His Lordship is aware of the plot of ground surveyed and valued. This was accordingly done as will be seen by the copy of the report of the Surveyor General which I have the honor to annex.
My Lord, I trust to the utility of making a forcible remonstrance in this extremely hard case, in the hope of your Lordships applying a remedy to this and other similar cases.
I need not inform your Lordship that Hong Kong, barren and sterile, is not possessing one rock suitable for exportation and incapable of producing food enough for the subsistence of its inhabitants for a single day.
The advantages to be derived from establishing a manufacturing business in the place must, I am sure, be apparent to your Lordships.
The ground in question contains, as will be found in the report of the Surveyor General, 2½ acres, at least one half of which is composed of hills more or perpendicular, all so steep as to be quite useless, the remainder chiefly rocky ground, there not being half an acre of level land in the whole quantity.
For this plot of 2½ acres, the annual rental demanded by the Colonial authorities is £104.5.3, that is, virtually, £404.5.3 for half an acre of rock. I must pay £404 8.3 per annum or relinquish the colony for want of means. Upon this condition, if continued, I am expelled from paying the usual...