Board of Trade
E.1.B
reign vice
289
duty of 14.4 in the year, or about a halfpenny a day could have caused a great deal of distress among workmen, this reply is surely its refutation.
This reply is altogether erroneous. There never has been any form of Fishery. All Fishing grounds in China where standing are yearly duty to the Mandarins created. This duty for the fishing grounds of the colony is $40.846 right & the Fisheries. It was endeavoured to transfer from the Mandarins (who had no right to it) to the Colonial Government; Judgment!. The following facts relating to Chinese property are well known.
It is known to M A Matheson, yet he has made no mention of them: Chinese, ever settled at Hong Kong, unfortunately died before his buildings were completed. His investment of many, however, there is reason to believe, proved a most profitable speculation to his successors.
The house and warehouses were, for a long time in the occupation of Europeans who paid high rents for them, and were occupied by a branch trading firm. A street of Chinese shops was afterwards added and has remained fully tenanted since at, I believe, profitable rents.
Mr. Matheson has stated as facts coming within his knowledge that the Police practiced various modes of defrauding, committed now...