1841-1886
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
(No. 31.)
HONG KONG.
No. 36.
Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir J. DAVIS, Bart., to Earl GREY.
MY LORD,
Victoria, Hong Kong, February 26, 1848. (Received April 22, 1848.)
I PROCEED to make my annual report on the Colonial Blue Book for the year 1847, being the fourth from the commencement.
Revenue.
The revenue of the last year increased, as compared with the preceding, from 22,212l. to 27,047l. The present year exhibits a further augmentation to 31,078l.
The analysis of this will show that it does not include a single item of taxation on the commerce of the port. The amount of 16,630l. has been derived from rents of lands, markets, and houses. The licenses to publicans, opium shops, pawnbrokers, &c., clear 6786l. These answer the purposes of police as well as revenue, including even the licence (or rather rent) of the stone quarries, and that of the salt contractor, who is answerable for the conduct of the Chinese, with whom he is concerned.
The police assessment, being 5 per cent. on the rent of inhabited houses, is 2240l. The remaining revenue consists of 4170l., derived from the fees and fines of the courts, and official fees paid into the treasury; and lastly, of miscellaneous sums, amounting in all to 1252l.
Notwithstanding the approval of the Board of Trade to the tax formerly laid on the consumption of opium I was induced, by the general impression that prevailed against it, to convert the monopoly in the hands of a single individual into licenses to any number of manufacturers and sellers of opium within the colony, as reported in my Despatch No. 82, of 23rd July, 1847. The principle of this latter tax being precisely that of licenses for selling wine, beer, and spirits, there can be no objections to the one which do not apply to the other. The advantages of both are, that they combine a tax on vicious indulgences with the means of control over those who provide them.
This brief account of the colonial revenue may serve to correct some mis-statements that were made before a Committee of the House of Commons in 1847, on which subject I have to refer your Lordship to a more detailed notice transmitted in my Despatch No. 17, of 26th January.
Expenditure.
The expenditure of 1845 was 66,726l., in a great measure on account of Public Works. In 1846 it was reduced to 60,351l. It has this year been brought down to 50,959l., from which, deducting the local revenue, 31,078l., leaves 19,881l. to be defrayed from the Parliamentary grant. It should be added, that the expenditure for Public Works, 15,180l., is of a temporary nature only, and being deducted from 19,881l., leaves a balance of only 4701l. beyond the revenue.
Page 89
1841-1886
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
(No. 31.)
HONG KONG.
No. 36.
Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir J. DAVIS, Bart., to Earl GREY.
MY LORD,
Victoria, Hong Kong, February 26, 1848. (Received April 22, 1848.)
I PROCEED to make my annual report on the Colonial Blue Book for the year 1847, being the fourth from the commencement.
Revenue.
The revenue of the last year increased, as compared with the preceding, from 22,2121. to 27,047 The present year exhibits a further augmentation to
31,0781.
The analysis of this will show that it does not include a single item of taxation on the commerce of the port. The amount of 16,630. has been derived from rents of lands, markets, and houses. The licenses to publicans, opium shops, pawnbrokers, &c., clear 67861. These answer the purposes of police as well as revenue, including even the licence (or rather rent) of the stone quarries, and that of the salt contractor, who is answerable for the conduct of the Chinese, with whom he is concerned.
The police assessment, being 5 per cent. on the rent of inhabited houses, is 22401. The remaining revenue consists of 41704, derived from the fees and fines of the courts, and official fees paid into the treasury; and lastly, of miscellaneous sums, amounting in all to 12521.
Notwithstanding the approval of the Board of Trade to the tax formerly laid on the consumption of opium I was induced, by the general impression that prevailed against it, to convert the monopoly in the hands of a single individual into licenses to any number of manufacturers and sellers of opium within the colony, as reported in my Despatch No. 82, of 23rd July, 1847. The principle of this latter tax being precisely that of licenses for selling wine, beer, and spirits, there can be no objections to the one which do not apply to the other. The advantages of both are, that they combine a tax on vicious indulgences with the means of control over those who provide them.
This brief account of the colonial revenue may serve to correct some mis- statements that were made before a Committee of the House of Commons in 1847, on which subject I have to refer your Lordship to a more detailed notice trans- mitted in my Despatch No. 17, of 26th January.
Expenditure.
The expenditure of 1845 was 66,7261, in a great measure on account of Public Works. In 1846 it was reduced to 60,351 It has this year been brought down to 50,959%, from which, deducting the local revenue, 31,078. leaves 19,8811. to be defrayed from the Parliamentary graut. It should be added, that the expendi- ture for Public Works, 15,1801. is of a temporary nature only, and being deducted from 19,8812, leaves a balance of only 4701% beyond the revenue.
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