Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 471

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6. It would probably be agreeable to all parties, if a permanent Ordinance were passed appropriating a percentage of 17 per cent. of the Colonial revenues to the use of the Imperial Government as a Military Contribution, thus removing what has been a much vexed question from the arena of annual debate.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

Governor

Sir W. ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.,

$0.

&c.,

F..

HoNG RoNG.

No. 83.

SIR,

Governor

RIPON.

(Secretary of State to the Governor.)

DOWNING STREET,

3rd April, 1895.

With reference to my despatch No. 162 of 5th October last, I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed amended schedule of Barrack services required at Hongkong, together with an extract from a letter from the War Office to the Treasury, explaining the necessity of adding the provision of a new Hospital to the list of services previously put forward.

2. It is proposed that the execution of these works should be spread over ten years beginning with the current year, and that the cost of the works should be provided in the following manner, viz., that the Colony should, in accordance with my Circular despatch of 30th December last, devote the value of any Military Lands and Buildings that may now be surrendered by the War Department, so far as it will extend, in reduction of the gross cost of the scheme, including the cost of any new sites that may be required, and that the remainder of the cost should be divided in the proportion of two thirds to the Imperial Government and one third to the Colonial Government, that being about the proportion in which the cost of the new fortifications of Hongkong were divided between the two Governments.

3. This proposal, which is, in my opinion, fair and reasonable, is a special arrangement made in view of the large expenditure involved in providing the necessary Barrack accommodation for the increased garrison, and the fact that in this case the cost of the provision of new sites is included in the total charge to be divided between the Imperial and Colonial Governments, instead of being wholly charged to the Colony in accordance with paragraph 11 of my Circular of 30th December last, must not be regarded as a precedent applicable in future cases.

4. It is intended to provide £5,000 in the Army Estimates for 1895-6 towards the expenditure incurred on these Works during this year, and I have to request you to bring the matter before the Legislative Council at an early date, and to propose a supplementary vote of say $25,000 to cover the Colonial share of this year's expenditure.

5. The question of the execution of services to the value to be paid for by the Colony, ie, one third of the nett cost, as referred to in paragraphs 15-17 of the enclosed letter, is a detail which I will leave to you to arrange in consultation with the General Officer Commanding the Troops.

6. You will be given an opportunity of criticizing the plans and estimates of all the new Buildings as you will have learned from the letter to the General Officer Commanding a copy of which accompanied my despatch No. 162 of 5th October last, and if you are unable to come to an agreement with the General upon any point, I have to request you to refer the question to me, as the General Officer Commanding has been instructed to refer such points to the War Office, so that I may be in a position to come to an agreement with the Secretary of State for War upon such points of difference.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

Sir W. ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.,

&c.,

&c.

&c.

RIPON.