Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Missionaries of the London Missionary Society,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) James Legge
The Hon: W. C. Mercer, Esq., Chas. St George Cleverly, Esq., J. W. Smith, Esq., M. Davidson, Esq., and C. J. Fr. Stuart, Esq., Colonial Secretary.
Copy (Letter 13.)
387
Hongkong, 17th January, 1850
Gentlemen,
I wish to bring to your notice the annual rent or inland revenue of an estate, lot No. 220, registered in my name. The lot was originally put up to auction at an annual rental of £24 - 14 - 2, and owing to great competition, it was run up to £78. 12.
On this ground, I built two houses, which yielded a fair rental, but now there is so little business in Hongkong, I cannot let them at one fourth of their former rental; the consequence is I am quite unable to pay such a very high rate of ground rent. Therefore, I beg you will take into consideration the rates of ground rent.
To the Honorable W. C. Mercer and Members of Committee appointed for the sale and regulation of the Land Council of the Colony.