CO129-006 - Sir John Davis - 1844 — Page 308

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

the outlay of a new Estate compared with

its immediate rental returns render the

revenue a provision of an adequate difficult task at the outset. No endeavour, however, shall be wanting on my part to effect

the desired end:

This having been declared a free-port for the first, the public seem to have been unprepared for any species of commercial taxation. With Your Lordship's authority, however, I have made up my mind to a harbour duty of no more than Sixpence per ton. Estimating the future

annual amount of Shipping at 200,000 tons, this may yield £5000, with little

Expense of Collection.

my previous despatch of the 12th Instant, pointed out the small chance of obtaining any income from the warehousing of Opium, inasmuch as

the old system of storing that drug in ships is universally practised, on the

obvious

ground of its being the cheapest and most convenient. The only prospect, then, that remains of converting Opium into a source of revenue is by taxing an article of consumption within the Colony.

I may here observe that Opium is

tacitly tolerated by the Chinese Government even at the Ports of regular

trade. I subjoin an extract from Mr. Lay's

report from Canton, which would seem to apply equally to the whole coast; and the willingness with which His Excellency Keying received any proposal for addressing him on the subject of legalizing the trade, leads me to hope that so desirable a measure is not

far distant.

While at Singapore, I obtained from

the ...

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the outlay of a new Estate compared with its immediate rental returns render the revenue a provision of an adequate difficult task at the outset. No endeavour, however, shall be wanting on my part to effect the desired end: This having been declared a free-port for the first, the public seem to have been unprepared for any species of commercial taxation. With Your Lordship's authority, however, I have made up my mind to a harbour duty of no more than Sixpence per ton. Estimating the future annual amount of Shipping at 200,000 tons, this may yield £5000, with little Expense of Collection. my previous despatch of the 12th Instant, pointed out the small chance of obtaining any income from the warehousing of Opium, inasmuch as the old system of storing that drug in ships is universally practised, on the obvious ground of its being the cheapest and most convenient. The only prospect, then, that remains of converting Opium into a source of revenue is by taxing an article of consumption within the Colony. I may here observe that Opium is tacitly tolerated by the Chinese Government even at the Ports of regular trade. I subjoin an extract from Mr. Lay's report from Canton, which would seem to apply equally to the whole coast; and the willingness with which His Excellency Keying received any proposal for addressing him on the subject of legalizing the trade, leads me to hope that so desirable a measure is not far distant. While at Singapore, I obtained from the ...
Baseline (Original)
the outlay of a new Estate canpared with ik imamediate rental Danest render the x very adequate revenue a provision of aw adeguate difficult lash at the outsch. No endeavour. however, shall be wanting ow my part to offcct the desired end: This having been declared a free- port for the first, the public som to have been unprepared for any species of commercial taxation . With Your Lordship's authority, however, I have made up any mind to a harbour duty of no more than Sixpences per Ir. Estimating the future Jon. annual amount of Shipping at 200,000. tons, this anay gield £ 5000, with little Expense of Collection . 07 01.0 Carter my previous despatch of the 2018 12th Mistant, Spointed out the small chance of obtaining any income: the warcheusing of Opium, inasmuch as pone the N 2 the old syleme of storing that drug ships is universally practices, on the obvious 303 ground. of its being the cheapest and most convenient. The only prospect thew, that remains of converting befun into a sources of revenue is by taxing an article of consumptions within the Colony. is it as Imay here observe that Opine tacitly tolerated by the Chinese Government Even at the Pots of regular trade. Irudos a vxtract from Mr. Lay's seem refint from Cantow, which would scom to apply equally to the whole coast; and the willingnes with which His Excelleng Keying thewed any proposal for addresting him on the subject of legalizing the bad, leads me to hope that so desirable as measure is not distant, ot far While at Sincapore. Sobtained from the
2026-05-16 15:19:06 · Baseline
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the outlay of a new Estate canpared with

ik imamediate rental Danest render the

x very

adequate revenue a provision of aw adeguate difficult lash at the outsch. No endeavour. however, shall be wanting ow my part to offcct

the desired end:

This having been declared a free- port for the first, the public som to have been unprepared for any species of commercial taxation . With Your Lordship's authority, however, I have made up any mind to a harbour duty of no more than Sixpences per Ir. Estimating the future

Jon. annual amount of Shipping at 200,000. tons, this anay gield £ 5000, with little

Expense of Collection .

07 01.0

Carter

my previous despatch of the 2018 12th Mistant, Spointed out the small chance of obtaining any income: the warcheusing of Opium, inasmuch as

pone

the

N 2

the old syleme of storing that drug ships is universally practices, on the

obvious

303

ground. of its being the cheapest and most convenient. The only prospect thew, that remains of converting befun into a sources of revenue is by taxing an article of consumptions within the Colony.

is

it as

Imay here observe that Opine

tacitly tolerated by the Chinese Government Even at the Pots of regular

trade. Irudos

a

vxtract from Mr. Lay's

seem

refint from Cantow, which would scom to apply equally to the whole coast; and the willingnes with which His Excelleng Keying thewed any proposal for addresting him on the subject of legalizing the bad, leads me to hope that so desirable as

measure is not

distant,

ot far While at Sincapore. Sobtained from

the

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