CAB11-57-2 — Page 38

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As the Estimates for 1864 were passed in July, and as Sir Hercules Robinson will be here in a month, I have abstained from moving in the matter, and hope Your Grace will approve of the course I have taken.

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

I have, &c.,

W. T. MERCER.

No. 5.

Copy of Despatch from the Acting Governor of Hong Kong to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, K.G.

(Separate.)

My Lord Duke,

Hong Kong,

2nd December 1863.

With reference to Your Grace's despatch No. 115 of 5th September last acknowledged in mine of 10th November, No. 199, I trust Your Grace will not think me intrusive if I venture to offer some remarks on the proposition to claim a sum of 20,000l. per annum from the revenues of this colony in aid of the military expenditure upon it.

2. As a year must elapse before this claim can take effect, and as there may be somewhat in the following considerations (founded on local experience) calculated to influence the final decision, I cannot but think it my duty to put them forward.

3. It seems to me that two principal questions present themselves--

(1.) Is the claim equitable? and

(2.) Its equity granted, is its enforcement warranted by the financial

conditions of the colony?

4. The equity of the claim rests first on the use of the troops-if these be required here for local purposes, such as the suppression of civil tumult, or the preservation of internal order as in "Ceylon, Mauritius, and the principal Australian Colonies," nothing more can be said, and we need only pass to the second question proposed.

5. But ever since the foundation of the colony there has been only one instance in which the Colonial Authorities have applied to the military for assistance. I allude to a riot in the City of Victoria in October 1856, when a company of the 59th Regiment was called out without, however, their more active service being required. This it must be remembered was during an exceptional state of things, which since our nearly four years' occupation of Canton and the altered demeanour of the Chinese provincial government is not likely to recur.

6. Services at fires have always been performed promptly and efficiently by the troops, but these must be considered rendered by them as citizens more than as soldiers.

7. There is no police duty done by them; they are not put on treasure escort as to my recollection in Ceylon, and the only colonial duty done by them is furnishing occasional guards of honour, firing salutes of ceremony, and mounting guard over two buildings the property of the Colonial Govern-

ment.

8. This last is the only service that can be said to be purely colonial.

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