Admiralty

9

116

Governor,

E, on

appear to

us

grounds which

conclusive and

is

the

substance; -

of

which the

following

regard

4 first with

state of public feeling.

on

to the-

this

subject it is to be observed that

though the inhabitants

of

the Colony

were both publicly and privately invited to state their grievances to the Committee, only 11 persons preferred any complaint.

In that of the 43 Lots, held by one individual, Mr. Duddell, said to be a notorious speculator in Land, 11 persons, 22 or more than half belonged to him.

To which we may add, that in only four instances, including the Chinese, did the Committee recommend any reduction of rent, and that the aggregate reductions recommended by them amounted to £270.11 on rents amounting in all to £1755.3.102.

These facts fairly corroborate the statement that no general dissatisfaction exists on the subject.

5. Secondly, with respect to the reasonableness of the present charges, it has been already stated that the only tax payable at Hong Kong, except a

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