would have
here would
Qu
very beneficial effects in extending
effects in extending
this it may
the trade of the Colony. As a proof of this it
be mentioned that one of your
informed by
a-
of your Petitioners was lately
mercantile firm here, that he might
have had the sale by auction of 25 Chests of opium.
but for this tax. But the owner
preferred bonding
it to Macao rather than pay 2/2 per cent on the proceeds. It
It is also well known that
goods which
are occasionally sent
for
auction at Canton, where
there is no duty, would otherwise have been disposed
as much higher
here as
of here, the prices there ruling to meet the Tariff duty. On the other hand, the
knowledge
that there
was a
a free sale, and the
greatly increased quantity of goods that would be thus disposed of, would attract native dealers from
heretofore,
a resort
and thus
Canton and the coast, probably causing an influx of Junks to the harbour, as well as adding a healthy stimulus to the
island.
As the tax is thus found to have
almost put an end to the profession of an
Auctioneer
in
Hongkong,
the
revenue
deriving from
it has declined in the same proportion,
so that
while it would be a great advantage to the Colony
to be relieved from it, the loss to the Treasury would
be
very small.
May it therefore please Your Excellencies to
take our case into consideration, and
grant relief from a tax oppressive
in its nature, and
which in its effects has been
prejudicial to the
exercise
of our profession.
And Your Petitioners will ever,
(Signed)
Augest Howell.
Franklyn & Milner Smith
and Prinsep.
Charles Markwick
Macpherson & Co.
Bourne Humphreys
Duddell.
Charles Bucktow.
186