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of the colony, there are nevertheless items of revenue which are distinctly municipal within the above definition and not general. The as- sessed taxes (police, lighting, fire brigade, and water rates) afford a perfect illustration. Every house in the colony pays 7 per cent. on the annual valuation towards the general expenses of the Colonial Government. Honses in the hill district and part of Kowloon pay 103 per cent. Houses in the city of Victoria pay 13 per cent., which is apportioned as follows:-Police 8 per cent., water 2 per cent., lighting 1 per cent, and fire brigade per cent. The extra percentages are clearly municipal rates, just as much as if they were levied by and paid to separate municipalities. They are charged upon limited classes of persons, and for limited pur- poses, to defray expenditure wholly incurred within the localities named.
The revenues derived from the sale of night- soil under contracts for its removal from the city of Victoria constitute also a distinct item of municipal revenue. The proceeds are ap- plied solely for the benefit of the city and of its inhabitants in providing for the cleansing of the streets and for the removal of rubbish and dirt having no money value to the collector of it. The eastern, contral, and western markets are within the city and are solely for the use of the city and its inhabitants. If & municipality were established here the markets would be handed over to it as uudonhtedly municipal property. The rents derived from the letting of stalls in these markets is there- fore municipal not general revenue.
In like manner with other items. A careful examination of the revenue returns and of the Ordinances under the anthority of which many items of revenue are raised will show that they are only leviable within the city of Victoria and in so far are distinctly municipal and not general revenue and therefore not fairly, or in accordance with the principle applied in the Straits Settlements, chargeable in respect of the military contribution.
The fact of Hongkong not having a Muni- cipal Council should not militate against the colony being as fairly treated as we would be if we had one.
The unofficial members of Council desiro
further to call the attention of the Right Hon ourable the Secretary of State to one or two other points in connection with the military
contribution which were overlooked in the discussions in Council on the subject, in view of the much greater importance of the question of municipal reveune, and which in their opinion afford just grounds for a reduction of the amount :---
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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These departments do not, in fact, pay any money. If they do, it is money out of the public Treasury. Such items are only book entries and should not be allowed to swell the gross total of the general revenue, for the pur- poses of the military contribution tax.
40
[April 9, 1896.
Board should be reconstructed, viz., three Govern- ment officials and two inofficials. I should be much obliged by your furnishing me with a copy of the communication in question. I under- stand it was a letter addressed by His Excellency the Governor to the Honourable the Senior Unofficial Member.
The question of which I gave notice at last meeting of Council calls for the correspondence between the Colonial Government and the Home Authorities, and all other documents, and I sincerely hope the Government will not fail to publish all the papers on this very important question.
4.-There are other items to the amount of about $46,000 classed last year and in former years as Appropriations in Aid," and which were deducted from the gross expenditure in order to arrive at the amount of revenue to be raised, but which are used this year to swell the gross revenue. These are not in any true sense revenue at all. They are receipts which render it necessary to raise less revenue annually. It would also be highly desirable that the Such as the proceeds of the convict labour in correspondence and report in the possession of the gaol. The amounts recovered from diplo- the Government in connection with proposals made for the reform of the Sanitary Board in matic, naval, and military departments. seamen and debtor's, towards the gaol expenses. The the time of Governor Sir Wm. des Voeux and contribution from the Imperial. Post Office. | Administrator now Sir Francis Fleming be laid The grant-in-aid from the Admiralty towards upon the table.-Yours very truly
тр T. H. WHITEHEAD. the Lock hospital. The contribution from the Chinese Government towards Gap Rock light. | The Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, Refunds of police pay, and of cost of police Colonial Secretary. stores, &c. Sick stoppages from the police force, and other items of the same character.
5.-Thore is another noteworthy item which ought to be deducted from the gross total. The Colonial Secretary estimates that during the year 1896 the Treasury will have to refund to the payers sore $15,000 out of revenue received, Le, that the revenue to be received will be some $15,000 less in fact than ho estimates it at. These $15,000 should clearly bo deducted.
6-Lastly, the monies raised annually for the payment of interest on loans, and for the purpose of maintaining sinking funds for the repayment of these loans ought not to be made liable to the military tax. Such loans were raised on the security of the colony's capital in land unsold, in its waterworks, markets, &c., and are part of its capital. The re- venues. HOW raised from the water rates, central market, &c., are charged specifically with the repayment of the debts incurred in respect of the waterworks, market, &c., and with the interest on the loan. The amounts so collected are not ordinary but extraordinary revenue, and will cease and determine when the specific purpose for which they were im- proved have been accomplished. The Govern ment is bound by a distinct agreement in respect of the light dues, which interfere with the com- plete freedom of the port. If there is any profit to the colony after payment of interest and after provision of sinking fund that is revenue and clearly liable, but otherwise not.
