August 21, 1895.]
nenx's statements in every particular; the show graves remained unfilled though still more inter- ments had taken place. The heap of lime re- mained in statu quo and practically none had been used in the graves.
Later on Surgeons Meadon and Bearblock, who were inspecting all junks and sampans com. ing into Hongkong, discovered the lime, that had been taken over to Laichikok Hospital for show purposes, being exported back to Hong- kong.
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For these reasons, which are facts which can not be disputed, should deportation be considered necessary. It should at least be nowhere except to Canton, and not allowed to any place in the immediate neighbourhood of the colony.
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As for the Sanitary Board, now that the soare is over it seems fast relapsing into the do nothing" principle until the unofficial members get all they demand, constituting themselves the public representatives and being in reality only that of a very small portion of the public, and the necessity of its reform in some way is fully demonstrated. As a compulsory member. of the Board words are insufficient to express my disgust at, in any way, being a part of it.
As regards a Municipal Council I have no belief in the possibility of such an institution. The community is too small and the conflicting interests of its members too great. To give a forcible illustration of this being a fact look at the directors of the many companies in the colony. Is there a single company in this colony whose directors have not been held up to execra- tion in letters to the papers and in articles in the papers, being accused of subordinating the interests of the shareholders to their own in- terests, of appropriating emoluments when there were no dividends, &c. ? I would like to see a list of representative men of position, who think they have the confidence of the public, who would consent to become members, or whose firm would consent to their time being given for such a purpose in these days of high pressure, frequent telegraph instructions coming every hour in the twenty-four, and with mails coming in and going out daily.
Such an institution is recognized as a neces- sity in Shanghai and for the interest of all concerned in the Settlement, but the chosen few would in many cases be glad to get out of it if they could.
**
years in it.
*
I leave the colony for a time with regret, hay- ing made very many kind friends-both official and unofficial-and having spent many happy The only thing I do not regret leaving is the Sanitary Board as a body, and I hope before I return there will be some improve- ment as to the individual members. When away. from the Sanitary Board or one meets them at more festive boards I have always found them kind and pleasant, companions.
THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION. The following despatches with reference to the military contribution and barrack accom- modation for the garrison at Hongkong, were laid before the Legislative Council on Firday.- (COLONIAL SECRETARY TO SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.)
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
I am also to forward to you for your considera- tion a copy of a further despatch from Lord Ripon enclosing an amended schedule of "Barrack Services" required in the colony in consequence of the increased garrison stationed here.
1.30
His Excellency fully concurs in this sugges-is calculated to canse a greater dislocation in the tion and trusts that it will recommend itself finances of the colony than would be caused to unanimously to the unofficial members of the Imperial finances if the contribution is fixed Council.
in dollars.
4.It is to be understood that the revenue on which the percentage will be taken shall include the gross receipts from all sources which are now brought into account as revenue, with one exception, viz., the proceeds of land sales, or premis on leases, which are not strictly revenue but the proceeds of the sale of capital assets. The revenue for 1895, less premis on leases, is estimated at $2,018,526, so that a contribution of 17 per cent. would amount to $353,242; and I have now to anthorise you to limit the payments for this year to that amount in lieu of the maximum amount ($384,000) provided in the Appropriation Ordinance.
It will be observed that the expenditure on this account will be divided ip the proportion of two-thirds to the Imperial and one-third to the Colonial Government and that the expenditure will be spread over a period of ten years.
The contribution from the colony for 1895 will be $25,000, and the Governor has been in stracted to take a vote for that amount at an early date. These works will doubtless involve | a very large expenditure in the colony, which will directly benefit a large number of contrac- tors and many members of the labouring classes, and this expenditure will also indirectly benefit the revenue of the colony.
5. When the actual revenue of 1895 is known. should it be found that there was an excess of receipts over the estimate, a further payment of 174 per cent. of such excess can be made.
If, on the other hand, the revenue should have fällen I am to call your special attention to para-short of the estimate the over-payment cau be graphs 2 and 3 of this despatch and to enclose adjusted by deducting 171 per cent. of the deficit at the same time in elucidation thereof a copy of | from the first instalment of next year's contribu- the Secretary of State's Circular Despatch of tion. A similar course can be followed in each the 30th December last.
succeeding year.
His Excellency the Governor proposes to call 6. It would probably be agreebble to all a meeting of the Legislative Council about the parties, if a permanent Ordinance were passed middle of this month in order to pass the Ordin-appropriating a percentage of 173 per cent. of ance and to take the vote referred to in this the Colonial revenues to the use of the Imperial letter, and he confidently anticipates that you Government as a military contribution, thus and the unofficial members will agree to these removing what has been a much vexed question measures, and will support the Imperial Govern- from the arena of annual debate.—I have the ment generally in a matter which is of the great honour to be, sir, your most obedient, hamble est importance from an Imperial as well as a servant, Colonial point of view.
