Section. \n\n\"An access road 16 feet in width and 1.92 miles in length from Tsuen Wan to Pineapple Pass was completed in 1925. In the same year were also completed the intake dam across the Shing Mun River above Pineapple Pass, the temporary conduit 6,000 feet in length from this intake to the point where the dam in the Shing Mun Gorge will be built, the North conduit 2,900 feet in length from this point to the opening of the North Tunnel, and the South conduit 2,000 feet in length between the North and South Tunnels. In 1926 the North Tunnel 2,160 feet...\n\nPage 30\nPage 31", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519989, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 31, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "31 \n\n(6) \n\nfeet in length through Smugglers Ridge and the South Tunnel 4,689 feet in length through Golden Hill were completed, and so also was the reservoir with a capacity of 33 million gallons in the lower Shek-lai-pui valley, built to receive raw water delivered through these tunnels. In the following year 150 feet of the North Tunnel were straightened and 3,200 feet of 24\" steel main were laid. This trunk main will bring the Sheng-mun water to Kowloon Point and will have a total length of 24,030 feet with a feed to the Kowloon distribution system at Pipers Hill, where a covered reinforced concrete service reservoir with a capacity of 1à million gallons was completed in 1925. Immediately below the reception reservoir in the lower Shek-lai-pui valley is the site of a rapid gravity filtration plant to deal ultimately with 20 million gallons a day. The first section of this plant capable of filtering five million gallons a day has already been completed and is now in operation. Adjoining these filters, there is under construction a covered reinforced concrete service reservoir with a capacity of eleven million gallons.\n\nIn order that the water from the Sheng-mun scheme may be available on Hong Kong Island, further works estimated at cost $361,602 must still be completed, including a pipe-line across the harbour described in the Memorandum circulated with `C.D.A.C.31(2)`.\n\n## Estimated Total Cost\n\n| Scheme | Estimated Cost |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) Aberdeen Scheme | |\n| ‣ Developments of Scheme | $2,177,000 |\n| ‣ Resumption and Salvage | $525,000 |\n| **Total** | **$2,702,000** |\n| (b) |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519990, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 32, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "32 \n\n(7) \n\n(b) Sheng-mun Scheme \n$4,158,509.40 \n\n(3) Earliest estimated date of commencement. \n(4) \n(a) Aberdeen Scheme. Uncertain. The Paper Company have been given 183 days from the 20th July 1929, in which to use up their existing stocks. The Government then obtains possession. \n(b) Sheng-mun Scheme Construction began in 1923. \n\nApproximate estimated date of completion. \nNo information available. \n\n(5) Approximate estimate of allocation of cost between (a) local expenditure, (b) expenditure in Great Britain. \n| Scheme | Local Expenditure | Expenditure in Great Britain |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| (a) Aberdeen Scheme | | Orders have been placed in United Kingdom amounting to £34,090. No information regarding allocation of future expenditure is available. |\n| (b) Sheng-mun Scheme | | Orders amounting to £15,470 have been placed in the United Kingdom. No information regarding allocation of future expenditure is available. |\n\n(6) What circumstances have prevented the work being put in hand before? \nThe work is already being put in hand. The Aberdeen Scheme was approved by the Legislative", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519991, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 33, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "33 \n\nLegislative Council on 2nd May, and work on the Sheng-man scheme began in 1923.\n\n(7) Proposed method of financing capital expenditure contemplated.\n\nSheng-mun scheme has hitherto been financed by local loan at 6%. Future works are to be paid for from Current Revenue or surplus Balances pending re-imbursement from further loan.\n\n(8) The advantage to be derived and the additional yearly net revenue estimated to be earned.\n\nFor advantages see (1) above. No estimate of revenue to be earned is available.\n\n(9) Have detailed estimates, based where necessary on technical advice, been prepared?\n\nYes.\n\n(10) In what form is assistance under the Act desired?\n\nThe Governor asks for a loan of £49,560 (representing value of orders placed in the United Kingdom) on the easiest possible terms. He does not offer his own suggestions as to the terms of repayment.\n\nThese schemes are only the first part of developments on an extensive scale which are regarded as essential if the urgent and increasing water requirements of Hong Kong are to be met.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519992, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 34, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "(9)\n\nI submit the Governor's proposals as suitable for favourable consideration by the C.D.A. Committee.\n\nColonial Office,\n29th November, 1929.\n\n(Signed) Walter D. Ellis.\n\n34", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519993, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 35, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "DRAFT conson.\n\nJ.N. Martin 16/11\n\nMr. Gent 22.929/11\n\nMelis 1 Boyd.\n\n(P.361 of B.B.)\n\n# Memorandum for Mr. Bilis' signature.\n\n## Department of the Colonial Office-\n\n**APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT FUND FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG.**\n\nThe Colony of Hong Kong comprises the island of that name, situated off the South China coast near the mouth of the Canton River, together with a small mainland territory known as Kowloon and the New Territories leased _dosis_. The total area is about 390 square miles, with a population estimated to exceed 1,075,000. Hong Kong derives a large entrepot trade from its position as the ocean port of a considerable area of Southern China and important banking, dock, steamship and insurance companies have grown up.\n\nThere are also some manufacturing industries, but the scale of local consumption and production of commodities in the Colony is small in comparison with the scale of its activities as a distributing centre.\n\nAs Hong Kong is a free port, detailed trade statistics are not available, but the total annual value of its trade is estimated to stand at about 200 million pounds sterling.\n\nHong Kong is one of the principal ports of the world. During 1928, 26,039 vessels (of a total tonnage of 18,805,978) entered and 26,239 vessels (with a tonnage of 18,834,716) cleared.\n\n(See P.1 of 1927 Annual Report)\n\n體 \n\n2) 8 by the lead of the fan Easterns 35", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519994, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 36, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \n3) 1923\n\nIn view of violent fluctuations in the dollar exchange it is not possible to give sterling equivalents for the sums mentioned in this memorandum. It may, however, be taken that the average value of the dollar in the last 2 or 3 years is approximately 2/-, and that the sterling equivalent would be on this basis one-tenth of the dollar figures.\n\nThe following is a statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the last six years:\n\n| Year | Revenue | Expenditure |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1923 | $24,783,673 | $21,571,905 |\n| 1924 | $24,209,640 | $26,726,428 |\n| 1925 | $23,244,365 | $28,266,817 |\n| 1926 | $21,131,582 | $23,524,716 |\n| 1927 | $21,344,536 | $24,968,399 |\n| 1928 | $20,845,065 | $21,230,242 |\n\nIt should be pointed out that the public finances of the Colony have been very seriously affected in recent years by the prolonged period of trade disturbance in the neighbouring provinces of China.\n\nPublic debt outstanding at the end of 1928 was as follows:-\n- £240,000 at 4% incurred in 1887 (Public Works).\n- £200,000 at 3 4% incurred in 1893 (ditto).\n- £1,799 at 3% incurred in 1894 (to defray loan conversion costs).\n- $4,927,000 at 6% incurred in 1906 (loan to Chinese Provincial Government for Railway Construction).\n- £1,143,933 at 3 1% incurred in 1927 (Public Works).\n\nThe total amount of sterling debt outstanding at the close of 1928 was £1,485,732; the sinking fund on the same date amounted to £631,050.\n\nThe balance of surplus assets in recent years has been as follows:\n\n| Date | Balance |\n| --- | --- |\n| 31.12.25 | $8,113,482 |\n| 31.12.26 | $3,486,290 |\n| 31.12.27 | $3,985,761 |\n| 31.12.28 | $8,091,633 |\n\n(of which $6,604,345 represented liquid assets) Description", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519995, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 37, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## 4) \n## 37 \n### Description of schemes. \n\n(a) The Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme. \n\n(b) The Shing-mun water scheme. \n\nDespite extensive developments in the reservoir system of Hong Kong, it has not been possible to keep abreast of the ever-growing demand for water, for the increasing population on the island of Hong Kong and the developing urban area in Kowloon on the mainland opposite. During periods of drought, the supply has always been precarious and the cause of much anxiety. \n\nThe last two summers have witnessed a period of abnormally low rainfall. A number of schemes have been put forward to meet this situation: the present proposals are concerned with two of these. \n\n(a) The \"Aberdeen Valley\" scheme offers a new source of supply within the Island and thus possesses obvious advantages from the points of view of convenience and of defence. The scheme provides for the resumption of the Colony's water rights in the Aberdeen Valley (on the South of the Island), an area where these had been alienated for commercial purposes at a time when the rapid expansion of Hong Kong was not foreseen. Government is taking over a storage reservoir with a capacity of 92 million gallons constructed by the Tai Shing Paper Manufacturing Company, on payment. The", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519996, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 38, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "# \n## 5) 38 \nThis is part of the Second Section.\n\nThe cost for the Company's rights, lands and buildings is $525,000 to be paid up early in 1930. An additional reservoir, to contain 175 million gallons and to cost $900,000, is being constructed, together with ancillary works, estimated to cost $1,277,000 (including catchwaters, mains, filters, an access road, and a pumping station).\n\n(b) The Sheng-mun Valley scheme will provide supplies from the mainland, partly to meet the needs of the greatly increased population of Kowloon and partly also to supplement the inadequate resource of the Island.\n\nThe full scheme consists of the complete development of the Sheng-mun Valley from Lead Mine Pass to the sea and the Southern and Eastern slopes of Tai-mo-shan, a mountain 3,130 feet in height. At present, however, only a section of this scheme has been taken in hand and the references to the scheme in the present memorandum refer only to this first section. The following description is taken from a recent speech delivered by the Governor:\n\n\"An access road 16 feet in width and 1.92 miles in length from Ts'un-wan to Pineapple Pass was completed in 1925. In the same year were also completed the intake dam across the Sheng-mun River above Pineapple Pass, the temporary conduit 6,000 feet in length from this intake to the point where the dam in the Sheng-mun Gorge will be built, the North conduit 2,900 feet in length from this point to the opening of the North Tunnel, and the South Conduit 2,000 feet in length between the North and South Tunnels. In 1926 the North Tunnel 2,160 feet...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519997, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 39, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "39 feet in length through Smugglers Ridge and the South Tunnel 4,689 feet in length through Golden Hill were completed, and so also was the reservoir with a capacity of 33 million gallons in the lower Shek-lai-pui valley, built to receive raw water delivered through these tunnels. In the following year 150 feet of the North Tunnel were straightened and 3,200 feet of 24\" steel main were laid. This trunk main will bring the Sheng-mun water to Kowloon Point and will have a total length of 24,030 feet with a feed to the Kowloon distribution system at Pipers Hill, where a covered reinforced concrete service reservoir with a capacity of 14 million gallons was completed in 1925. Immediately below the reception reservoir in the lower Shek-lai-pui valley is the site of a rapid gravity filtration plant to deal ultimately with 20 million gallons a day. The first section of this plant, capable of filtering five million gallons a day has already been completed and is now in operation. Adjoining these filters, there is under construction a covered reinforced concrete service reservoir with a capacity of eleven million gallons.\n\nIn order that the water from the Sheng-mun scheme may be available on Hong Kong Island, further works estimated at cost $361,602 must still be completed, including a pipe-line across the harbour described in the Memorandum circulated with `C.D.A.C.31`.\n\n## Estimated Total Cost\n\n### (a) Aberdeen Scheme\n\n| Developments of Scheme | $2,177,000 |\n| Resumption and Salvage | $525,000 |\n| **Total** | **$2,702,000** |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519998, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 40, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## (2)\n\n40\n\n**(b)** \n**(3)** \n**(4)** \n**(5)** \n\n### Sheng-mun Scheme \n$4,158,509.40 \n\n### Earliest estimated date of commencement. \n**(a)** \n**(b)** \n\n### Aberdeen Scheme. \nUncertain. The Paper Company have been given 183 days from the 20th July, 1929, in which to use up their existing stocks. The Government then obtains possession. \n\n### Sheng-mun Scheme \nConstruction began in 1923. \n\n### Approximate estimated date of completion. \nNo information available. \n\n### Approximate estimate of allocation of cost between **(a)** local expenditure, **(b)** expenditure in Great Britain. \n**(a)** Aberdeen Scheme. \nOrders have been placed in United Kingdom amounting to £34,090. No information regarding allocation of future expenditure is available. \n\n**(b)** Sheng-mun Scheme. \nOrders amounting to £15,470 have been placed in the United Kingdom. No information regarding allocation of future expenditure is available. \n\n**(6)** What circumstances have prevented the work being put in hand before? \nThe work is already being put in hand. The Aberdeen Scheme was approved by the Legislative Council on 2nd May, and work on the Sheng-mun scheme began in 1923. \n\n**(7)**\n\nPage 40\nPage 41", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519999, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 41, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \n41\n\n(7) Proposed method of financing capital expenditure contemplated.\n\n(8) \n(9) \n\nThe Sheng-mun scheme has hitherto been financed by local loan at 6%. Future works are to be paid for from Current Revenue or Surplus Balances pending re-imbursement from further loan.\n\nThe advantage to be derived, and the additional yearly net revenue estimated to be earned.\n\nFor advantages see (1) above. No estimate of revenue to be earned is available.\n\nHave detailed estimates, based where necessary on technical advice, been prepared?\n\nYes.\n\n(10) \n\nIn what form is assistance under the Act desired?\n\nThe Governor asks for a loan of £49,560 (representing value of orders placed in the United Kingdom) on the easiest possible terms. He does not offer his own suggestions as to the terms of repayment.\n\nThese schemes are only the first part of developments on an extensive scale which are regarded as essential if the urgent and increasing water requirements of Hong Kong are to be met.\n\nI submit the Governor's proposals as suitable for favourable consideration by the C.D.A. Committee.\n\nColonies Office,\n28th November, 1928.\n\nH. J. Ellis \nP. \n29 Nov 1928", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520000, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 42, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \nMr. Bottomley. \nSir E. Harding. \nSir J. Shuckburgh. \nSir G. Grindle. \nSir C. Davis. \nSir S. Wilson. \nMr. Ormsby-Gore. \nLord Lovat. \nMr. Amery. \n\n**DRAFT** \n-(2.3.1928) \n\n(2) \nA. To be inserted as indicated at beginning of typed mem \n42 \n201 \n\nThe Colony of Hong Kong comprises the island of that name, situated near the mouth of the Canton River off the south-eastern coast of China, together with a small portion of the adjacent mainland known as KOWLOON Territory and the New Territories with several adjacent islands. The total area is about 390 square miles with a population estimated to exceed 1,075,000. Hong Kong enjoys a large entrepot trade from its position as the ocean port of a considerable area of southern China.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520001, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 43, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \n43\n\nand important banking, dock, tramway and insurance companies have grown. There are also shipping companies. Manufacturing industries, but the scale of local consumption is small, in comparison with the scale of its activities as a production and distributing centre.\n\nAs Hong Kong is a free port, recent trade statistics of its trade are not available, but the total annual imports and exports in 1934 (the latest available) are estimated to stand at about £200 million sterling; imports £30,482,000 and exports £38,988,000 respectively. During 1928 Hong Kong is one of the principal ports of the world. 26,039 vessels (of a total tonnage of 18,805,978) entered at ports in the Colony and 26,239 vessels (with a tonnage of 18,834,716) cleared.