No
222.
526
17
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 29th. June, 1917.
Sir,
With reference to the telegraphic correspondence
mor to Secretory of State) Oth. April, 1917. retary of State to Governor
May, 1917.
Govern
Endlosure
2.
ddd14
in Code noted in the margin, I have the
honour to transmit for the signification of
His Majesty's pleasure the enclosed Ordinance
intituled:-
An Ordinance to provide for a temporery increase in the rates for the special
purpose of increasing the contributions
of the Colony to His Majesty's Govern-
ment towards the expenses of the present:?
No. 18 of 1917.
war".
The full report by the Attorney General, which is
attached, explains the provisions of the Ordinance and the difficulty in exempting altogether the poorer classes of Chinese
occupiers from its incidence. I would drew attention to the
facts that revenue collected under the Ordinance will not be
liable to Militory Contribution, and that persons in the service
of the Naval and Military Authorities who pay income tax on their official salaries will be allowed a refund of the war rate to
the extent of the income tax.
3.
I enclose also the Honsard report of the remarks
I made on the first reading of the Bill and of the debate on
the second reading and I would specially notice the generous
offer of Sir Robert Ho Tung to discharge himself the wor rate
imposed
&c..
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WALTER LONG, M. P.,
&C..
&C..