with the petition appear to him to be quite satisfactory, and he accordingly proposes the remission of the duty in question. Authorising the substitution in lieu thereof of the payment to the Colonial Government of $100, or $150 dollars for each License which may be granted to the Auctioneers unless their Lordships see any reason for dissenting from his Lordship's view of the subject.
MINUTE
J. Davis
6 Dec/48.
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 58 of the 31st August enclosing a Petition from the Auctioneers in Hong Kong praying for the abolition of the 2 1/2 per Cent duty levied on Sales by Auction, and, as the reasons assigned by you in favour of the prayer of the Memorialists appear to me satisfactory, I have to authorize you to remit the duty in question, and to substitute in lieu thereof a payment of $100 or $150 dollars for each License granted.