\n\nThe following is a statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the last year. (See p. 1 of 1927 Annual Report)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520002, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 44, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## DRAFT\n\nIn view of violent fluctuations in the dollar exchange it is possible to give sterling equivalents of the sums mentioned in this memorandum.\n\n| Year | Revenue | Expenditure |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1923 | $24,783,673 | $21,571,905 |\n| 1924 | $24,209,640 | $26,726,428 |\n| 1925 | $23,244,365 | $28,266,817 |\n| 1926 | $21,131,582 | $23,524,716 |\n| 1927 | $21,344,536 | $20,845,065 |\n| 1928 | $24,968,399 | $21,230,242 |\n\nIt should be pointed out that the public finances of the Colony have been seriously affected in recent years by the prolonged period of trade disturbances in the neighbouring provinces of China.\n\nThe average value of the dollar is approximately 2/1 sterling and at this equivalent references are made to \"dollar figures\". \n\nP.T.O.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520003, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## Public Debt and Surplus Assets as of 1928\n\nPublic debt outstanding at the end of 1928 follows:-\n£240,000 at 4% incurred in 1887 (Public Works).\n£200,000 at 3½%\n£1,799 at 3½%\n£1,143,933 at 3½%\n$4,927,000 at 6%\n\nThe total amount of sterling debt outstanding at the close of 1928 was £1,485,732; the New Sinking Fund on the same date amounted to £631,050.\n\nThe balance of surplus assets in recent years has been as follows:-\n\n| Year | Balance | Remark |\n|------|----------|---------|\n| 1893 | | (deficit) |\n| 1894 | | (to defray loan conversion costs) |\n| 1906 | | (Loan to Chinese Provincial Govt for Rail Construction) |\n| 1927 | | (Public works) |\n| 31.12.25 | $8,113,482 | (Figs. taken from Estates file) |\n| 31.12.26 | $3,486,290 | |\n| 31.12.27 | $3,985,761 | |\n| 31.12.28 | $8,091,633 | (of which $6,604,345 represented quick assets) |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520004, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## Memorandum for the Executive Council's signature \n\n46 \n\n**APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT FUND FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG**\n\nInsert here \"A\" (`14.5, attached immediately below`)\n\n### Description of schemes\n\n(a) The Aberdeen Valley Water scheme.\n\n(b) The Shing Mun water scheme.\n\nDespite extensive developments in the reservoir system of Hong Kong, it has not been possible to keep abreast of the ever-growing demand for water. During periods of drought, the supply has always been precarious and the cause of much anxiety. The fact that rainfall is normally low has intensified the situation.\n\nA number of proposals have been put forward to meet this situation; the present proposals are concerned with two of these.\n\n(a) The Aberdeen Valley scheme offers a new source of supply within the Island and thus possesses obvious advantages from the points of view of convenience and of defence.\n\nThe scheme provides for the resumption of the Colony's water rights in the Aberdeen Valley (on the South of the Island), an area where these had been alienated for commercial purposes at a time when the rapid expansion of Hong Kong was not foreseen. The Government is taking over a storage reservoir with a capacity of 92 million gallons constructed by the Tai Shing Paper Manufacturing Company, on payment for the Company's rights, lands, and buildings. An additional reservoir, with a capacity of 175 million gallons, is being constructed, together with ancillary works, at a cost of $900,000. \n\nThe cost is $525,000 to be paid up entirely in 1930.\n\nPopulation on the island of Hong Kong and the developing urban area of Kowloon is ... the base of the Colony opposite ... \n\nThe Shing Mun water scheme ... 172 Gent = 22 ... so the morning ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520005, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 47, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "47 \n\nP.11... Refer to speech 4,579 \n\nX \n\nThis is part of the Second Section. \n\nContinued \n\nto cost $1,277,000, \n\nworks including catchwaters, mains, filters, and \n\naccess road, and a pumping station. \n\n(b) The Shing-mun Valley scheme will provide further supplies, from the mainland, partly to meet \n\nthe needs of the greatly increased population of Kowloon and partly also to supplement the inadequate resources of the Island. \n\nThe full scheme consists of the complete development of the Shing-mun Valley from Lead Mine \n\nPass to the sea and the Southern and Eastern slopes \n\nof Tai-mo-shan, a mountain 3,130 feet in height. At \n\npresent, however, only a section of this scheme has \n\nbeen taken in hand and the references to the scheme \n\nin the present memorandum refer only to this first \n\nsection. The following description is taken from a \n\nrecent speech delivered by the Governor: \n\n\"An access road 16 feet in width and 1.92 \n\nmiles in length from Tsun-wan to Fineapple Pass \n\nwas completed in 1925. In the same year were also completed the intake dam across the Shing-mun River above Fineapple Pass, the temporary conduit 6,000 feet in length from this intake to the point where the dam in the Shing-mun Gorge will be built, the North conduit 2,900 feet in length from this point \n\nto the opening of the North Tunnel, and the South Conduit 2,000 feet in length between the North and \n\nSouth Tunnels. In 1926 the North Tunnel 2,160 feet in length through Smugglers Ridge and the South Tunnel 4,689 feet in length through Golden Hill \n\nwere completed, and so also was the reservoir with \n\na capacity of 33 million gallons in the lower \n\nShek-lai-ping", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520006, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 48, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## vi\n\nShek-lai-pi valley, built to receive raw water delivered through these tunnels. In the following year, 150 feet of the North Tunnel were straightened and 3,200 feet of 24\" steel main were laid. This trunk main will bring the Sheng-mun water to Kowloon Point and will have a total length of 24,030 feet with a feed to the Kowloon distribution system at Pipers Hill, where a covered reinforced concrete service reservoir with a capacity of 1 million gallons was completed in 1925. Immediately below the reception reservoir in the lower Shek-lai-pi valley is the site of a rapid gravity filtration plant to deal ultimately with 20 million gallons a day. The first section of this plant, capable of filtering five million gallons a day, has already been completed and is now in operation. Adjoining these filters, there is under construction a covered reinforced concrete service reservoir with a capacity of eleven million gallons.\n\nEstimated to cost $361,602.\n\nAppendix VI \n1930: £22\n\nIn order that the water from the Sheng-mun scheme may be available on Hong Kong Island, further works must still be completed, including a pipe-line across the harbour described in the Memorandum circulated with `C.D.A.C.31`.\n\n## (2) Estimated Total Cost\n\n| Scheme | Development Cost | Resumption and Salvage | Total |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| (a) Aberdeen Scheme | $2,177,000 | $525,000 | $2,702,000 |\n| (b) Sheng-mun Scheme | $4,158,509.40 | | |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520007, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 49, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "49\n\nEarliest estimated date of commencement.\n\n(3) \n(a) Aberdeen Scheme. Uncertain. The Paper Company have been given 183 days from the 20th July 1929 in which to use up their existing stocks. The Government obtains possession.\n(b) Sheng-mun Scheme. Construction began in 1923.\n\n(4) Approximate estimated date of completion.\n\n(5) Approximate estimate of allocation of cost between (a) local expenditure, (b) expenditure in Great Britain.\n(a) Aberdeen Scheme. Orders have been placed in United Kingdom amounting to £34,090. No information regarding allocation of future expenditure is available.\n(b) Sheng-mun Scheme. Orders amounting to £15,470 have been placed in the United Kingdom. No information regarding allocation of future expenditure is available.\n\n(6) What circumstances have prevented the work being put in hand before? \nThe work is already being put in hand. The Aberdeen Scheme was approved by the Legislative Council on 2nd May, and work on the Sheng-mun scheme began in 1923.\n\n(7) Proposed method of financing capital expenditure contemplated.\nSheng-mun scheme has been financed by local loan with ... 100", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520008, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 50, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "50 \n\n(8) loan at 6%. Future works are to be paid for \nfrom Current Revenue or Surplus Balances pending \nre-imbursement from further loan.\n\nThe advantages to be derived, and the additional \nyearly net revenue estimated to be earned.\n\nFor advantages see (1) above. No estimate \nof revenue to be earned is available.\n\n(9) Have detailed estimates, based where necessary \non technical advice, been prepared?\n\nYes.\n\n(10) In what form is assistance under the Act \ndesired?\n\nThe Governor asks for a loan of \n£49,560 (representing value of orders placed in the United Kingdom) on the easiest possible \nterms. He does not offer his suggestions as to the terms of repayment.\n\nThese schemes are only the first \npart of developments on an extensive \nscale which are regarded as essential \nif the urgent and increasing water requirements of Hong Kong \nare to be met.\n\nI submit the Governor's proposals \n(as favourable) for consideration by the C.D.A.Com.\n\nPage 50\nPage 51", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520009, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 51, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE\n\nI circulate herewith for the information of the Committee copies of:-\n\n(a) Telegraphic correspondence between the Governor of Hong Kong and the Colonial Office arising out of the Secretary of State's circular telegram of the 7th of August last on the subject of the Colonial Development Act.\n\n(b) A memorandum by the Far Eastern Department in the Colonial Office regarding the three projects referred to in the telegrams.\n\nIt will be observed (1) that the Secretary of State does not recommend for approval the proposal that the purchase of engines for the Kowloon-Canton Railway should be assisted from the Colonial Development Fund, and that as regards the other schemes:\n\n(2) The construction of a cross-harbour water pipe line, and\n(3) The development of the Aerodrome, the Committee are not required to take any action for the present.\n\n| Date | Description |\n|-------------|----------------------------------------------|\n| Gov. Tel. 30.8.29 | |\n| S. of S. Tel. 10.9.29 | |\n| Gov. Tel. 5.10.29 | |\n| C.O. Memo 12.10.29 | |\n\nColonial Office. \n14 October, 1929. \n\n**E.B. BOYD** \nSecretary to the Committee. \n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520010, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 52, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies\n\nDated 30th August, 1929.\n\n(Received Colonial Office 8.30 a.m. 30th August, 1929)\n\nMeanwhile Telegram No. 13 30th August Begins. Your telegram 7th August Colonial Development Bill. It will be necessary shortly for this Colony to float an additional loan for development of water supply, completion of aerodromes and other public works. I shall address you on this at a later date. There are works urgently needed which are held up for want of funds among which I would specially mention new General Civil Hospital, new Gaol, new Public Offices, new School and a vehicular ferry across the Harbour. In connection with these works large indents for steel work and materials of all kinds would be placed in the United Kingdom. Pending decision on these larger schemes I would ask for special consideration for the following.\n\n1. A loan without interest of £27,000 being estimated cost of three railway engines referred to in my telegram 13th August 1929. These are for the Chinese section of Kowloon Canton Railway and money is being advanced by this Colony whereby a large sum is locked up which could be very profitably used in work of development.\n\n2. Loan on easy terms of the cost of cross Harbour pipes see correspondence ending with your telegram 27th May 1929. Estimated cost £12,000 but exact figure probably known to the Crown Agents. This would release funds for further water scheme.\n\n3. Grant towards the cost of aerodrome which is likely...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520011, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 53, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "53 \n\nto cost Colony far more than originally estimated when first undertaken. Full development is beyond present resources of the Colony but could be hastened by grant. I await your reply as to the cost of steel work for hangars to be procured in England.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520012, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 54, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## 62897/29. TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong\n(Sent 5.0 p.m. 10th September, 1929)\n\nYour telegram 30th August.\n\nI am prepared to recommend assistance from Colonial Development Fund towards cost of pipe line scheme and cost of aerodrome, but before putting proposal before Committee I should be glad if further details regarding latest estimated cost of aerodrome, and nature and extent of assistance desired from the Fund.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520013, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "# Telegram from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies\n\nDated 5th October, 1929.\n\n(Received Colonial Office 9.20 a.m. 5th October, 1929).\n\nYour telegram 10th September Colonial Development Fund. Latest estimate of cost of acquiring and forming aerodrome is $2,679,250 of which £100,000 is being contributed by His Majesty's Government. Estimated expenditure to end of 1929 $2,317,159 and in 1930 $249,500. This estimate includes only Colony's share of one building viz. hangar referred to in my telegram 12 September. Development of aerodrome as an airport will require extensive building, see my despatch 25th April 1928 No. 226. Cost of commercial development only has been roughly estimated at $3,500,000 but it is impracticable to proceed with design and estimates or to say now how much of estimated cost will be spent in Great Britain until the Air Ministry approve lay-out of the whole aerodrome as recommended by Mr. Dawson. At present the Colony has no funds for this development but if direct grant could be made from Colonial Development Fund Colony would be in a position to proceed. Scheme is for the present being financed partly from Public Works (1927) 8% Dollar Loan and partly from surplus balance in anticipation of future loan. I therefore ask that Colonial Development Fund should contribute £100,000 as a gift to the Colony for continued development of aerodrome. I doubt whether aerodrome can be remunerative for very many years but it is an essential part of the Colony's equipment.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520014, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 56, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "56 \n\nAs regards equipment under modern conditions, waterworks orders have been placed in the United Kingdom amounting to £34,090 in respect of Aberdeen Scheme, £15,470 for Shingmun Scheme including cross harbour pipes. I would ask for a loan of the total sum of £49,560 on the easiest possible terms.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520015, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 57, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## MEMORANDUM BY THE FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT OF THE COLONIAL OFFICE ON CERTAIN PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT FUND.\n\nThe Governor puts forward three schemes for immediate consideration:\n\n(1) The purchase of engines for the Kowloon-Canton Railway;\n(2) The construction of a cross harbour water pipe line;\n(3) The development of the aerodrome.\n\n(1) The purchase of engines for the Kowloon-Canton Railway. The Kowloon-Canton Railway is, in effect, a joint undertaking of the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese authorities at Canton. It is divided into a British and Chinese Section, but there is through running over the whole line. The new engines are required for hauling express trains. As they are not required by the British Section for its own purposes, they are ultimately to belong to the Chinese Section. The latter, however, is unable to pay for them immediately, and the Hong Kong Government has agreed to order and pay for them on behalf of the Chinese Section and will retain possession and operate them as locomotives of the British Section until they are paid for by the Chinese, in the meanwhile receiving from the Canton Government interest at 6% on the purchase price.\n\nIn view of these terms, it is felt that it would be improper for a loan without interest to be made to the", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520016, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 58, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## the Hong Kong Government, which would then be making a profit on the transaction, ignoring, of course the risk of financial loss if the Chinese Authorities ultimately failed to abide by the terms of the transaction. This proposal is, therefore, not recommended for approval. As the contract for the locomotives is now being placed by the Crown Agents the rejection of the proposal for assistance from the Fund will not have the effect of cancelling the order.