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some of the Committee members of Your Petitioners' Association to
the Honourable the Colonial Secretary of the Government of Hong
Kong on the 4th day of August 1948 the rates imposed by the
Competent Authority were not enforced pending investigation and
assessment of fair and reasonable rates by a Committee appointed
by the Government of Hong Kong and named "The Hotels Advisory
Committee".
5.
Your Petitioners thereupon instructed their solicitor,
Mr. M. A. da Silva on the 14th day of August 1948 to seek, by way
of letter addressed to the Honourable the said Colonial Secretary,
the inclusion in the terms of reference of the Hotels Advisory
Committee of the question as to whether there should be any
control at all.
6.
On the 24th day of August 1948 the Honourable the Colonial Secretary informed Your Petitioners that Government was not
prepared to alter the terms of reference as already laid down,
wherefore and inasmuch as the Hotels Advisory Committee was in no
position to make any recommendations on the question as to whether
there should be control at all, Your Petitioners respectfully
addressed themselves to His Excellency the Governor of the Colony
of Hong Kong IN COUNCIL in a plea for the abolition of control
altogether.
7.
Your Petitioners respectfully crave leave to quote the
following relevant extracts from the said Petition to His
Excellency-in-Council :-
(1) "Your Petitioners respectfully bring the following to the
" attention of Your Excellency-in-Council for consideration:
"
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(a) The business of the maintenance of Hotels and
Boarding Houses under proper and expert manage-
ment constitutes a valuable factor in aid or
advancement of the prosperity of any city,
wherefore encouragement for the continuance and
2.