133~
(Committee, are desirous of taking this opportunity to
Convey
l
Your Excellency
their full concurrence, in the Opinion expressed by the
Community Investing. And in the measures Adopted towards endeavouring
at that Public
to move the Government to the remission of the demanded
Contribution -
In addition to the forcible Arguments brought before the Secretary for the Colonies in resistance of this demand, On the grounds that Hong Kong is a Military station maintained for purposes of Imperial policy in China & Japan. and that its extensive Military Establishments have not been organized means of defence or protection
As a
C
{
q
to the Colony, the demand
upon it
as a
place of trade
Cannot be too severely deprecated, Viewed in a commercial point
of
View, as
fraught with danger
to its welfare.
Its peculiar position in relation to the numerous adjacent Chinese Cities: but more Especially
to Canton, whence the richer residents here have for the greatest part Emigrated, renders it essential to court by every means in the power of the Government their continuance in the Colony- Taxation has driven them from their Own Country. And if Augmented to any extent here, would
assuredly
more readily drive them from this place. The fact of being compelled to
Contribute
to