\n\n## (2) Cross-harbour water pipe line\n\nDevelopments of the water supplies of Hong Kong have been under consideration for many years, larger part of the population lives on the Island of Hong Kong, where the possibility of development of water supply are limited. Water-works, reservoirs, exist on the mainland and other extensive developments there are in contemplation. In order to supplement the water supply on Hong Kong Island it is proposed to construct a submarine pipe line across the harbour to carry supplies from the mainland. The construction of this pipe line was approved in principle in 1924, but this and other water-works were postponed because of lack of funds. In 1928 the Governor proposed the immediate construction of the pipe line, and this was approved in September, 1928.\n\nThe Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council then objected to the scheme on the ground of expense, and pressed for the adoption of a less expensive plan put forward by the local water Engineer. The Governor agreed to this", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520017, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 59, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "59\n\nThis was done and sent home the Water Engineer in the early part of this year to obtain the concurrence of the Consulting Engineers. This was obtained, and the Crown Agents proceeded with orders for the necessary materials, the shipments of which are now arriving in Hong Kong.\n\nThis pipe line (the cost of which is £12,000) is to be regarded as part of a larger scheme for development of water supplies in the Colony; owing to drought conditions in 1928 and 1929 the whole subject has become of the greatest urgency to the Colony. The Governor had, with the approval of the Secretary of State, intended to finance the pipe line scheme immediately from surplus funds and ultimately from a loan which is to be raised.\n\nThe Governor's present proposal for assistance from the Fund is recommended for consideration by the Committee, and a separate note will be circulated shortly briefly explaining the nature of the Aberdeen and Shingmun schemes.\n\n### (3) Development of the Aerodrome\n\nThe Kai Tak Aerodrome in Hong Kong, upon which considerable work has already been done, is intended to be used jointly for civil aviation and by Service aircraft. It has been undertaken by the Colonial Civil Authorities principally because there is some doubt whether our obligations under the Washington Naval Treaty would permit construction of a purely military aerodrome. In view of its joint nature, the Home Government have consented to contribute £100,000 towards the cost, which was in 1927 estimated", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520018, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 60, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "60\n\nestimated at some £200,000, but which the Governor now states is likely to be considerably higher.\n\nIt has also been agreed to construct a full-sized hangar of Service pattern to cost approximately £52,000, the expense being equally shared by the Colonial Government and the Air Ministry. Steel work for the hangar would be ordered in this country.\n\nOn the recommendation of an Air Ministry expert who was sent out to examine the lay-out of the aerodrome, extensions to the aerodrome were proposed which would have cost about £23,000 made up as follows:-\n\n| Item | Cost |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) Resumptions | £8,000 |\n| (b) Forming Reclamation including completion of Sea walls, Nullahs, surfacing and drainage | £12,400 |\n| (c) Covering of Nullahs | £2,600 |\n| (d) Additional road | £1,000 |\n| Total | £23,000 |\n| Less cost of a Flight Camp no longer necessary | -£2,000 |\n| Net total | £21,000 |\n\nAgreement on these extensions has not been reached as neither the Colony nor the Air Ministry were prepared to pay for them, but the Governor has been asked to take such steps as may be possible to prevent the disposal of lands, etc., for purposes which would prejudice the scheme being carried out at some future date.\n\nBefore\n\nPage 60\nPage 61", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520019, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 61, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "61 \n\nBefore making any definite recommendation to the Committee on the Governor's application for assistance from the Fund under this head, Lord Passfield asked the Governor by telegraph to supply precise estimates of the extra expenditure which the agreed scheme was now stated to involve, and the nature of the assistance which he desired to obtain from the Fund.\n\nIn the telegram of the 5th of October which has been received in reply from the Governor, it is proposed that the Colonial Government should proceed with the lay-out of the whole Aerodrome, as recommended by the expert referred to above, including buildings for the accommodation of the personnel of the works required for the immediate development of the Aerodrome estimated to cost £350,000, and that the Colonial Development Fund should contribute £100,000. The Secretary of State is communicating this proposal to the Air Council and is ascertaining whether they would be prepared to endorse the Governor's request.\n\nColonial Office, \n12th October, 1929.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520020, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 62, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## Telegram from the O.A.G. of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies\n\nDated 5th October, 1929.\n\n(Received Colonial Office 9.20 a.m. 5th October, 1929.)\n\nYour telegram 10th September Colonial Development Fund Latest estimate of cost of acquiring and forming aerodrome is $2,679,250 of which £100,000 is being contributed by H.M.G. Estimated expenditure to end of 1929 $2,317,159 and in 1930 $249,500.\n\nThis estimate includes only Colony's share of one building viz. hangar referred to in my telegram 12 September. Development of aerodrome as an airport will require extensive building, see my `52753/28` despatch 25th April 1928 No. 226. Cost of Commercial development only has been roughly estimated at $3,500,000 but it is impracticable to proceed with design and estimates or to say how much of estimated cost will be spent in Great Britain until the Air Ministry approve lay-out of the whole aerodrome as recommended by Mr. Dawson. At present the Colony has no funds for this development but if direct grant could be made from Colonial Development Fund Colony would be in a position to proceed. Scheme is for the present being financed partly from Public Works (1927) 6% Dollar Loan and partly from surplus balance in anticipation of future loan. I therefore ask that Colonial Development Fund should contribute £100,000 as a gift to the Colony for continued development of aerodrome. I doubt whether aerodrome can be remunerative for very many years but it is an essential part of the Colony's equipment under modern conditions.\n\nAs regards waterworks, orders have been placed in the U.K. amounting to £34,090 in respect of Aberdeen Scheme £15,470 for Shingmun Scheme including cross harbour pipes I would ask for loan of total sum of £49,560 on easiest possible terms.\n\nPage 62\n\nCopy on `12` \n`62753/29(22)`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520021, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 63, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "# PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT FUND.\n\nThe Governor puts forward three schemes for immediate consideration:\n\n1. The purchase of engines for the Kowloon-Canton Railway;\n2. The construction of a cross harbour water pipe line;\n3. The development of the Aerodrome.\n\n## (1) The purchase of engines for the Kowloon-Canton Railway\n\nThe Kowloon-Canton Railway is, in effect, a joint undertaking of the Hong Kong Government and the Chinese Authorities at Canton. It is divided into a British and Chinese Section, but there is through running over the whole line. The new engines are required for hauling express trains. As they are not required by the British Section for its own purposes, they are ultimately to belong to the Chinese Section. The latter, however, is unable to pay for them immediately, and the Hong Kong Government has agreed to order and pay for them on behalf of the Chinese Section and will retain possession and operate them as locomotives of the British Section until they are paid for by the Chinese, meanwhile receiving from the Canton Government interest at 6% on the purchase price.\n\nIn view of these terms, it is felt that it would be improper for a loan without interest to be made to the Hong Kong Government, which would then be making a profit on the transaction, ignoring, of course, the risk of financial loss if the Chinese Authorities ultimately...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520022, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 64, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "69\n\nultimately failed to abide by the terms of the transaction. This proposal is, therefore, not recommended for approval. As the contract for the locomotives is now being placed by the Crown Agents, the rejection of the proposal for assistance from the Fund will not have the effect of cancelling the order.\n\n(2) Cross harbour water pipe line.\n\nDevelopments of the water supplies of Hong Kong have been under consideration for many years. The larger part of the population lives on the Island of Hong Kong, where the possibility of developments of water supply are limited. Water-works, reservoirs, etc., exist on the mainland and other extensive developments there are in contemplation. In order to supplement the water supply on Hong Kong Island, it is proposed to construct a submarine pipe line across the harbour to carry supplies from the mainland. The construction of this pipe line was approved in principle in 1924, but this and other water-works were postponed because of lack of funds. In 1928, the Governor proposed the immediate construction of the pipe line, and this was approved in September, 1928. The Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council then objected to the scheme on the ground of expense, and pressed for the adoption of a less expensive plan put forward by the local Water Engineer. The Governor agreed to this and sent home the Water Engineer in the early part", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520023, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 65, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "65 \n\npart of this year to obtain the concurrence of the Consulting Engineers. This was obtained, and the Crown Agents proceeded with orders for the necessary materials, the shipments of which are now arriving in Hong Kong.\n\nThis pipe line (the cost of which is £12,000) is to be regarded as part of a larger scheme for development of water supplies in the Colony; owing to drought conditions in 1928 and in 1929 the whole subject has become of the greatest urgency to the Colony. The Governor had, with the approval of the Secretary of State, intended to finance the pipe line scheme immediately from surplus funds and ultimately from a loan which is to be raised.\n\nThe Governor's present proposal for assistance from the Fund is recommended for consideration by the Committee.\n\n### (3) Development of the Aerodrome\n\nThe Kaitak Aerodrome in Hong Kong, upon which considerable work has already been done, is intended to be used jointly for civil aviation and by Service aircraft. It has been undertaken by the Colonial Civil Authorities principally because there is some doubt whether our obligations under the Washington Naval Treaty would permit construction of a purely military aerodrome. In view of its joint nature, the Home Government have consented to contribute £100,000 towards the cost, which was in 1927 estimated", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520024, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 66, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "66 \n\nestimated at some £200,000, but which the Governor now states is likely to be considerably higher. \n\nIt has also been agreed to construct a full-sized hangar of Service pattern to cost approximately £32,000, the expense being equally shared by the Colonial Government and the Air Ministry. Steel work for the hangar would be ordered in this country.\n\nOn the recommendation of an Air Ministry expert who was sent out to examine the lay-out of the aerodrome, extensions to the aerodrome were proposed which would have cost about £23,000 made up as follows:\n| Item | Description | Cost |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| (a) | Resumptions | £8,000 |\n| (b) | Forming Reclamation including completion of Sea walls, Nullahs, surfacing and drainage | £12,400 |\n| (c) | Covering of Nullahs | £3,600 |\n| (d) | Additional road | £1,000 |\n| | Total | £25,000 |\n| | Less cost of a Flight Camp no longer necessary | £2,000 |\n| | Net total | £23,000 |\n\nAgreement on these extensions has not been reached as neither the Colony nor the Air Ministry were prepared to pay for them, but the Governor has been asked to take such steps as may be possible to prevent the disposal of lands, etc., for purposes which would prejudice the scheme being carried out at some future date.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520025, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "67\n\nBefore making any definite recommendation \nto the Committee on the Governor's application for \nassistance from the Fund under this head, Lord Passfield \nis asking the Governor to supply precise estimates \nof the extra expenditure which the agreed scheme \nis now stated to involve, and the nature of the \nassistance which he desires to obtain from the Fund.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520026, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 68, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "## \nMr. Ellis \nMr. Bottomley. \nMr. E. Harding. \nSir J. Shuckburgh. \nSir G. Grindle. \nSir C. Davis. \nSir S. Wilson. \n\nSept. 29. \n5-0 p.m \n\nLord Lovat. \nMr. Amery. \n\nDRAFT. \n\nYour letter 30 August \n\nI am prepared to recommend Assistance from **Development Fund** towards cost of pipe line scheme and cost of aerodrome, but before putting proposals before ... \nI shall be glad if you will let me have details regarding latest estimated cost of aerodrome, and nature & extent of assistance desired from the Fund.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520027, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "page_number": 69, "title": "CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930", "content_text": "# Telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies\n## Dated 30th August, 1929\n(Received Colonial Office 8.30 a.m. 30th August, 1929.)\n\nTelegram No. 13 30th August Begins.\n\nYour telegram 7th August Colonial Development Bill. It will be necessary shortly for this Colony to float an additional loan for development of water supply, completion of aerodrome and other public works. I shall address you on this at a later date. Meanwhile there are works urgently needed which are held up for want of funds among which I would specially mention new General Civil Hospital, new Gaol, new Public Offices, new School and a vehicular ferry across the Harbour. In connection with these works large indents for steel work and materials of all kinds would be placed in the United Kingdom.\n\nPending decision on these larger schemes I would ask for special consideration for the following:\n1. A loan without interest of £27,000 being estimated cost of three railway engines referred to in my telegram 13th August 1929. These are for the Chinese section of Kowloon Canton Railway and money is being advanced by this Colony whereby a large sum is locked up which could be very profitably used in work of development.\n\n2. Loan on easy terms of the cost of cross Harbour pipes. Estimated cost £12,000. This would release funds for further water scheme. See correspondence `62735/29` ending with your telegram 27th May 1929.\n\n3. Grant towards the cost of aerodrome which is likely to cost Colony far more than originally estimated when first undertaken. Full development is beyond present resources of the Colony but could be hastened by grant. I await your reply as to the cost of steel work for hangars to be procured in England.\n\nCopy `6748062/27`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-8 Colonial Development Fund- requests and recommendations for monetary assistance for various projects 30-8-1929 - 28-2-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520060, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "page_number": 33, "title": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "content_text": "# 40\n\nThe care of the girls is entrusted by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to nobody until full enquiry has been made in the Office and in the Po Leung Kuk; and the ruling consideration is always the best interest of the girls. No opposition is offered to a monetary arrangement being reached between the parties themselves, but failure to reach such an arrangement would not be allowed to stand in the way of a decision in the interests of the girl.\n\n## THE MUI-TSAI BILL\n\nThe Council went into Committee to resume discussion of the Bill intituled, **An Ordinance to regulate certain forms of female domestic service**.\n\nOn the motion of the Attorney-General, verbal amendments were made in several clauses.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR: Does any hon. member desire to raise any further question in the Committee stage of the Bill?\n\nNo hon. member intimating any desire to do so, H.E. THE GOVERNOR proposed that the Bill be reported to the Council and the Council then resumed.\n\n## THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved and the COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the third reading of the Bill.\n\nH.E. THE GOVERNOR: Does any hon. member desire to address the Council?