will of
as this letter supposes,
• pretty nearly Expenditure.
meet all Harbour
We must therefore I think give
to the contention
was
the
Shipowners & reduce the 2½ cent Dues to 1 cent; & we must Light ones to 1 cent;
(as this will cause a
déficit) instruct (with 69)
on some other tax
the Governor to put on instead - probably
an increase
show a
Fall &
in the form Tray of #37
of the Assessment
(see par. 12 of 3923). The Governor asks for
a telegram
in reply to 3923, but we cannot enter
into whole question
in a
telegram. The Sec. of
State does not approve of the 2½ cent tax on shipping, should await receipt of
despatch.
650 to
? Write to the above effect & uniform Shipping Companies
8u911/3
Light dues of one cent per ton were
Started in 1875.
In 1890 they
were increased to
2½ cents to meet the cost of a
Special lighthouse.
The words used by
the Governor
at the time when we imposed lock to
they were
a justifiable expectation that, when the Special lighthouse was paid for,
the Special rate would cease. 181
The Governor, backed by all the
members
of his Council but one, wishes to keep the extra
light dues, no longer calling it a special due, and he says,
confidentially, that the opposition is mainly on the part of foreign firms, Jardine & Matheson; depending on protest.
However we seem to have the British
Steamship companies fairly united in opposition, to judge from the signatories to the protest on this side [3447].
To them our letter of the Sixth inst: [3982] propounded that moderate
Light dues in Hongkong reasonable, provided that the proceeds do not exceed the total expenditure of the Harbour department, and