Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 240

237

No.

87.

HONGKONG.

CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE PROPOSAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR MAKING PUBLIC THE PROCEEDINGS

OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His

Excellency the Officer Administering the Government,

on the 7th January, 1857.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Officer Administering the Government of Hongkong.

HONGKONG.

No. 61.

SIR,

DOWNING STREET,

17th November, 1886.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 282, of the 30th of August, relative to a proposal which had been brought forward in the Legislative Council, for making public the proceedings of the Finance Committee upon which you request my instructions.

2. In reply, I have to observe that the proceedings of the Finance Committee, as I understand them, are for the confidential assistance of the Governor in framing the Estimates of the ensuing year, and that any portion of the Estimates, when they come before the Council, is open to discussion by the members, so that I am unable to see any sufficient reason for altering the existing practice, which appears to have worked satisfactorily. I am, however, glad to notice the increased interest in the public expenditure of the Colony and its good government, of which the discussions which have taken place are evidence, and I fully concur in the steps you propose to take in paragraph & of your despatch, for furnishing fuller inform- ation in regard to money votes submitted to the Council.

3. I trust that in this way the object of Mr. MACEWEN and of those gentlemen who supported him, will be practically attained, while at the same time the incon- venience which might occasionally arise were the proceedings of the Finance Committee made public, will be avoided.

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

EDWARD STANHOPE.

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