\n\nHON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK: Your Excellency, I crave your permission to dilate somewhat more at length on the remarks which I made in the Committee stage of the Bill at the last meeting of the Council, namely, on the gross misrepresentations of fact which have been made almost throughout the public Press at Home, in what I can unhesitatingly describe as a malicious campaign of propaganda,--whether for political purposes or otherwise I know not; but I do know that statements have been made quite publicly at Home in connection with this subject which ought not to remain unchallenged by this honourable Council in defence of the fair name of the Colony and the good government which it represents. If the statements of wholesale slavery and of the selling of slaves were as true as they have been depicted, then, Sir, I think there is little doubt that it would stand for a judgment not only upon each successive Governor of the Colony who has allowed it to remain but upon the British people of the Colony who have lived under it for the last 70 years. I am not concerned, however, in discussing in detail the subject of mui-tsai. I have voted already for the first reading of the Bill and I am prepared to vote for its final stages, principally because it adds to the annals of the Colony and the laws of the Colony an Ordinance which is in keeping with other Ordinances. For my own part, I do feel sincerely that in a large degree it was perhaps unnecessary because, in practice and in spirit, officially and otherwise, the practice has never received official sanction from beginning to end in the history of the Colony and therefore it seems unnecessary to legislate on the subject. Nor would it have been necessary but for the gross misrepresentation in an agitation representing a somewhat horrible state of affairs which, in fact, does not exist in practice and in the experience of those of us who have lived very many years in this Colony and who know somewhat of the inside of Chinese affairs. I think the situation of the mui-tsai in a Chinese household differs so very largely in actual practice from that of a similar practice obtaining at home of adopting an orphan from one of the many orphanages and using her as a domestic assistant and providing her with home, food, and clothing. Nor do I think that the ill-treatment which has been so largely described to us is any more widely spread than that revealed in the ordinary practice of a Magistrate's Court in any large town in England. It is because I have so recently come from Home and because both from Press and platform and even from pulpit one has heard such atrocious misstatements of fact that I feel they cannot be passed without challenge by this Council, affecting as they do the reputation of the Council and the reputation of the Colony. For that reason, I venture to raise my voice in the very strongest protest against such being accepted as facts by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. If it were a fact that slaves were openly bought and sold as depicted in the Press at Home, would not the British Colony itself have compelled such a state of affairs to be attended to? If it were a fact that the Government permitted the purchase and sale of slaves as depicted, would not the pressure of public opinion in this Colony have forced legislation long ago? But for the fact that certain persons, with a not very wide knowledge of the subject, ventured... at Home, for purposes of propaganda, and partly for political propaganda, grossly to mis-state the facts for their own ends, the subject would never have been raised at all. It is because of these facts that I desire in the name of the Unofficial Members of this Council to protest against statements which have been made widely and publicly at Home both by the Press and by certain individuals which are a slur upon the good name and Government of this Colony, which are without foundation in fact and malicious in character.\n\n# 41\n\nHON. MR. E. V. D. PARR: I desire to support in the strongest possible manner the remarks that the hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce has made in protest against the exaggerated absurdities that have appeared in the Home press upon this subject. As an instance, I would mention that when I was at Home some two years ago, I visited some relations at a well-known English watering place and accompanied them to the Parish Church. The good Vicar who preached--_à propos_ of nothing that I could see--began inveighing against the British Colony of Hong Kong for selling Chinese girls in the public market place, \"These are not Angles,\" he said, \"but angels.\" I need not say, I took the first occasion to put the reverend gentleman right on the facts as we know them here, and he told me that he had obtained his facts and figures from the public Press at home and that he would correct the misstatements that he had made to his congregation on the following Sunday. It has not been usual since I have had the honour of being a member of this Council for the Unofficials to address the Council on the third reading of a Bill, but I do not consider any apology is needed in this instance, and if it serves to give more weight to our protest against those exaggerated absurdities to which we have referred, then, I think the end is justified by the means.\n\nHON. MR. A. G. STEPHEN: Your Excellency, I would like to associate myself with the two hon. members who have just spoken in protesting against the imputations upon the good name of the Colony. In all the speeches made on this Bill, the one that struck me as being most _à propos_ was that of the Attorney-General in introducing it. After going through the \"Objects and Reasons,\" damning the Bill with faint praise, he finally reached the impotent conclusion that the measure had to be passed because the system was one which was open to abuse, and grave abuse, at the hands of unscrupulous persons. Well, Sir, he could have said the same about the office he fills with such distinction himself--it is an office that is open to abuse at the hands of unscrupulous persons; and he might have said the same about the position I happen to hold in the Colony: it is distinctly open to abuse in the hands of unscrupulous persons. But what he would have said, I venture to say, if he had been speaking his own mind was this: We do not think this Bill is any use, but we have got to pass it, because we have been told to. This agitation at Home I do not take so seriously as my unofficial colleagues do, because I have seen so often a similar kind of thing before--people seeking cheap advertisement are quite willing to assume that we Englishmen when we come East of Suez leave behind all we ever learned of humanity and charity. When they see an opportunity of gaining some cheap notoriety, they will find some tame Member of Parliament to put questions to the Colonial Office, and the harassed Secretary of State for the Colonies ultimately decides that the balance of advantage is to get this Government to pass a Bill which will shut the mouths of these stupid bores in Parliament. Many of the races ruled by the British Government in various parts of the world have habits and customs which do not come up to the standard of Exeter Hall, but it has always been our wise policy to leave them alone in that respect unless, of course, those customs are such as to outrage humanity. I should like to have seen the Secretary of State for India, for instance, sending orders to the Viceroy to disturb some of the customs which are far less innocent and far less humane than the mui-tsai system in this Colony. No, they know very well they cannot do that because local opinion is too strong for them. But here, with a Legislative Council...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520128, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "page_number": 99, "title": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "content_text": "# 5363-29\n\n## (15th February, 1923.)\n\n### THE MUI-TSAI QUESTION.\n\n**HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.**, pursuant to private notice given, addressed the following questions to the **Secretary for Chinese Affairs**:—\n\n1. Is it not the fact that, by Chinese custom, a parent of a mui-tsai who wishes to get her back from her employer, is bound to repay to such employer the sum of money which such employer has paid to such parent for the transfer of such mui-tsai to the employer?\n\n2. Has not such custom been followed by the officials of the Chinese Secretariat in regard to the redemption of a mui-tsai by her parent from her employer?\n\n**THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS** replied as follows:\n\n(1) According to Chinese custom, it is the usual but not the invariable custom for some repayment to be made.\n\n(2) The S.C.A. acts solely in the interests of the girl and does not regard himself as being in any way bound by the custom. The practice of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs is based on section 32 of Ordinance 4 of 1897, and we never lose sight of the fact that the guardianship of any girl for whose transfer money has been paid is vested in the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, against the parents as much as against other parties. In all cases where mui-tsai are concerned, the care of the girls is entrusted by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to nobody until full enquiry has been made in the Office and in the Po Leung Kuk; and the ruling consideration is always the best interest of the girls. No opposition is offered to a monetary arrangement being reached between the parties themselves, but failure to reach such an arrangement would not be allowed to stand in the way of a decision in the interests of the girl.\n\n### THE MUI-TSAI BILL.\n\nThe Council went into Committee to resume discussion of the Bill intituled, **An Ordinance to regulate certain forms of female domestic service**.\n\nOn the motion of the **Attorney-General**, verbal amendments were made in several clauses.\n\n**H.E. THE GOVERNOR**: Does any hon. member desire to raise any further question in the Committee stage of the Bill?\n\nNo hon. member intimating any desire to do so, **H.E. THE GOVERNOR** proposed that the Bill be reported to the Council and the Council then resumed.\n\n**THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL** moved and the **COLONIAL SECRETARY** seconded the third reading of the Bill.\n\n**H.E. THE GOVERNOR**: Does any hon. member desire to address the Council?\n\n**HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK**: Your Excellency, I crave your permission to dilate somewhat more at length on the remarks which I made in the Committee stage of the Bill at the last meeting of the Council, namely, on the gross misrepresentations of fact which have been made almost throughout the public Press at Home, in what I can unhesitatingly describe as a malicious campaign of propaganda,—whether for political purposes or otherwise I know not; but I do know that statements have been made quite publicly at Home in connection with this subject which ought not to remain unchallenged by this honourable Council in defence of the fair name of the Colony and the good government which it represents. If the statements of wholesale slavery and of the selling of slaves were as true as they have been depicted, then, Sir, I think there is little doubt that it would stand for a judgment not only upon each successive Governor of the Colony who has allowed it to remain but upon the British people of the Colony who have lived under it for the last 70 years. I am not concerned, however, in discussing in detail the subject of mui-tsai. I have voted already for the first reading of the Bill and I am prepared to vote for its final stages, principally because it adds to the annals of the Colony and the laws of the Colony an Ordinance which is in keeping with other Ordinances. For my own part, I do feel sincerely that in a large degree it was perhaps unnecessary because, in practice and in spirit, officially and otherwise, the practice has never received official sanction from beginning to end in the history of the Colony and therefore it seems unnecessary to legislate on the subject. Nor would it have been necessary but for the gross misrepresentation in an agitation representing a somewhat horrible state of affairs which, in fact, does not exist in practice and in the experience of those of us who have lived very many years in this Colony and who know somewhat of the inside of Chinese affairs. I do not think the situation of the mui-tsai in a Chinese household differs so very largely in actual practice from that of a similar practice obtaining at home of adopting an orphan from one of the many orphanages and using her as a domestic assistant and providing her with home, food, and clothing. Nor do I think that the ill-treatment which has been so largely described to us is any more widely spread than that revealed in the ordinary practice of a Magistrate's Court in any large town in England. It is because I have so recently come from Home and because both from Press and platform and even from pulpit one has heard such atrocious misstatements of fact that I feel they cannot be passed without challenge by this Council, affecting as they do the reputation of the Council and the reputation of the Colony. For that reason, I venture to raise my voice in the very strongest protest against such being accepted as facts by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. If it were a fact that slaves were openly bought and sold as depicted in the Press at Home, would not the British Colony itself have compelled such a state of affairs to be attended to? If it were a fact that the Government permitted the purchase and sale of slaves as depicted, would not the pressure of public opinion in this Colony have forced legislation long ago? But for the fact that certain persons, with a not very wide knowledge of the subject, ventured at Home, for purposes of propaganda, and partly for political propaganda, grossly to mis-state the facts for their own ends, the subject would never have been raised.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 523805, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930", "page_number": 59, "title": "CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930", "content_text": "61\n\n6\n\nwould have to be disposed of in some way and both British dollars and Mexican dollars subsequently barred from local circulation. The discount on these latter would probably increase and the consequent separation from South China's monetary system would tend to encourage the settlement of South China's commercial business direct instead of through the intermediary of Hong Kong. Fluctuations in exchange with other currencies, silver dollars, and Chinese subsidiary currency would increase and the principal object of the issue be frustrated.\n\n3. The suggestion that Government take over the note issue has been revived. The forces which bring it about now would still operate and merely transfer it to the new Government issue. Moreover, it would be a formidable undertaking as was established in 1910 involving the Treasury in the provision of a large silver reserve, a gold securities depreciation fund, and inevitable exchange operations in order to obviate an accumulation of silver dollars. Whether it could be worked at a profit at any rate for a number of years is open to grave doubt.\n\n4. The banks concerned might be compelled to issue notes on demand against silver dollars once the bullion point was passed. This would in turn compel the public and the other banks to accept payment similarly in dollars. It would also compel the banks of issue to yield control of their note issue by having to increase them indefinitely (on demand against silver dollars which they could not utilise) at a time when slackness of trade requires that currency be contracted rather than expanded.\n\nMy conclusions are that at the moment the premium is so great that any legislative attempt to bridge it forcibly and abruptly might have serious consequences. The import trade, the revival of which would remedy the situation, would on the contrary be paralysed by a drop of 3d. in exchange (the present excess over parity) and in other directions the results might be disastrous.\n\nI am, however, inclined to the opinion that if the existing abnormal situation took a turn for the better (either because of a revival of imports or of an upward movement of silver for any reason) so that the effects of inward remittances were offset and the premium once lowered to bullion point, advantage should be taken of it and an attempt then made to obviate a recurrence. It might be successful and the premium pegged if all the banks combined to resist an upward movement and to let it be known that their influence would be used for that purpose. It might also help if the Government (disregarding for the moment the revenue point of view) made the conditions attaching to excess note issues less onerous either by some remission of the stamp duty or by accepting as deposit against the issue a proportion of first-class securities or commercial paper. The cumulative effect of such co-operation might restrain the speculation, at any rate which now aggravates the evil, and keep the movement within narrower limits.\n\nI should suggest, therefore, a conference of local bank managers with a view to devising a method of procuring co-operation and that the Secretary of State be asked to seek technical advice in London as to the form the aid of the Government should take.\n\nIf no means of control can be devised and if exchange, as far as its higher level is concerned, gets entirely divorced from silver, the resulting feeling of instability will be such that it would be better to adopt a gold basis than to remain on the present intangible system.\n\n27th July, 1929.\n\n(Sd.) M. J. BREEN, Acting Colonial Treasurer.\n\n7\n\nI-B.\n\nMemorandum of a meeting held at the Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong on 19th August, 1929.\n\nA meeting was held this evening, attended by The Hon. Mr. A. C. Hynes, Chief Manager, the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, Mr. A. H. Ferguson, Manager, The Chartered Bank, Mr. C. L. Sandes, Manager, The Mercantile Bank, The Hon. Colonial Treasurer and presided over by the Hon. the Colonial Secretary to discuss the position of the Hong Kong currency and in particular the fact that notes are at a premium of about 15% above silver. The meeting had before it the Treasurer's memorandum entitled \"The Premium on Bank Notes,\" dated the 27th of July, 1929.