of the Colony
There are circumstances, to which I might allude as illustrative of the difficulty of raising a revenue in this Colony to meet the civil expenditure, but I will merely state that Hongkong is a barren island, composed of rotten granite and decomposing sandstone with scarcely sufficient entire pasturage for a few goats dependent on the Chinese, in the Emperor of China's dominions for the daily food of 25000 inhabitants and with a surface rugged and unproductive.
I level a spot fit for the establishment of a large town, that there is not a sufficiently large spot on the island to put even a few Companies of Marines through their usual Exercise.
On a review of the whole case it must be admitted there are very great difficulties in the way of raising a revenue in the Colony, to meet its civil expenditure.
The imposition of a tonnage duty however small would it is alleged, prevent altogether the few Merchant ships that now come to Kowloon from calling here on their way to or from the Northward out and Counter.
The establishment of a License System for shops and traders might check those who are now temporarily located here.
An Auction duty of 2 1/2 per cent would require the sale of £1000 worth of property annually to produce £25 per annum.
And some sort of stamp duty would be difficult to enforce.
It is difficult to ascertain the sum to be derived from the rent of building land. Hitherto sales have been almost fictitious, and were based on speculation as the portion of ground practically available for building, except at an enormous expense, is exceedingly small.
Under the circumstances...
Page 312
of the Cobry. Colony
There
are ther circumstances, to
which I might allucle as illustutive of the difficulty of raising & revenne é
in this Colay
to meet the civil expenditure, but I will novely state that Hongking is a barren- island, composed of rotten granite and decomposing, sandlitine with secaroly sufficient
entirely pastimage for a few gents dependent on the Chinese, in the Emperor of Clima's domniins for the claily feed of 25000 inhabitants and with a meface
rugged and unperace
I level apot
fire about
A
ticable for the establishment
of a lorge town, that there is not a sufficiently spot on the island to put even a few Corpanies of Manies through thou svartial
Exercise.
On a review of the whil's case it sumst be admitted there are very grant
way of rusing
chifficulties &
in the
o
a revenue
iw
312
in the Clary, to muit its civil es
meet expenditure
The importion of a tourage duty however small would it is allegel, prevent allogether Merchant shops that now
the few Mucharit shy
Kawow from calling her on thui
enter this
way
to the
Noth ceart out Counter The establishment
or
Lank
migit check
Systen for shops
and traders.
those
Mote
away
any augmentation or duve temporarily located here An Auction
public
daty of 2/2 per cent would require the jaithe
life sake of £1000 of perperty commally to porcluce
£2,500 pro
not for
aunum And
some
a
t
stamp duty
would
the
years, in connquence of the paucity of hoole produce £100
a spear It is clifficult to ascertani the seal become to be derived from the rent of building hand Heritefor sales have been almost fictitious, and were band on speculation as the portion of grant arctically available for building, exopt at an
Enormous lx:
expeus, is execodingly small Under
the
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