RIFON.
I shall be obliged if after a full consideration of these documents you will announce to me for His Excellency's information the conclusions at which you have arrived.I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary. The Honourable C. P. Chater, Senior Unethical
Member, Legislative Council.
Governor Sir W. Robinson, K.C.M.G., &c.,
&c,, &c.,
(SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR.)
Downing Street,
3rd April, 1895. Sir-With reference to my despatch No. 162 of 5th October last, I have the honour to trans- mit to yon 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.
(SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR.)
Downing Street.
27th June, 1895. Sir, With reference to the last paragraph of
2. It is proposed that the execution of these my despatch No. 75 of 29th March last relative to the military contribution, I have the honour works should be spread over ten years beginning to inform you that Her Majesty's Government, with the current year, and that the cost of the although hitherto adhering to the principle that works should be provided in the following man the contribution, whatever its amount, should be der, viz. that the colony should, in accordance fixed for the time being in sterling, have never with my Circular despatch of 30th December lost sight of the fact that it could not, consis last, devote the value of any military lands tently with the efficient administration of civil and buildings that may now be surrendered by the War Department, so far as it will extend, in affairs, exceed a certain percentage of revenue, and that if at any time through a diminution reduction of the gross cost of the scheme, includ- of receipts or a fall in the exchange value ing the cost of any new sites that may be re of silver, the percentage assumed undue quired, and that the remainder of the cost should porportions. then a case for the revision be divided in the proportion of two-thirds to the of the sterling demand would arise; but Imperial Government and one-third to the a matter of fact during the five Colonial Government, that being about the years 1890-1894, the average military con proportion in which the cost of the new fortifica- tribution of Hongkong has fallen consider tions of Hongkong were divided between the ably short of what the Home Government in two Governments. 1890 cousidered a reasonable proportion of the revenue, namely, one of between 17 and 18 per cent., and even in 1894 it barely reached 17 per cent. As regards the current year, however, owing to the continued low rate of exchange, the contribution if continued at the present rate of £40,000 would amount to nearly 20 per cent. of the revenue.
as
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hongkong, 2nd August, 1895. Sir, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to transmit to you, for the considera- tion of yourself and your colleagues in the Legislative Council, a copy of a despatch from the 2. After careful consideration Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies in regard to Government have arrived at the conclusion to the military contribution to be paid by Hong fix the contribution in fatare at a certain pro koug towards the support of the Imperial gar-portion, viz., 174 per cent of the revenue of the rison.
colony. This appears to offer a basis of settle- ment which is the most likely to be acceptable to all parties, and which cau be adopted without an undue sacrifice of the claims of the taxpayers of this country..
You will learn from this despatch that Her Majesty's Government has decided to fix this contribution in future at a certain proportion, viz., 17 per cent. of revenue of the colony exclusive of the proceeds of land sales or premia ou leases.
The effect of this will be, so far as the year 1895 is concerned, that the contribution will be $353,000 there or thereabouts instead of $384,000 as provided in the Appropriation Ordinance.
Lord Ripon suggests that a permanent Or dinance should be passed appropriating 17 per sent. of the Colonial revenue to the use of the Imperial Government as a military contribu- tion, thus removing from the arena of public debato a question which in the past has given rise to some vexation and irritation.
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3. This proposal, which [is, in my opicion, fair and reasonable, is a special arrangement made in view of the large expenditure involved in providing the necessary barrack accom- modation 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 expen- diture 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.
3.-The expedient of fixing a proportion of revenue as the amount of the contribution will, I hope, prevent any farther feeling of uncer- tainty and dissatisfaction, and will safeguard the the rights of the Home Government as effectually 5.The question of the execution of services as the expedient of fixing the amount for some to the value to be paid for by the colony, ¿.e., one- years ahead, which was that adopted in my pre-third of the net cost, as referred to in paragraphs decessor's despatch No. 8 of 20th January, 1890. 15-17 of the enclosed letter, is a detail which I In adopting the decision above indicated Her will leave to you to arrauge in consultation with Majesty's Government have been largely in the General Officer Commanding the Troops. fluenced by the consideration that so long as the contribution is fixed in sterling the continued uncertainty in the matter of exchange
6. You will be given an opportunity of criti- cizing the plans and estimates of all the new. buildings as you will have learned from the letter
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