\n\nThe following is the unanimous opinion of the Bankers on the three questions appearing on page 3 of the memorandum:\n\nQuestion.\n\n(a) To what extent is the premium beneficial or detrimental to the general trade interests of the Colony?\n\nThe premium is not beneficial and it would be to the interest of the Colony if the premium could be reduced to something not exceeding 4%, which would be the cost of laying down silver dollars in Hong Kong.\n\nGenerally speaking, the premium is beneficial to imports and detrimental to exports.\n\nQuestion.\n\n(b) What causes bring it about and what measure of responsibility, if any, attaches to the banks of issue?\n\nThe premium is caused by an excess of exports (particularly invisible exports) over imports, and the Banks are not responsible for the premium and have no power to prevent it.\n\nQuestion.\n\n(c) What measures could the Government take to remove it?\n\nTo remove the premium suddenly would so upset the trade of the Colony as to be highly detrimental and no particular measure can be suggested for removing the premium which would not likely do more harm than good. The only possible course is to wait for natural causes (for example, a rise in the price of silver or an increase in imports) to reduce the premium to a more manageable limit.\n\nThere appear to be three possible methods of reducing the premium:-\n\n1. To adopt a Gold Basis.\n\n2. To adopt a Silver Basis.\n\n3. For Government to take over the issue of notes.\n\nAt the present time, any of these three remedies would appear to be worse than the disease. The premium is not due to shortage of notes, but to the shortage of cover, and it cannot be cured by a further issue of notes even if the 1% stamp tax on issue were removed or if the issue of notes were otherwise made less onerous to the Banks.\n\n62", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 523809, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930", "page_number": 63, "title": "CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930", "content_text": "69\n\nWe are, Sir,\n\n14\n\nFOR THE YOKOHAMA SPECIE BANK, LIMITED.\n\n(Sd). H. MORI.\n\nManager.\n\nFOR THE BANK OF CANTON, LIMITED.\n\n(Sd). K. F. Lay,\n\nManager, Foreign Department.\n\nBANQUE FRANCO-CHINOISE, Pour le Commerce et l'Industrie. (Sd). A. ROLLIN, Manager.\n\nFOR THE BANK OF TAIWAN, LIMITED, Hong Kong.\n\n(Sd). K. NAKURA. Manager.\n\n- 15\n\nsures are not taken at once to relieve the situation. They are also of opinion that Government should make some small sacrifice to assist the Colony in the present crisis and not leave it to the Banks to bear the entire burden of stabilising the currency of the Colony.\n\nIII.\n\nLetter from the Associated Banks.\n\nHong Kong,\n\n11th December, 1929\n\nThe Hon. Mr. W. T. Southorn, C.M.G. Colonial Secretary,\n\nSir,\n\nHONG KONG.\n\nThe undersigned Banks have the honour to refer you to their petition dated the 26th November duly acknowledged in your letter of the same date.\n\nIt is a matter for great regret that no announcement has yet been made by His Excellency the Governor as regards his intentions in respect of the removal of the 1% tax asked for and as the matter is one of very great urgency, in that business has been at a standstill for the past fortnight and business houses and Banks and the trade of the Colony are suffering thereby, and as all the Banks have agreed, in the interests of the Colony, to \"peg\" the selling rate of exchange in order to facilitate the early return to silver parity and prevent the unnecessary further influx of silver dollars, and as in all other countries of the world the Government accepts certain responsibilities in respect of the legal currency, the undersigned Banks request that immediate steps be taken by the Government either to remove the 1% tax asked for in their petition dated the 26th November and thereby offer an inducement to the note issuing Banks concerned to increase their note issue immediately and bring conditions to a state of normalcy, or authorise the Banks who have the privilege of issuing notes against Silver dollars to immediately issue further notes under Government responsibility up to a maximum of dollars ten million against Silver dollars lodged in the vaults of the Banque de l'Indo Chine under Government control, the Government to hold themselves ultimately responsible for the absorption of the silver dollars for the increased issue.\n\nThe undersigned Banks cannot too strongly emphasise the fact that business is going past the Colony and that the present monetary stringency is likely to lead to very grave complications and to the detriment of the trade of the Colony if measures are not taken at once to relieve the situation.\n\nYour obedient Servants,\n\nFOR THE P. & O. BANKING CORPORATION, LTD.\n\n(Sd). W. J. WADDINGTON.\n\nManager.\n\nFOR THE HO HONG BANK, LIMITED.\n\n(Sd). KO LEONG HOE,\n\nManager.\n\nNEDERLANDSCHE HANDEL-MAATSCHAPPIJ, N. V.\n\n(Sd). P. M. Elberg.\n\nAgent.\n\nFOR THE YOKOHAMA SPECIE BANK, LIMITED.\n\n(Sd). H. MORI.\n\nManager.\n\nFOR THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED.\n\n(Sd). KAN TONG Po.\n\nChief Manager.\n\nTHE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY, INC.\n\n(Sd). E. W. DUGGAN.\n\nManager.\n\nNEDERLANDSCH INDISCHE HANDELSBANK, N. V.\n\n(Sd). C. STIGTER.\n\nManager.\n\nBANQUE DE L'INDO CHINE.\n\n(Sd.) A. LECOT.\n\nManager.\n\nFOR THE BANK OF CANTON, Limited.\n\n(Sd.) K. F. LAY. Manager, Foreign Department.\n\nBANQUE-FRANCO-CHINOISE, pour le Commerce et l'Industrie.\n\n(Sd.) A. ROLLIN,\n\nManager.\n\nFOR THE BANK OF TAIWAN, LIMITED, HONG KONG.\n\n(Sd). K. NAKURA. Manager.\n\nFOR THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK.\n\n(Sd). F. McD. COURTNEY.\n\nManager.\n\n70", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 523827, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930", "page_number": 81, "title": "CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930", "content_text": "CHANGING CHINA'S CURRENCY. THE QUESTION OF FOREIGN BANKS' NOTES. [THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] NANKING, March 5. The authorities state that there is no intention of imposing an import duty on silver. The Minister of Industry, reporting on the financial situation, recommends, inter alia, a reorganisation of the monetary system, including a change from the tael to the dollar, and the prohibition of foreign banks in China to issue notes.\n\nPage 30\n\nT 319\n\nOther matters dealt with during the year include improved facilities for 'bus-passengers, abolition of brothels in residential areas, policing arrangements, bathing-beaches, band-concerts, water supply, Castle Peak Road, and the problems of traffic and parking at the Star Ferry. The Committee of the K.R.A. are of opinion that the parking of private cars in the area now reserved will not be practicable in the near future, owing to the increasing number of motor-buses, taxis, and cars plying for public hire. They realise, too, that a complete reorganisation of the present system of traffic control is imperative, and have submitted to the Colonial Secretary a plan on which are shown the various alterations suggested. The scheme is too elaborate to be dealt with here in detail, but the point of greatest interest to motorists is the proposed parking accommodation for private cars. Briefly, the plan is to convert the land now occupied by a garage and the fire-brigade drill-ground into a car-park, only two minutes' walk from the wharf.\n\n\"In most cities in the world such parking space would be considered a real boon,\" say the Committee, anticipating protests from owner-drivers at not being allowed to park as close to the ferry as formerly. We heartily agree; in few cities are free public parking-places found so close to a bus terminal, and if this plan is a practical one, and is adopted, motorists will have cause for complaint. This, then, in brief is the work done by the Kowloon Residents' Association during the year, and is a highly creditable record. Even though all the suggestions made have not been acted upon, the authorities have had the advantage of knowing what Kowloon residents consider to be the most useful and urgent needs of that progressive community.\n\nmotor- no\n\n[March 7, 1930]\n\nting reality that the cost is rapidly increasing while the value of the dollar is dwindling.\n\nPage 101\n\nTHE SLUMP IN SILVER. (Daily Press, March 3, 1930). ON March 1 the Hong Kong dollar was quoted at 1s. 5 13-16d., the lowest figure ever recorded—and, in the opinion of many, the worst is yet to come. Exactly a week earlier the Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, addressing the annual meeting of shareholders, had warned them that there was no likelihood of any appreciable recovery in the price of silver as a result of any increased consumptive demand. Since Mr. BELL spoke at that meeting the Indian Government has announced its intention of imposing a duty of 4d. per ounce on silver, to be refunded on being exported from the country. The price of bar silver in London dropped on Friday to 19 1-8d., the lowest quotation on record, and the effect upon the Hong Kong dollar was immediate.\n\nOn February 4 the price of silver in London was 19 15-16d., which was then a new low record, coinciding with the resumption of Chinese dealings on the termination of the old-style New Year holidays, but the slump in London was not ascribed to this cause, for China both bought and sold, and India was a small buyer. The weakness in", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-523-12 Currency situation 17-2-1930 - 9-7-1930.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 530573, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-534-3 Report of Retrenchment Commission 4-5-1931 - 19-2-1932", "page_number": 41, "title": "CO129-534-3 Report of Retrenchment Commission 4-5-1931 - 19-2-1932", "content_text": "# 41\n\n## Paragraph 7.\n\n- 4\n\nGovernment considers three Cadet Officers in addition to the Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary to be the minimum requirements. The staff is based on a full day's work for each officer under normal conditions, and unfortunately overtime is the rule rather than the exception. The Senior Clerical & Accounting Staff and Junior Clerical Service have already been dealt with. It is interesting, however, to note that a 20% reduction on these heads is recommended, though in the opening paragraph it is stated that more overtime is worked in this office than probably in any other Government department. A few years ago, as a result of persistent sickness in the Colonial Secretary's Office staff, an office rule had to be made that no clerk, with the exception of a few who took it in turns, should attend to the receiving and despatching of documents and other essential business after 6.00 p.m.\n\n**SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS:**\n\nThe reduction recommended in paragraph 1 has been effected. Very little time is spent on the censoring of responsible Chinese newspapers. So far as Government is aware, no monetary or other valuable consideration is given for \"fung shui\" (lit. wind and water. In Chinese religion, a favourable influence attaching to certain objects or localities).\n\n**TREASURY:**\n\n## Paragraph 1.\n\nIt is proposed to purchase two machines next year, and though it is too early to give any definite undertaking, it is hoped to effect a saving of six clerks as soon as the machines are in full working order.\n\n## Paragraph 2.\n\nThe Government has at all times been willing", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-534-3 Report of Retrenchment Commission 4-5-1931 - 19-2-1932.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 536156, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-542-10 Mui Tsai system- correspondence from private individuals 13-1-1933 - 11-12-1933", "page_number": 36, "title": "CO129-542-10 Mui Tsai system- correspondence from private individuals 13-1-1933 - 11-12-1933", "content_text": "# HONG-KONG SLAVE MARKET\n\nOctober 16th, 1933.\n\nTo the Editor of the \"Express & Echo.\"\n\nSir, There are about 600,000 Chinese in Hong Kong subject to our laws, and it is considered that there are about 20,000 child slaves in that number. They are little girls called by the euphemistic term Mui Tsai. Sometimes they are called \"adopted daughters,\" but in any case they are bought, sold, and actual deeds are drawn up.\n\nLondon is British, so is Hong Kong. If it were discovered that there were in London 20,000 little Chinese girls held in slavery, subjected to unnameable indignities and cruelties, bought, sold, and re-sold, at the whim of their owners, it is possible that the House of Commons might address a few pertinent questions to the Home Secretary, and ask him what he intended to do in the matter.\n\nApparently the idea that slavery is impossible under the Union Jack is a polite fiction learned in our school days, which must be unlearned when we arrive at years of discretion, for slavery, naked and unashamed, flourishes in British Hong Kong.\n\nThe tragedy is that the children who are bought and sold have no power to speak for themselves. True, there is a law forbidding such sales, but the law is inadequately enforced, and registration was never carried out in an effective manner.\n\nFor the honour of the flag, and in the name of justice and humanity, it is asked: When will the British Parliament set these girls free?\n\nA. LANCASTER SMITH, Sidmouth, September 17th, 1933.\n\n## HONG-KONG SLAVE MARKET\n\nTo the Editor of the \"Express and Echo,\" Sir, I have read your correspondent's letter under the above heading which appeared in your issue of October 20th last. What he says gives an entirely false impression of the Chinese custom of child adoption known as \"Mui Tsai\" which has been prevalent in China for thousands of years. Under it, young children of low-born and sometimes scoundrelly parents are handed over by them to reputable and wealthy families who bring them up as their own; they become good and rich citizens and make a wealthy marriage, and are surrounded by a class of people they never would have associated with had they remained in their original humble and miserable surroundings.\n\nThe system perhaps is sometimes abused, and like all good principles in this world, is imposed upon. Children are handed over from one family to another of the same class for domestic purposes and for which a monetary consideration passes, but a vigilant watch is kept on these transactions by the Colonial Police and the Protector of Chinese Affairs. But to say that 20,000 child slaves exist in Hong Kong and that slavery, naked and unashamed, exists there is mere rubbish.\n\nIt always seems such a useless absurdity for people in the West to try and interfere with the old habits and ancient customs of the East. The Hong Kong Government can very well look after its own affairs without any coercion or interference on the part of the British Parliament. But Mui Tsai has always flourished and will continue to do so.\n\nE. M. TOZER.\n\nExeter, 22nd October, 1933.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-542-10 Mui Tsai system- correspondence from private individuals 13-1-1933 - 11-12-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 537269, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-543-3 Leave and passage regulations 13-1-1933 - 11-9-1933", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-543-3 Leave and passage regulations 13-1-1933 - 11-9-1933", "content_text": "## INSTITUTION OF CHEMISTRY OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND\n\nRegistered Office: 30, Russell Square, London, W.C.1.\n\nTELEPHONE NO: MUSEUM 2406.\n\n10th May, 1933.\n\nThe Secretary of State for the Colonies,\nColonial Office,\nDowning Street,\nS.W.1.\n\nSir,\n\nI have been directed by my Council to address you with reference to the class of passages to and from England granted to Assistant Analysts in the employ of the Government of Hong Kong.\n\nMy Council understands that under passage rules which were in force up to August 1932, Assistant Analysts, in common with all professional officers, were granted, on the expiration of their tour of duty in Hong Kong, free first-class return passages to England for themselves and their families.\n\nIn August 1932, however, a new Hong Kong General Order - No.178(2) - appears to have come into force under which a first-class passage is only granted to officers whose maximum salary exceeds £800 per annum.\n\nMy Council understands that, as a result of the introduction of this monetary basis, the Assistant Analysts are now placed on a lower scale, as regards class of passage, than practically all other professional officers in the Hong Kong Government Service and, also compare unfavourably in this respect with all grades of professional officers in H.M. Dockyard at Hong Kong.\n\nIn the opinion of my Council, it is much to be deplored that the professional status and conditions of service of Assistant Analysts should be on a definitely lower footing than that of other professional officers in the Colony and it, therefore, respectfully ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-543-3 Leave and passage regulations 13-1-1933 - 11-9-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 537278, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-543-3 Leave and passage regulations 13-1-1933 - 11-9-1933", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-543-3 Leave and passage regulations 13-1-1933 - 11-9-1933", "content_text": "# 1\n\n55\n\nI should be much obliged if you would allow a postponement of the date by which Mr. Bradley must exercise his option as I shall have to refer the matter to the Director of Colonial Audit. Under the terms of their appointment Assistant Auditors are entitled to \"the same privileges and status as are given to other Colonial Officers of corresponding rank\", no reference being made to salary. I could not, on my own responsibility, agree to the implication that the post of Assistant Auditor is of junior rank to many of the officers who would under the new regulations be entitled to first-class passages.\n\nThe Honourable Colonial Secretary replied that the limit had been fixed after careful consideration on a monetary basis and implies no decision as to the status of any office or officer, and as at present advised the Government was not prepared to consider any variation of the Order.