Sessional_Paper_1884-1885 — Page 95

91

No. 6.

No. 297.

Despatch respecting the payment of a Roman Catholic Chaplain for the Gaol and Civil Hospital.

Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.

Governor Sir George F. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to Earl of Derby, K.G.

MY LORD,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 25th August, 1884.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No. 150 of the 4th July ultimo, respecting the application of Bishop RAIMONDI for payment for the Roman Catholic Chaplain attending the Gaol and Civil Hospital.

2. The contents of this despatch have been communicated to Bishop RAIMONDI. 3. Your Lordship approves of my proposal that the Roman Catholic Clergy in common with the Anglican Clergy, should receive some remuneration for their ministrations in the Gaol and Civil Hospital, the amount to be determined on the principle suggested by me in paragraph 12 of my despatch No. 138 of the 26th of April ultimo, that is, upon the principle adopted by the Military Authorities in the payment of the Roman Catholic Chaplains to the Troops. That principle is a capitation rate, which gives at present a salary of about sixty dollars ($60) a month for an average of two hundred (200) Roman Catholic Soldiers now in Garrison at Hongkong. I find that the same member is about the average of the Roman Catholics in the Gaol and Civil Hospital. Accordingly, with the advice of the Executive Council, I proposed to Bishop RAIMONDI a salary of sixty dollars ($60) a month-to be readjusted every two years, for the services of the Roman Catholic Civil Chaplain; and the Bishop has officially signified his acceptance. So, unless I should hear from Your Lordship to the contrary before the next Session of the Colonial Legislature, I will then propose an annual vote of seven hundred and twenty dollars ($720), (equivalent at the present rate of exchange to about £130), for the remuneration of the Roman Catholic Civil Chaplain.

4. It is understood that, on the occurrence of a vacancy in the present Colonial Chaplaincy, a similar principle of payment will be adopted in the case of the Anglican Church, and of any other Christian communion, which may have a just

claim to similar remuneration.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

G. F. BOWEN.

The Right Honourable

THE EARL OF DERBY, K.G.,

&C..

&c.,

&c.