(Signed) C. P. CHATER.
12
"I
HO KAL
T. H. WHITEHEAD, E. R. BELLIÙS, J. J. BELL-IRVING. Legislative Council Chamber,
Hougkong, 31st March, 1896.
B
The unofficial members of Council respectfully 1.-The 17 per cent., should be calculated on the general revenue of the colony, less the request that the amount of the military contri- bution for 1896 may be reconsidered and that amount recently raised to defray the military the Secretary of State would be pleased to give contribution itself, otherwise the colony is pay-specific directions on all the points herein raised. ing not only on its ordinary revenue but in ad- dition on the amount of extra revenue specially raised to defray the military coutribution itself. 2.-The Post Office is an Imperial es- tablishment in fact, if not in name, and is also an international institution in so far as it works in connection with the Postal Union. It has branches outside of the colony in various ports in China. It derives a revenuo from them and defrays certain expenditure on their account. A large portion of the Post Office revenue (so called) is collected on account of the Imperial Government or of the Postal Union, and brings no profit to this colony whatever. Such monies form no portiou of the revenue of this colony and ought to be thrown out of account, it is submitted, in the calculation of the gross revenue taxable for the military
expenses.
3.In the estimates for the current year (1896) there appear to be items included on the revenue side of the account which do not re. present any real receipts by the Treasury. Several of the departments are charged, for the convenient keeping of the water account, with annual sums for the water they cousume,
Post Office ...
Botanical and Afforestation Education
Hospital
Police
Gaol
Sanitary, Water for Markets, Watering Streets
HON. T. II. WHITEHEAD AND THE
4
SANITARY BOARD PAPERS.
The following is the letter addressed by the Hou. T. II. Whitehead to the Colonial Secre- tary with reference to the Sanitary Board papers, to which reference was made at the last meeting of the Legislative Colonial :--
Hongkong, 1st April, 1896. DEAR SIR-1 duly received your No. 446 of 20th ulto., enclosing copy letter from the Chamber of Commerce dated 19th October, 1894, copy letters from Mr. Belilios and Mr. Keswick, copy minutes by Mr. McConachie and Mr. Chater, copy memorandum by Dr. Ho Kai, and extract from the Retrenchment Com- mittee's report, respecting the reconstruction of the Sanitary Board, which I note are to be laid before the Legislative Council when it next meets
$ 100.00 600.00 100.00 1,000.00 1,500.00 The letters, minutes, and memorandum from 800.00 the unofficial members all refer to à proposal or 2,000,00 recommendation, presumably from the Goven-r 1,000,00 ment, giving the lines on which the Sanitary
THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION.
The following return of the expenditure on account of salaries, pensions, and exchange compensation for 1895 was laid before the Legislative Council on the 2nd April :-
Salaries, including Allowances...3751,160.37 Pensions.
·
Exchange Compensation.
Total.
112,776.97 119,#15.52
.$983,352.86
A. M. THOMSON,
Acting Treasurer.
Hongkong, 18th March, 1896.
THE PLAGUE,
We regret to state that eighteen cases of bubonic plague were recorded in the colony between noon on Friday and noon on Saturday, and the total for the year now reaches 383. Saturday's number is the highest reached in one day during this year and is a very serious matter considering the many precautions taken by the Sanitary Board to prevent the spread of the
It should be said that the cases did disea e. not come from one particular area; they came from various parts of the colony, so it cannot be said that the plague is epidemic. But of course there is no denying the fact that the exception. ally large number of cases recorded is a serious thing, although it might be urged as a soother that the daily average for the year is only four, It seems that, notwithstanding the denials of Chinese, plague is making rapid headway in Canton. The British Consul at Canton sent the Government word that the disease was very prevalent in that city, and in consequence of this authentic report a special meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on Thursday last to consider what steps should be taken. It was decided to erect reception places for the inha- bitants of those houses in the colony in which plague broke out. These places, which will probably take the form of mat sheds in various parts of the colony, will be utilized by those inhabitants who care to temporarily reside there while their houses and clothing are being dis-· infected. Those people who prefer to go to Cantou can do so, but they will be told of the great danger they run, and it is to be hoped they will see the wisdom of remaining in the colony.
Some consternation and indignation_prevail amongst Peak residents owing to the Govern- ment Villas having been selected as a place of segregation for a European family, two of whose children died from plague. It seems that there is no real segregation and that the remaining children are allowed to go out to play, with the risk of conveying the infection to other children living at the Peak. Presumably the authorities do not consider the risk a serious one, but the Peak residents are greatly incensed at the action taken.
T'en cases were reported on Sunday and four- teen on Monday, and nine on Tuesday. It is expected that the reception sheds will be finished in a day or so.
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