\n\n7. Mr. Bradley has already been provided with first-class passages to or from England on three occasions and I submit that, apart from any question of personal comfort, it would be derogatory in these circumstances and to his position as an Assistant Auditor of 7 years' service in this Colony to travel second-class. In fact, he would not be willing to allow his wife and children to travel second-class. He is thus penalised by being forced to remain under the old rules.\n\n8.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-543-3 Leave and passage regulations 13-1-1933 - 11-9-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 545945, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-550-1 Estimates 1935 14-9-1934 - 15-9-1934", "page_number": 78, "title": "CO129-550-1 Estimates 1935 14-9-1934 - 15-9-1934", "content_text": "C. S. O. M.F. 237.\n\n285\n\nDEFENCE CONCESSIONS.\n\nA \"Yorkshire\" Budget.\n\nThe Hon. Colonial Secretary in moving the second reading of \"A Bill to apply a sum not exceeding $26,324,219 to the Public Service of the year 1935,\" said: I have Your Excellency's authority for saying that should it be the wish of the unofficial members, I am authorised to propose an amendment in committee which will enable the sum of $80,000 to be inserted under Public Works Extraordinary for continuing the work on Wanchai Market.\n\nThe Attorney-General seconded the motion.\n\nSir William Shenton.\n\nThe Hon. Sir William Shenton, who spoke on behalf of the Unofficial Members on matters of general concern, said:\n\nYour Excellency,-It is my privilege this year to speak on behalf of the Unofficial Members of this Council, and deal with matters of general concern, arising out of the Estimates for the coming year, leaving to my Colleagues the subjects in which they are individually, or particularly interested.\n\nEstimates\n\nIt has been the practice in the past, not only to deal with the items of the Estimates as presented, but to take a general survey of the past, a scrutiny of the Departmental Reports, Memoranda and Notes, and a consideration of the future. My Colleagues desire that a similar procedure be followed this year.\n\nWe wish to record our real appreciation of the clear and concise way in which Your Excellency has placed before us the Estimates for the year 1935. An exhaustive fund of information has been made available to us, and we have had no difficulty in following the mass of figures.\n\nWe congratulate Your Excellency, and the Members of the Government concerned, on the healthy position of the Colony's finances. In these days of depression, stress and strain, we look for an orthodox Budget. The present is not the occasion for flights of high finance, nor monetary experiments, nor do we regard the time as at all appropriate, for new extensive, and unproductive, public works extraordinary.\n\nWe believe that something along the lines of a solid Yorkshire Budget is more in keeping with the present circumstances.\n\nAn estimated deficit for 1934 of $1,215,366, thereby reducing excess of assets over liabilities to $12,601,259, and for 1935 of $1,390,452, thereby reducing the excess of assets over liabilities to $10,710,807, is not a position which we regard with anxiety, especially when we consider that the figures are based on a 1s. 4d. dollar. We do not think it requires a Daniel to prophesy, that at the end of 1934, and again in 1935, we shall find the balance is on the right side.\n\nWe realise that a favourable exchange has been a most important factor in the preparation of the Estimates, and this becomes strikingly apparent when one reads the abstract of differences, or peruses the footnotes of the Draft Estimates. For a continuance of this satisfactory position, we must look for similar or higher rates in the future.\n\nWhen all is said and done, a reduction in Expenditure for the year 1935 of $774,093, is a novel experience in this Colony in recent years.\n\nCrown Colony Budgets.\n\nThe speech of the Honourable Colonial Secretary was an excellent guide, and has been of great assistance to us in following the ramifications of the Budget.\n\nWe have noted from a speech made in the House of Commons in England, on the 12th July last, by the Right Honourable Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister, that several of our sister Crown Colonies have been able in the immediate past, to produce favourably balanced Budgets, which they have not previously done for some years, and we hope that this is a good augury for the future prosperity of our Colony.\n\nThe Memorandum on the financial position 1933, 1934 and 1935, placed before us by the Honourable Colonial Treasurer, is an illuminating document, and has been appreciated by us.\n\nThe abstract of differences between the approved Estimates of Expenditure for 1934 and for 1935, is indeed useful, and enables us with ease to follow the variations in the respective Estimates.\n\nThe Notes on the 1935 Estimates, prepared by the Honourable Director of Public Works, have given us an excellent insight into the many and varied works under his supervision.\n\nThe many Departmental Reports for the year 1933, which have come into our hands from time to time, have given us a clear understanding of the Colony's position.\n\nIt is incontestable that we are now feeling the full blast of the depression, and until there is a real and solid improvement in the general world conditions, we cannot look for a substantial improvement in our present position.\n\nIt is, however, the considered view of Unofficial Members that, although the immediate future is depressing, nevertheless, the great recuperative powers, which this Colony has always evidenced in the past, will re-assert themselves, and that, taking a long view of the future, we unhesitatingly state that Hongkong holds out even greater possibilities of prosperity than in the past.\n\nLooking over the past few years, we consider that the merchants and other business elements in the Colony have derived considerable benefits from the stability of the value of our dollar, and although there have been fluctuations from time to time, such variations have not been so violent as they might have been; in addition to which the premium on the Hongkong dollar, which was so detrimental to Hong-kong, has practically disappeared. For these favourable positions, we are indebted to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.\n\nDeclining Revenues.\n\nThe empty houses and flats, the declining land sales, the fall in the collection of stamp duties, and Government fees, the diminishing river and coastal steamer traffic, are matters of grave concern, but as so clearly pointed out by the Honourable Colonial Secretary in his speech, Hongkong's troubles are largely external, and until those conditions improve, Hongkong cannot look for better times.\n\nThe nationalistic policies now pursued by the nations of the world are no new phenomena, but an economic phase of which there is plenty of precedent. In Europe in the pre-Christian era and days of Sulla, and again after the wars of Napoleon, similar positions existed, and there are many other examples.\n\nWe are fully aware that the value of our manufactures, though small in volume, is far greater than many people realise. I do not propose to deal with this subject in detail, as several of my Honourable Colleagues will speak on this aspect of our Colony's economic position.\n\nNo one can deny that China is passing through a very critical time economically. Since she obtained tariff autonomy in 1928, duties have been ever on the increase, with an unfortunate degree of uncertainty in every direction, making trading most difficult.\n\nIt is to be hoped that China, and the rest of the world, will realise that what is needed is an interchange of commodities, freed from taxation and restrictions, other than such as are necessitated by a genuine revenue policy.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-550-1 Estimates 1935 14-9-1934 - 15-9-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 547888, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-552-8 Kowloon city- expropriation of Chinese property 2-1-1935 - 1-8-1935", "page_number": 39, "title": "CO129-552-8 Kowloon city- expropriation of Chinese property 2-1-1935 - 1-8-1935", "content_text": "Copies to:\n\nPeking D.M.\n\nShanghai Canton\n\nHong Kong\n\n# NOTES ON QUESTIONS BRIEFLY DISCUSSED BY H.M. MINISTER WITH H.E. THE GOVERNOR AT HONG KONG (SIR T. SOUTHORN & SIR E. TEICHMAN ALSO BEING PRESENT.)\n\nNOVEMBER 28th and 29th.\n\nKowloon City Evictions.\n\n39\n\nHis Excellency said that the Colonial authorities were going ahead with the new buildings and that when these were completed they would offer the present occupiers the option of monetary compensation or new houses. Out of two or three hundred of these occupiers practically all were willing to accept the terms offered and there seemed to be no difficulties locally.\n\nIn the course of further conversation and in reply to H.M. Minister's enquiry as to whether he could continue to refute the Wai Chiao Pu's arguments and state categorically that all the occupiers were willing to move and challenge them, the Wai Chiao Pu, to name any dissentient, it was stated that there appeared still to be one, but only one, recalcitrant, who was a newcomer, having only been in Kowloon City a matter of fifteen years.\n\nIt was agreed that, as suggested by the Foreign Office, the matter should be allowed to rest in the hope that the Wai Chiao Pu, whose last note on the subject was still unanswered, would be willing to let it drop. If, however, they did revert to the question and press for an answer, H.M. Minister would consider replying, possibly verbally in the first instance, on the above lines.\n\nAs regards the history of the case and the arguments in justification of our action in 1900 and since, there was nothing to add to the points made in the recent Foreign Office despatch on the subject.\n\nReference: Secretary of State's despatch (Secret) of 23.8.34.\n\n33744/34", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-552-8 Kowloon city- expropriation of Chinese property 2-1-1935 - 1-8-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549684, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-2 Estimates 1936 30-8-1935 - 29-1-1937", "page_number": 93, "title": "CO129-555-2 Estimates 1936 30-8-1935 - 29-1-1937", "content_text": "1st January, 1931. These facts are:-\n\n(I) That the Unofficial Members, in June 1930, very strongly opposed such increases of salaries, and that it was then pointed out by Mr. John Owen Hughes, the then Senior European Unofficial Member (see Hansard for 1930, at p.77) that, at the exchange of 1s. 10d. such increases of salaries would result in the Colony having to pay two million dollars extra for the increases in sterling and dollar salaries.\n\n(II) That the direct consequences were (see Hansard for 1930 at pages 176 and 177) that the Government were compelled, in order to balance their Budget for 1931, to impose the following additional taxation, namely:-\n\n(1) An amusement Tax, to produce 3 lakhs of dollars.\n\n(2) Increases in light dues and in fees for Government Buoys, and in other items of revenue affecting shipping, estimated to bring in $364,000.\n\nValuable Privileges In further support of our contention, that, in the event of such a deficit unfortunately arising, the taxpayers should not share the burden with the Civil Servants, we would point out that\n\n(i) Civil Servants possess the following very valuable privileges, namely, pensions, passages for themselves and family, housing or rent allowance, privileged rates for medical attendance, continuity of employment, safety of employment and protection against arbitrary dismissal.\n\n(ii) That, as the result of the present depression, very drastic cuts of their employees, by many business houses in this Colony, have already been made in the salaries.\n\n(iii) That, in many British Colonies, in order to meet bad times, cuts in salaries or in allowances have already been made and are still in force.\n\nI am gravely perturbed at the prospect of an estimated deficit of $830,000, after taking from our surplus balances the sum of $2,095,789, thereby in one year reducing our surplus balances to a figure permitted by the Secretary of State; particularly as it follows the year 1935 in which we have already an estimated deficit of $152,966, and the year 1934 which had an actual deficit of $1,574,870. This dipping, year after year, into our surplus balances must stop, or we shall inevitably find ourselves in a most difficult position.\n\nIn 1934 we budgeted at 1/3 and were fortunate in getting an average rate of 1/6%, whilst in 1935 we budgeted at 1/4 and were lucky to experience an average rate of 2/-8. Notwithstanding these favourable rates, substantial deficits followed. To-day we are budgeting at 1/8 and who will venture to foretell the future? The exchange factor is always a problem in budgeting, but we most strongly deprecate being saddled with additional taxation.\n\n(3) The increase of the General Assessment Rate by 4%, from 13 to 17%, will bring in about one million four hundred thousand dollars.\n\nWe are convinced that a low exchange would much benefit our local industries, and would also, by causing an influx of capital for investment, tend to relieve the present abnormal stagnation in business conditions. Incidentally, too, a low dollar would improve our tourist traffic.\n\nThose additional taxes, imposed to meet those increases of salaries, are still with us, and in times of depression like the present, they are even less popular than when they were first imposed.\n\nAccordingly the Unofficial Members contend that the taxpayers of this Colony are already paying amply for those increases of salaries (which are still in force) and that, to make the taxpayers pay more in 1936 if a sharp drop in the dollar should unbalance the Budget, is a palpable injustice to the taxpayers of this Colony. In such an event, as already stated, the Civil Servants ought solely to bear the burden of such a drop, to the exclusion of the taxpayers, who have already been sufficiently mulcted.\n\nUnconstitutional\n\nAt this point somebody may ask:- \"Why do the Unofficial Members raise this protest just now, instead of waiting for the contingency to occur?\"\n\n1. Our answer to that, Sir, is that we gather, from the above-quoted passage in the Colonial Secretary's speech, that the Government has already been in communication with the Secretary of State on the subject of the possible deficit, and that the Secretary of State has, already, without the Unofficial Members of or the Finance Committee of this Council being consulted in any way, \"sanctioned\" a scheme whereby such deficit is to be met partly by additional taxation and partly by cuts in the salaries of Government Civil Servants. That procedure of the Government we object to as being unconstitutional.\n\nWe are painfully aware of the fact that the Unofficial Members of this Council are in all matters of voting in a hopeless minority, but surely that fact makes it all the more imperative that they should at least be consulted before any definite arrangement is come to with the Secretary of State for meeting a possible deficit in the finances of the Colony by means of additional taxation.\n\nPerhaps we may be told that we Unofficials shall be consulted, if the emergency in question should arise, but what a farce any such consultation must be, in view of the passage in the above-quoted speech of the Colonial Secretary, in which he says: \"The Secretary of State has already given his sanction to action on these lines\" i.e., on the lines of partly meeting such a deficit by additional taxation.\n\nIn conclusion we would add that we place great reliance upon that close co-operation between all sections of this community which has been of such marked assistance to Hongkong's progress in the past. (Applause.)\n\nEXCHANGE MENACE\n\nSir Wm. Shenton Pessimistic On Future Outlook\n\nUSE OF SURPLUSES\n\nThe Hon. Sir William Shenton, addressing the Council, said:-Sir, On a careful consideration of the Estimates, I am unable to take, in a measure, the same view of this Colony's financial position as my colleagues.\n\nIn the preparation of a Colonial Budget the following principles are, I think, fundamental:- (1) The Budget must be balanced; (2) where actual balancing is impracticable no effort must be neglected to reduce the annual deficit; (3) in framing estimates of revenue and expenditure regard should be had not only to the conditions of the moment but also to the general probabilities over a cycle of years; (4) while every effort should be made by Government to assist the recovery of trade it would not be proper to assume that recovery will be sufficiently rapid to justify regarding the present emergency as one of a purely temporary nature which can legitimately be tided over by the use of surplus balances; (5) estimates should be drawn up on the assumption that the present conditions are likely to prevail for some time to come.\n\nThe economic position which this Colony faces to-day is not only peculiar but, I believe, novel in its history.\n\nThe difficulties are obvious. We have lost the solid and natural value of silver. To-day no-one can predict what to-morrow will bring forth.\n\nFor years past the currency policy of this Colony has been to keep the value of our dollar in line with that of China. To-day the margin is such that trading becomes almost impossible. The currency of China at the moment is, I believe, no longer on silver but is a managed currency and who knows what the next move will be? The value of silver has, we are told, been artificially enhanced by the policy of the United States of America and that a continuance of this policy will provide them with most of the available stocks of this metal. Who will venture to prophesy how long this policy will be maintained?