It will thus be seen that the rate of taxation per head was in Singapore, Singapore, in Penang, Malacca, 21st 1%, 5.8%, YN YN, 4.92.
Since 1861, however, the Stamp tax has been levied & it realizes £26 on £27,000 gear. The population also is supposed now to amount to nearly 100,000 souls. In instituting the above comparison as to the rate of taxation, the following facts must not be lost sight of.
The number of Europeans in the Colony and their capability to bear the taxation are as follows: Europeans in Hongkong number about 1300, those in Singapore about 300. The Merchants in Hongkong live in princely style, but the Community of Singapore is comparatively poor & struggling, made up of merchants in a small way of business who could scarcely bear further taxation.
Indeed, as the Stamp tax has been applied and as a gaming tax has been revoked, an income tax would be simply a tax on officials, every other source having been already taxed.
Source has tax...