Pateable Value is introduced for the first time, the prosedure as to appeals .
simplified and provisions are introduced as to the mus
numbering houses .
is
of
(Signed) EdwL. O'Malley
May 4th 1888.
Enclosure B.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, MARCH 28TH, 1888.
The Commeil went into Committee on the Eating Bill.
The COLONIAL TREASURER moved, in the do- finition clause, that for the words “axunal valua- tion" the words "unaual assessment" should be read, and that for "genoral valuation” in the same line "goueral assessment” should be read. Ho said the alteration was merely a technical one, and he would have to propose it frequently throughout the reading of the Bill.
His EXCELLENCY--I think it would be well, considering that this Rill bas been before us some time, to give some reason for the alteration, I am not quite clear in my own mind as to what the difference in meaning is.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-The valuation of a property is simply the stating by an officer. brought in for the purpose, of the value. The process in England is this-a Vestry employs a valuer to give them an estimate of the value of the various properties in the parish. He does so and then the Vestry takes upon itself the re- sponsibility of either accepting or rejecting his valuation. They are not bound by it. If they think it is too low they take the responsibility of raising it, or if they think it is too high they may lower it. Having done that they have fixed the rateable value of the property, which is gen- erally the amount estinatail, but not always. They take the valuer's estimate as a guido. and then assess it at either more or less. Here we have no vestry, and the valuer performs these two functions. He values the property and then he fixes it in the rate book at the value which he has fixed. He does in some cases revise his own valuation, but the assessment is that entry in the rate book which the vainer makes as the ra'e- able value of the property on which the rates are to be paid.
His EXCELLENcy-Do you think the altera- |tion absolutely necessary? It is always incon-
venient to alter all through an Ordinance.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-I don't think it absolutely necessary, but I must confess that while the Bill is in progress 1 should like to bave it technically correct if possible. I do not press the point.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It seems to me that "valuation" is better than "assessinent.” If the word "assessment" is substituted for "valuation" it might leave a sort of discretion in the hands of the valner which is not desirable.
The motion was withdrawn.
Hon. C. P. CHATER, with reference to do- fiuition 2, said-I beg to propose an amendment, namely, that the last few lines in this section "Such annual value shall include the value of any fixtures or fixed machinery which may be regarded as the proper fittings of the tenement and essentially necessary to its occupation by the tenant," be omitted, and the following words from the old Ordinance 21 of 1885 be inserted in lieu thereof; "Ia estimating the vaine of a tenement the value of any machinery con- tained therein shall not bo included.” I know that this Ordinance has been compiled į under the careful supervision of the Colonial Treasurer, but in taking exception to the words in question I feel I am acting for the good of the colony, and my opinion is shared by most of the influential members of this mer- cantile community. I consider if this section be adopted in its entirety it will be, if not kil- ling, at all events materially wounding the pro- verbial goose. I think too much zeal in the collec- tion of taxes is to be deprecated-Hon. P. Ryrie -Hear, hear; and the words which I propose should be omitted seem to me to have been insert.. ed specially to the exclusion of the words of the old Ordinance, which I now propose to retain. I feel personally so confident that the proposed al- teration is a mistake, that I would be more inclin- ed, if it were necessary, to subsidize industries than to hamper them by placing a tax on machi nery; for in encouraging machine shops and fac- tories labouris invited to the Colony, which means of necessity increase of population and of the area of ground occupied, and thereby augmenting oor
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rates and the revenue of the Coleny generally. Surely then, Sir, it must be a near-sighted policy to attempt to tax these industrial establishments In fact i feel it almost an indiget Gxpbu dabe on goods mauufactured in this Colony, which I am sure your Excellency will admit is against the spirit of our constitution, and I bave there- fore much pleasure in proposing tho alteration..
Hon. J. BELL-IRVING-I have much pleasure in seconding the amendment, and I fully endorse all that has been said by my hon. friend.
The COLONIAT, TREASURER-This is a most important section of the Ordinance, and therefore I trust the oqueil will not think any time spent on it is spent in vain, because this definition is the very backbone, the mainspring of the Ordinance. If the hon. member's amendment be accepted I believe Hongkong will be the only place in the world where machinery is not rated. } It is no doubt a very important question whether Hongkong should be the only place where machinery is not rated, and I confess much may be said in favour of the view that it should. I sympathise to a very great extent with the views of the hon. member and his seconder, but there are considerations on both sides and while I would refrain from attempting to influence the mind of the Council in any way, I feel bound to state what are the considerations on the other side. There are thousands of peo- ple here who, if they thought about the matter at all which I don't suppose they do, might express themselves something like this:-"Hongkong is a great deal more comfortable place to me with 100,000 inhabitants than with 200, 00 and would be more comfortable still with only 50,000. The only result to me of the large population of operatives flocking here to work machinery and every piece of ground being taken up and w streets being oponed, would be that I would ba a good deal more bustled and jostled than other- wise; I would be living in a quarter of the space and paying three or four times as heavy a reut." That is not only the view of the dilettante professional man who comes here for three four years and goes away, or of the
has Government servant who
no interest in machinery or commercial outerprise, it is the view, or should be the view, if they thought about it at all, of tens of thousands of the Chinese here who find themselves pinched for room and have to pay excessive house rents in consequence of the over-crowding of the Colony. These are the considerations on the other side. If you consider the watter very carefully, it seems to me it is a choice between a possible injury to trade on the one side and an injustice on the other. It is possible that where * enterprise is struggling and can only keep its head above water a tax might just turn the scule and induce the shutting up of some such establishment as our lato lamented steam laundry. The $10 or so a month might perhaps just be the last straw which would make the establishment not worth carrying on. But if on the one hand you have a little possible injury to enterprise, you have on the other a considerabio injustice to large numbers of people who would be paying less taxes if machinery in the Colony was paying its | fair share. And then, sir, I scarcely see where this exemption is to stop. If machinery is ne- cessary to enterprise so are piers, there- fore exempt piers; and godowns, therefore exempt godowns; also houses for the godown kepers and the clerks, therefore
exempt these; in fact the only people who would be taxed would be the public servants, who would probably be regarded as not essential to the progress of the colony. Finally, sir, your Fx- ellency's contemplated reduction of taxation will probably leave the machinery-using esta- blishments paying no more rats than at pre sent, while the hard-working Chinese popula tion will pay less. The machine using bouse- holder will only probably pay what ho is paying at present or a little less.
Hon. P. Rysia-If you carry out this prin- ciple you should assoss all the houses us furnishod houses. We have all machinery of some sort, gas lamps, cooking pots, aud so on. If you have a factory, to furnish that factory you must put machinery in it.
The COLONIAL TREASURER (reading)-“Such anual value shall include the value of any lixtures or fixed machinery which way be re- garded as the proper fittings of the tenement