\n\nI should like to draw attention to an extract from the City Notes of the London Times of the 15th August last which states as follows \"Monetary disturbance was caused in the East when America was busy forcing up the price of silver, and now a great disturbance is being caused by a reversal of that policy. Hongkong is faced with an awkward problem for yesterday her exchange fell one penny to 1/11 being the rate below export point. Ordinarily the Hongkong authorities by modest operations in silver would have been able to correct this position, but with one large buyer exercising absolute predominance over the silver market it is impossible for the authorities to resort with the same confidence to the usual adjusting operations\".\n\nI believe the above position has arisen on more than one occasion when a flight of currency from this Colony might have taken place, but for the action of the Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. The able way in which he has controlled our currency position has met with universal appreciation.\n\nDifficult Times\n\n93", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-2 Estimates 1936 30-8-1935 - 29-1-1937.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 550377, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-556-15 Kowloon city- expropriation of Chinese property 22-6-1936 - 22-12-1936", "page_number": 4, "title": "CO129-556-15 Kowloon city- expropriation of Chinese property 22-6-1936 - 22-12-1936", "content_text": "This is a purely political move by a new official seeking to justify his existence and ingratiate himself with his new associates. His attitude is shown to be insincere. His representations on this matter are based on the claim by the residents of The City that their ancestral homes should be undisturbed. He then proceeds to suggest the creation of an area as a public park, and Chinese Sovereignty. I will simply send a copy to the F.O. in connexion with my despatch regarding the monetary claim. The Gov's reply is a proper rebuke to Kowloon for extending an invitation without the consent of the Colonial Govt.\n\nA Gent 28741", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-556-15 Kowloon city- expropriation of Chinese property 22-6-1936 - 22-12-1936.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 560022, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-57 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [7]", "page_number": 286, "title": "CO129-57 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [7]", "content_text": "283\n\nPre-clearance from the Harbour Master's office, but pumzilen, with urë sug a Ertitienti from the 7 liigration officer.\n\nUp to that date the Tonnage restriction was not enforced, so it will be seen from the enclosed letter of the Suigration ppien of 21st January, 1855 sienetary.\n\nThe Proclamation to which dus Hillier alluded in his letter was published in the Hongkong Government Gazette of 3rd December 1853, and referred to the amendment of the Passengers' Act 1852, wherein Twelve instead of Fifteen superficial feet were allotted to each passenger.\n\nA native of China, and it comía Hat His Lem heid as regulation had been for to impercent the Consage rectriction - but from the rate of the Colonial Monetary's reply is luodifienta of the ret was canctioned.\n\nIt will be noted all the lus Hillier distinctų buves tirċ tist necessary recanation allowed here would not necessarily carry with it any weight at the port of destination, fu quicurkation, and this was doubtine uslained to the owner of the \"William and Martin\" who would thus have suffered the secuel to proceed on sis own risk and recconcibiliti.\n\nThe Chinese Passengers' Act\n\nINDEX", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-57 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 565206, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-577-3 Proposed transfer of military barracks to alternative site 30-1-1939 - 14-12-1939", "page_number": 2, "title": "CO129-577-3 Proposed transfer of military barracks to alternative site 30-1-1939 - 14-12-1939", "content_text": "## C.1. \"Military\"\n1 \nGovernor \n53654/39 \n2 \nconf.(2) \n30.1.39. \n\nProposes removal of barracks and other buildings in central district of Victoria and on Victoria peak to a less valuable site.\n\nThe Governor states that for some time past he has been discussing informally with the local military authorities the possibility of removing the barracks, etc. occupied by the Infantry Battalion stationed in the central district of Victoria and on Victoria peak to a less valuable site away from the centre of the city. The effect would be to render a large tract of land in the centre of Victoria available for civil development. The provisional areas in question occupied by the Military are shaded pink on the accompanying map.\n\nThe proposal is that the Military should surrender this land in return for the grant of a new site elsewhere on the island: the Colonial Government will have to bear the cost of site formation, of the buildings, access roads, anti-Malaria work and water supplies for the new site, subject to an agreed maximum total cost. The estimated cost of the scheme to the Colonial Government is about $5,000,000, against which the Governor states an equivalent sum might be realised by the sale of the land surrendered, though this would probably be spread over a number of years. Both the Army Council and the Executive Council have apparently expressed their agreement in principle, and the Governor requests approval to go ahead with the negotiations.\n\nThere would seem to be considerable advantages in the scheme whereby such a large area would become available for commercial development and town re-planning, etc., and the Governor considers that these advantages would outweigh any monetary loss which", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-577-3 Proposed transfer of military barracks to alternative site 30-1-1939 - 14-12-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 571657, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940", "page_number": 131, "title": "CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940", "content_text": "# HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n33\n\nThe resolution was adopted.\n\n**THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.**—I rise to move that this Council approves the gift to His Majesty's Government of £100,000 as a monetary contribution from the Colony of Hong Kong towards the prosecution of the war with Germany.\n\nThe general revenue balance of the Colony on 31st December, 1939, was approximately $16,865,000. As Honourable Members are aware, expenditure on loan works authorized under the 3% Dollar Loan, 1934, to the extent of $11,140,000 has been temporarily charged to Surplus Balances pending the second issue of bonds, while further advances on additional loan works have been similarly made against a proposed future loan. Details of this expenditure are given in Appendix VI(b) and (c) of the printed estimates. But revenue figures continue to be satisfactory and receipts so far this year have generally been in excess of the estimates. Apart from the revenue from the taxes proposed under the War Revenue Ordinance, the Colony is in a financial position to make an immediate cash gift to His Majesty's Government.\n\nThis item is included in the application for a Supplementary Vote which is to be made in Finance Committee after this meeting. The figure there given is $1,627,119, which is the equivalent of £100,000 at 1/2 to the dollar, the rate of exchange taken in connection with the estimates for 1940-41.\n\n**THE COLONIAL SECRETARY** seconded.\n\n**THE HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.**—The Unofficial Members of this Council unanimously support this motion.\n\n**HON. MR. M. K. LO.**—Your Excellency,—The contribution to the British Government which is to be raised under the War Revenue Legislation relates to a period from 1st April, 1940, and the War has already gone on for over six months.\n\nAlthough the appalling loss of life, which was such a ghastly characteristic of the Great War, has happily not yet taken place, England, throughout this period, has been experiencing the intolerable strain and anxiety of preparedness and suspense. Her Navy and Merchant Marine, Army and Air Force, have been carrying out their allotted tasks in face of all dangers, and with inevitable casualties, and the whole Nation has been mobilised to fight the greatest military bully the world has ever seen.\n\nIn contrast to the prevailing conditions in England, Hong Kong has indeed much to be thankful for. Thanks to the British Navy and the might of the British Empire, Hong Kong is enjoying a measure of peace and freedom which is a thing of the past in so many parts of the world to-day.\n\n141", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575304, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "page_number": 145, "title": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "content_text": "## FLASH FORM\n\n(Monitor)...\n\nCopy\n\nMONTGOMERY on `5147/31/4` Bay for M1 Keating Colonial Office 142 at 18 Teleprinted by......................................................... Checked by..... \n\n(Station TOKIO) (Wavelength) 16.87m (Lang.) ITALIAN (Destination)...... EUROPE (Time).......... 10.50 (Date) 10.5.43 6.\n\nHon konts The Governor's Administration (Italian, Governatorate of Hongkong) has decided to put in force from the 1st June onwards the prohibition of the circulation of Hongkong dollars. The Chief of the Financial Affairs Bureau of the Administration of Hongkong made the following statement on the 10th instant:\n\nAt the time of the occupation of Hongkong we had to withdraw the Hongkong dollars from circulation. But, thinking prudently of disorder in the economic structure and of the possible threat to the life of the inhabitants that might have arisen out of a too rapid reform of the monetary system, we have recognised, up to today, the use of the enemy dollars of Hongkong. But the banknotes issued by the Imperial Military Authorities have now been able to establish themselves with a healthy development and, in addition, the economy of Hongkong, from market prices to the wholesale purchase of all articles, is carried on by means of the banknotes issued by the Japanese Army. On the other hand, in consequence of the British defeat, the Hongkong dollars could not retain their value and from day to day it declined until the Hongkong dollars lost completely the object of their circulation.\n\nSince the 16th April last, our authorities authorised the exchange of Hongkong dollars into banknotes issued by our military authorities, without any charge being made. And now we have decided to prohibit the use of Hongkong dollars from the 1st June onwards.\n\nCD\n\n## END OF FLASH\n\n12.00", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 583038, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-596-5 Hong Kong University- Apprenticeship scheme 28-10-1948 - 23-12-1948", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-596-5 Hong Kong University- Apprenticeship scheme 28-10-1948 - 23-12-1948", "content_text": "## Morsible imperassment \n\nDoubtless we need not unduly overdo it. Much we need would unduly overdo it. Students from some countries (India; Sudan, etc.) get allowances which are much higher than ours & could be an embarrassment to them.\n\nTo: My point was that a student who received high wages, had high tax, since we abate allowance in gross salary, the man who had a large tax got less, in total, than the man who paid small tax. The man who got no salary, & therefore had no tax, got most of all. The tax-paying student in my fact never got £30 a month.\n\n## Reference to Pre-War Scheme\n\nReference is made in the application at No.12 to the pre-war scheme operated by the FBI and the Chinese Government, and it is stated that the students brought here under that scheme received an allowance to bring their net earnings up to £30 a month. Miss Ruston in her minute of 16/5/47 quotes the FBI as saying that the present-day Chinese students financed by the Chinese Government receive an allowance calculated so that the actual income tax liability which the student himself bears is the amount of tax taken from the wages of the lowest paid of the students.\n\nTo pay our CD students the difference between their net earnings and £30 a month would therefore place them at a slight advantage as compared with the Chinese Government students, which would perhaps present the Chinese Embassy with a problem should the two groups of students ever be in a position to compare notes.\n\nNevertheless, I feel that to supplement the net earnings is the best way, in spite of the fact that it involves the virtual refund of tax from UK funds. It ensures that every student receives the same sum to live on as all the others (which the present Chinese scheme also admittedly does), but it would avoid the constant necessity for watching what the lowest paid student pays in tax and bring the others into line - a complicated affair, particularly if, as is probable, the students will go to different firms for their apprenticeships.\n\nMr. Titchener has referred to the possibility of a particular student being given higher wages by his firm as a reward for good work, the student however being unable to reap the benefit of the increase because his wages would still be evened out to the £30 a month maximum. I do not think, however, that we should take this point too seriously. Other CDW students in this country plough through four and five year courses without benefit of increased allowances, unless they pass the 25-year age point, or some general increase in allowances is approved. Some of these make better progress than others, some get University scholarships, which bring them no monetary benefit, at present.\n\n## Method of Payment of Allowances\n\nAs regards the method of payment of the allowances, the position is a little difficult. The students will be in receipt of a weekly wage, which we have to augment by means of an allowance expressed in monthly terms. Other maintenance allowances are paid in advance, and the first point to be decided is whether the allowances under this scheme should be paid in advance or in arrear.\n\nSince the wages will be paid in arrear, and the allowance is to be directly linked to the wages, it would be best, I think, to pay the allowance also in arrear. This would be in agreement with the practice regarding the payment of certain post-graduate allowances paid to e.g., Colonial Products Research Council workers, and would avoid confusion in the minds of the students themselves.\n\nThe second point is whether we should make a single monthly payment direct to the student, or possibly get the firms concerned to pay the allowance weekly, so that the student receives a regular weekly income, the firm claiming on us for refund at regular intervals. I think the first of these alternatives is best, on...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-596-5 Hong Kong University- Apprenticeship scheme 28-10-1948 - 23-12-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 583829, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950", "page_number": 252, "title": "CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950", "content_text": "## Head 39. Department of Supplies And Development\n\n### Estimate 1949-50, Revised Estimate 1948-49, Approved Estimate 1948-49, Actual Expenditure 1947-48\n\nThis increase is chiefly required for the payment of increased living allowances under the terms of the **Approved Estimate 1948-49**: $6,922,550, **Actual Expenditure 1947-48**: $8,175,983.\n\nIn the course of the year, a reorganisation of staff in the Stores Department was approved and, in consequence, two new Officer grades of Senior Stores Officer and Assistant Stores Officer were created. The posts at present shown in the estimates represent an increase over the overall establishment of officers previously shown under various titles in the pensionable and non-pensionable establishment and temporary staff in 1948-49. No other increases are made, certain staff being transferred from the temporary staff to the non-pensionable establishment. Motor drivers are now provided for under casual labour and one post of Packer has been abolished. Personal emoluments show an increase of $10,182.\n\n## Head 40. Department Of Supplies And Development\n\n| | Estimate 1949-50 | Revised Estimate 1948-49 | Approved Estimate 1948-49 | Actual Expenditure 1947-48 |\n|----------|------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|\n| Personal emoluments | $792,486 | $710,000 | | |\n\nSalaries of teachers in these schools are linked to those paid in Government schools.\n\n## Head 44. Colonial Development And Welfare Scheme\n\n| | Estimate 1949-50 | Revised Estimate 1948-49 | Approved Estimate 1948-49 | Actual Expenditure 1947-48 |\n|----------|------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|\n| Expenditure on schemes | $2,316,480 | $751,394 | $680,734 | |\n\nExpenditure on schemes approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies under the Colonial Development and Welfare Act are now shown for the first time under a single head of expenditure. Hitherto such expenditure has been shown on a very small scale. Each sub-head is offset by a corresponding reduction of nearly $70,000 but this is offset to some extent by the provision of $36,000 for professional fees to a firm of Accountants which had previously been shown inappropriately under personal emoluments.\n\n## Head 41. Supreme Court\n\n| | Estimate 1949-50 | Revised Estimate 1948-49 | Approved Estimate 1948-49 | Actual Expenditure 1947-48 |\n|----------|------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|\n| | $414,701 | $318,000 | $345,125 | $242,078 |\n\nIn 1948-49 it was necessary, in view of the phenomenal amount of building, to make very heavy supplementary provision for the collection and storage of sand in 1949 and the estimate provides for an increase of $500,000. This increase is, of course, offset by a corresponding increase in revenue. An additional $155,000 is required for furniture for Government quarters and an extra $25,000 for office equipment and furniture for all departments. There are minor changes under Other Charges, the most important of which are reductions of $11,000 for upkeep of motor vehicles and $10,000 for the transport of stores.