1010 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21st NOVEMBER, 1885.
The Honourable P. Rynis addressed the Council on the subject of this Bill, and read the follow- ing letter from the Leaseholders, and Occupiers of land on Kowloon Point (Tsimshatʻsui) :--
HONGKONG, 11th November, 1885.
To the Honourable P. RYRIE,
Member of the Legislative Council.
SIR, We, the undersigned, leaseholders or occupiers of land on what is now called Kowloo Point (lately Tsimshatsui) beg to call your attention to the following facts, whereby we trust tha you will be able to do something for our interest at the meeting of the Legislative Council this afternoon when the second reading of the Municipal Rates Ordinance, 1885, Bill takes place.
After that time it was Up to the 30th June last the rate on all British Kowloon was 5 per cent. raised to 6 per cent. per annum, and it is now proposed by the new Ordinance to raise the rate on th part of British Kowloon now called Kowloon Point to 8 per cent. per annum, the rate on Yaumati to be apparently only five per cent. We are not aware that it has become necessary to increase th Police force on Kowloon Point and we fail to see why Yaumáti (where there is a Police Station which contains a large number, no doubt, of turbulent people, salt smugglers amongst the number, should only be rated at five per cent. per annum. We respectfully submit that if it has becom necessary to augment the Police force at Kowloon Point it must be in consequence of the increase of Chinese at Yaumáti and not of any larger number of foreign residents at Kowloon l'oint, and that therefore it is not the Kowloon Point leaseholders who should be called upon to pay increased Municipal rates, but that the rate on Yaumáti should be raised if necessary, and that on Kowloo Point kept at its present figure of 6 per cent. per annum.
We further submit for consideration that as a great distinction is made between the rates levie on Foreign occupied houses in the British, American and French Settlements in Shanghai, and thos- occupied by Natives, the rates in the two former Settlements being in 1883 (and probably in 1884 anl 1885 the same distinction was and has been made) 8 per cent. on foreign occupied houses, and 10 pez cent. on houses occupied by natives-and in the French Settlement the rate was 4 per cent. on foreign. and 8 per cent. on native occupied houses. Such distinction should also now be made in Hongkong and Kowloon, as there can be no doubt that a much larger Police force is required to keep the amongst the Chinese inhabitants, than amongst the Foreign community.
peace
The men at the Water Police Station on Kowloon Point may at any time be all wanted on t!. water, and they should not therefore be considered as part of the force for the protection of Kowlo n Point.
Sir,
Trusting that you will kindly give us your assistance in Council on the above subject, we remai, your obedient servants,
JAMES II. Cox. DORABJEE NOWROJEE. E. L. WOODIN,
A. WOOLLEY.
M. D'AZEVEDO.
H. E. DENSON,
Jne. D. HUMPHREYS,
W. G. HUMPHREYS.
C. P. CHATER,
A. R. MADAR. HENRY J. HOLMES..
The Attorney General replied, and gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he won!! move that the Council go into Committee on the Bill.
BILL ENTITLED THE PRISON ORDINANCE, 1885.- Passed.-On the motion of the Atiorn y General, seconded by the Acting Colonial Secretary, this Bill was read a third time.
Question put-that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER Orders of the DAY.-The Attorney General moved the postpo ment of the other Orders of the Day.
Question-put and passed.
The Council adjourned until Wednesday, the 18th instant, at 4 P.M.
Read and confirmed, this 18th day of November, 1885.
ARATHOON SETH,
Clerk of Councils.
G. F. BOWEN, Governor.
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