\n\nThe reclamation at Aberdeen is to be used for the salting and drying of fish, and fishing boats will be able to berth alongside. The agricultural village depots, for which provision is made under sub-heads 2 and 3, will serve as collecting stations for the sale of vegetables under the Marketing Vegetable Scheme, and as distribution centres for seeds, fertilisers, and insecticides. Demonstration plots will be laid out in the vicinity of each depot.\n\nWith two exceptions, the staff of this department is the same as in 1948-49, allowing for personnel transferred to the Registrar General's Department. The two new posts are one additional Puisne Judge, the creation of which was authorised in 1948-49, and one Magistrate for the Tenancy Tribunals, for which post an officer has recently been engaged. Sub-head 4 provides for the installation of radio sonde and new wind-finding stations to be operated by the Royal Observatory.\n\nSub-head 5 provides funds for personal emoluments. The nett increase is $38,976. For Other Charges, expenditure is still of the same order as in 1948-49. An additional $9,000 is required for stores. The sum required for recurrent expenditure is reduced by $373,800.\n\n## Loan Expenditure\n\nExpenditure from Loan funds is being continued. Up to the 31st March, 1948, expenditure from this source amounted to $57,269,913, and it is estimated that by the 31st March 1949, this figure may have increased to $98,467,615. A new furniture workshop is at present under construction and $10,500 is provided for books for the Library of the Supreme Court. A new sub-head is introduced entitled special expenditure to equip it. In addition, $24,000 is required for a stack-packer, a mechanical device for the internal transport and stacking of stores, which it is hoped will result in a reduction of unskilled labour and consequent savings in 1950-51.\n\n## Head 39. Subvention\n\n| | Estimate 1949-50 | Revised Estimate 1948-49 | Approved Estimate 1948-49 | Actual Expenditure 1947-48 |\n|----------|------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|\n| | $780,245 | $700,000 | | $754,906 |\n\nAll Subventions paid by the Government to organisations within and outside the Colony are now shown under one Head. The process of grouping these payments together under one Head was started last year and this year subsidies to Grant-aided and Vernacular Schools and to Hospitals have been included. These were previously shown under the Education and Medical Heads, and comparison with the previous years' estimates is therefore unrealistic. It will be observed, however, that in cases where comparison is possible, certain apparent large increases have been made. These are accounted for by the decision to stop the free issue of rations, previously provided for out of the Relief of Destitutes vote, and to compensate organisations by an equivalent monetary grant. There has been an increase of nearly $500,000 for miscellaneous grants to Grant-Aid Schools.\n\n## Head 42. Treasury\n\n| | Estimate 1949-50 | Revised Estimate 1948-49 | Approved Estimate 1948-49 | Actual Expenditure 1947-48 |\n|----------|------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|\n| | $13,250,877 | $750,000 | $750,000 | $688,108 |\n\nThere are no changes in the staff of this department, apart from the transfer of the Estate Duty Office to the Inland Revenue Department. The increased provision for overtime allowance and expatriation pay largely accounts for the increase of $63,637. Other Charges show a small reduction of $1,000 but an extra $29,120 is required for Special Expenditure to purchase more mechanical accounting devices. Consequently, expenditure on this head has risen by $92,137.\n\n## Head 43. Custodian Of Property\n\n| | Estimate 1949-50 | Revised Estimate 1948-49 | Approved Estimate 1948-49 | Actual Expenditure 1947-48 |\n|----------|------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|\n| | $42,600 | $60,000 | $61,020 | $118,637 |\n\nThe activities of this department have been further reduced in staff and compared with the provision made in 1948-49, cuts in recurrent expenditure under the Education Department have effected a saving of $18,000. Expenditure on this head has fallen by $331,118. To enable work to be started on the new Airport as soon as a final decision is reached on the question of the site, a further $8,000,000 is earmarked. This, of course, only represents a fraction of the probable total cost but, as part of the war expenditure settlement, His Majesty's Government agreed to make a loan of £3,000,000 to the Colony free of interest to assist in meeting construction costs. Some $6,500,000 from Loan funds is being provided for the completion of the permanent Government quarters now under construction.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 587594, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-605-4 Government loans 12-7-1946 - 6-1-1948", "page_number": 152, "title": "CO129-605-4 Government loans 12-7-1946 - 6-1-1948", "content_text": "54126/4/46\n\nYour Ref. 3.52892/04\n\nDear Serpell,\n\nColonial Office,\n\nDowning Street.\n\n156\n\n30\n\n17 December, 1946.\n\n२१\n\nI enclose a copy of a letter from the Crown Agent for the Colonies concerning Hong Kong telegram No. 1357 regarding the proposed loan. The Crown Agents for the Colonies confirm that they are unlikely to require re-payment of the J.O.F. advances in the near future. Any London loan could thus probably be floated at a time when the best terms could be obtained for Hong Kong. This is satisfactory.\n\n2. As regards the local issue of the loan, the Governor mentions two points :-\n\n(a) Local firms are unlikely to invest unless Government state that so far as can be foreseen there is no reason to suppose that present exchange rate between H.K.$ and sterling will be varied.\n\nThe trouble about a declaration of this kind is that it is liable to be taken as a pledge never to devalue at least while the loan is outstanding. This is a pledge which clearly cannot be given. The difficulty might however be got over by referring to the fact that the provisions of the Bretton Woods Agreement, under which the International Monetary Fund has been set up, apply to Hong Kong as to other Colonial currencies. The par value of Hong Kong currency has now been declared by H.K.G. to the Fund as 1/3d and would only be altered in accordance with\n\nD. R. SERPELL, ESQ., O.B.E.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-605-4 Government loans 12-7-1946 - 6-1-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 594313, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-617-3 New American Consulate building- proposed site 28-3-1947 - 4-10-1947", "page_number": 30, "title": "CO129-617-3 New American Consulate building- proposed site 28-3-1947 - 4-10-1947", "content_text": "# FINANCIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM\n\nIt is hereby agreed between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as follows:-\n\n## 1. Effective date of the Agreement.\n\nThe effective date of this Agreement shall be the date on which the Government of the United States notifies the Government of the United Kingdom that the Congress of the United States has made available the funds necessary to extend to the Government of the United Kingdom the line of credit in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.\n\n## 2. Line of Credit.\n\nThe Government of the United States will extend to the Government of the United Kingdom a line of credit of $3,750,000,000 which may be drawn upon at any time between the effective date of this Agreement and 31st December, 1951, inclusive.\n\n## 3. Purpose of the Line of Credit.\n\nThe purpose of the line of credit is to facilitate purchases by the United Kingdom of goods and services in the United States, to assist the United Kingdom to meet transitional post-war deficits in its current balance of payments, to help the United Kingdom to maintain adequate reserves of gold and dollars and to assist the Government of the United Kingdom to assume the obligations of multilateral trade, as defined in this and other agreements.\n\n## 4. Amortisation and Interest.\n\n(i) The amount of the line of credit drawn by 31st December, 1951, shall be repaid in 50 annual instalments beginning on 31st December, 1951, with interest at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum.\n\nInterest for the year 1951 shall be computed on the amount outstanding on 31st December, 1951, and for each year thereafter interest shall be computed on the amount outstanding on 1st January of each such year.\n\n49 annual instalments of principal repayments and interest shall be equal, calculated at the rate of $31,823,000 for each $1,000,000,000 of the line of credit drawn by 31st December, 1951, and the fiftieth annual instalment shall be at the rate of $31,840,736.65 for each such $1,000,000,000.\n\nEach instalment shall consist of the full amount of the interest due and the remainder of the instalment shall be the principal to be repaid in that year. Payments required by this section are subject to the provisions of Section 5.\n\n(ii) The Government of the United Kingdom may accelerate repayment of the amount drawn under this line of credit.\n\n## 5. Waiver of Interest Payments.\n\nIn any year in which the Government of the United Kingdom requests the Government of the United States to waive the amount of the interest due in the instalment of that year, the Government of the United States will grant the waiver if :--\n\n(a) the Government of the United Kingdom finds that a waiver is necessary in view of the present and prospective conditions of international exchange and the level of its gold and foreign exchange reserves, and\n\n(b) the International Monetary Fund certifies that the income of the United Kingdom from home-produced exports plus its net income from invisible current transactions in its balance of payments was on the average over the five preceding calendar years less than the average annual amount of United Kingdom imports during 1936-8 fixed at £866,000,000, as such figure may be adjusted for changes in the price level of these imports. Any amount in excess of £43,750,000 released or paid in any year on account of sterling balances accumulated to the credit of overseas governments, monetary authorities and banks before the effective date of this Agreement shall be regarded as a capital transaction and therefore shall not be included in the above calculation of the net income from invisible current transactions for that year. If waiver is requested for an interest payment prior to that due in 1955, the average income shall be computed for the calendar years from 1950 through the year preceding that in which the request is made.\n\n## 6. Relation of this line of credit to other obligations.\n\n(i) It is understood that any amounts required to discharge obligations of the United Kingdom to third countries outstanding on the effective date of this agreement will be found from resources other than this line of credit.\n\n(ii) The Government of the United Kingdom will not arrange any long term loans from Governments within the British Commonwealth after 6th December, 1945 and before the end of 1951 on terms more favourable to the lender than the terms of this line of credit.\n\n(iii) Waiver of interest will not be requested or allowed under Section 5 in any year unless the aggregate of the releases or payments in that year of sterling balances accumulated to the credit of overseas governments, monetary authorities and banks (except in the case of colonial dependencies) before the effective date of this agreement, is reduced proportionately, and unless interest payments due in that year on loans referred to in (ii) above are waived. The proportionate reduction of the releases or payments of sterling balances shall be calculated in relation to the aggregate released and paid in the most recent year in which waiver of interest was not requested.\n\n(iv) The application of the principles set forth in this section shall be the subject of full consultation between the two Governments as occasion may arise.\n\n## 7. Sterling Area Exchange Arrangements.\n\nThe Government of the United Kingdom will complete arrangements as early as practicable and in any case not later than one year after the effective date of this agreement, unless in exceptional cases a later date is agreed upon after consultation, under which immediately after the completion of such arrangements the sterling receipts from current transactions of all sterling area countries (apart from any receipts arising out of military expenditure by the Government of the United Kingdom prior to 31st December, 1948, to the extent to which they are treated by agreement with the countries\n\nPage 30\nPage 31", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-617-3 New American Consulate building- proposed site 28-3-1947 - 4-10-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 595233, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-619-6 Kai Tak Airfield- petition regarding compensation for loss of property 15-4-1948 - 3-6-1948", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-619-6 Kai Tak Airfield- petition regarding compensation for loss of property 15-4-1948 - 3-6-1948", "content_text": "## 9\n\nsquare feet, and three lots still smaller, the smallest being only 123 square feet.\n\nNevertheless, the possibility that exchange may be feasible is by no means ruled out. `54422/47` 50\n\n(1) on 'sitfile Mali\n\nThe reasons for not awarding compensation for buildings demolished have already been explained in my Savingram No.766 and I see no reason to alter that decision. Nor are there any grounds for awarding monetary compensation at the post-war values of land.\n\n6.\n\nIt is of course completely untrue to say that these people \"since the liberation of the Colony have been homeless and without means of living, anxious and desperate\", and I do not suppose that this passage in the last paragraph of the present petition is intended to be more than a colourful and rhetorical conclusion.\n\n7. I suggest that your reply to the Petitioners should confirm the decision not to award compensation for buildings demolished; should reject the claim to monetary compensation calculated at the post-war inflated values of land; and should inform the petitioners that while it may prove possible to grant land in exchange in some individual cases it is not practicable to introduce any general provision to give a right to receive land in exchange instead of cash compensation in all cases.\n\nI have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour most obedient, humble servant,\n**Mharthan.**\nGOVERNOR.\n\nPage 10\n\nTo\nThe Right Honourable Earl of Listowel, P.C.,\nHis Majesty's Minister of State for Colonial Affairs.\n\nThe Humble Petition of The Association\nfor Claiming Compensation for Losses\nof People's Property at the Kai Tak\nAirfield c/o The Kowloon Chinese\nChambers of Commerce of No.36 Nga Tsin\nLong Road, second floor, Kowloon in\nthe Colony of Hong Kong.\n\nSHEWETH as follows:-\n\nThat during the period of the occupation an extension was made\nto the area of the Kai Tak Airfield by the Japanese occupying forces,\nthereby a great number of business and domestic buildings in the\nonce prosperous district of Kowloon City were demolished, villages\nturned down, and agricultural grounds with growing crops wiped out\nto form the present size of this aerodrome and over 10,000\ninhabitants were rendered homeless and many others deprived of\ntheir crop-land.\n\n2. That on the 2nd day of March 1947 an Association under the\nname by which your Petitioner is now known was organised and a\nPetition was presented to the Government of Hong Kong requesting\na compensation to be made in the following terms:-\n\n3.\n\n(a) That appropriate building and agricultural lots be given\nto compensate the owners who have been deprived of their\nproperties and\n\n(b) That reasonable compensation be paid to them for losses\nof buildings, factories, machineries, furniture and/or\ngrowing crops.\n\nThat in the last mentioned Petition the following reasons\nwere submitted for consideration.\n\n(a) That the properties were privately owned and that since\nthey were taken and occupied by the enemy they should on\n\n-1-\n\nPage 11", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-619-6 Kai Tak Airfield- petition regarding compensation for loss of property 15-4-1948 - 3-6-1948.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 599402, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-627-4 Argyle Street explosion- correspondence on claims and enquiries 1-6-1946 - 31-7-1951", "page_number": 11, "title": "CO129-627-4 Argyle Street explosion- correspondence on claims and enquiries 1-6-1946 - 31-7-1951", "content_text": "point (see paragraph 2 of (4) on 55342/49) but in fact agreement with Malaya had not yet been completely tied up and it is now clear that on this particular point Malaya have never accepted the proposal.\n\nJ. Wallan\n\n30.9.49.\n\nm Wallace\n\nTerm 3 of D is thermordely exp...\n\na claim for damages in monetary parlance is ...\n\n\"bill the team transaction\" is ...\n\natt...\n\nto describe commercial arrangements, it seems strange to apply it to an explosion. One might equally well apply it to the exemption of a volcano or the dropping of the atomic bomb...\n\n\"transactions in ...\n\nconjunction it is clear that they want to refer to accounts rendered or to be rendered for goods supplied, work done or services performed & if we look at the whole scheme of arrangements agreed upon in 1 of 55217/6/40/47 they ...\n\nhad in contemplation concerned finance ordinary transactions on the ... reuse & did not embrace claims which might arise through tortious acts.\n\nNo more than this. The military assumed full responsibility for administration & the several services of internment from the time the Japanese surrendered till the time the Colonial post was re-established. In the interests of everyone in the Colony, military or civilian, the military had to take charge of this quantity of affairs. Through their negligence an explosion took place with consequential damage. To argue that compensation should be part of a claim is legitimate.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-627-4 Argyle Street explosion- correspondence on claims and enquiries 1-6-1946 - 31-7-1951.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]