CO129-007 - Sir John Davis - 1844 — Page 77

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

52

Star of Hong Kong for six years. It consisted principally of transports conveying troops, and vessels waiting for orders, or seeking freight. No trial has been given to the place without any satisfactory result nearly four years residence, or occupation of the Island.

An immense expenditure, commercial efforts have failed to produce any operation. Freary mouth the shipping entering the harbour is diminishing, and the imposition of tonnage duty will, it is said, still further decrease the number.

There does not appear the slightest probability that under any circumstances Hong Kong will ever become a place of trade. The island produces nothing whatever; its geographical position either as regards the Chinese Coast generally or Canton in particular is bad.

53

For the trade of the Coast of China it is too far to the Southward of a territory which extends upwards of 2000 miles; and if it were practicable to remove the extensive trade of Canton, the arrival of the open sea would be either to come to the Northward, in the neighbourhood of the Tea districts, or to come to some Island, or place in the Canton River. Averring either delusions that have been previously promulgated, is the allegation that Hong Kong is a protection to the British commerce at Canton, and especially to the Tea trade with reference to the latter it should be remembered, that the Chinese are as eager to sell us Tea, as we are to buy it; that the cessation of the trade would be a greater injury to them, than to the British Nation; that there was no difficulty in procuring Tea during the...

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52 Star of Hong Kong for six years. It consisted principally of transports conveying troops, and vessels waiting for orders, or seeking freight. No trial has been given to the place without any satisfactory result nearly four years residence, or occupation of the Island. An immense expenditure, commercial efforts have failed to produce any operation. Freary mouth the shipping entering the harbour is diminishing, and the imposition of tonnage duty will, it is said, still further decrease the number. There does not appear the slightest probability that under any circumstances Hong Kong will ever become a place of trade. The island produces nothing whatever; its geographical position either as regards the Chinese Coast generally or Canton in particular is bad. 53 For the trade of the Coast of China it is too far to the Southward of a territory which extends upwards of 2000 miles; and if it were practicable to remove the extensive trade of Canton, the arrival of the open sea would be either to come to the Northward, in the neighbourhood of the Tea districts, or to come to some Island, or place in the Canton River. Averring either delusions that have been previously promulgated, is the allegation that Hong Kong is a protection to the British commerce at Canton, and especially to the Tea trade with reference to the latter it should be remembered, that the Chinese are as eager to sell us Tea, as we are to buy it; that the cessation of the trade would be a greater injury to them, than to the British Nation; that there was no difficulty in procuring Tea during the...
Baseline (Original)
і 52 Starber of Hong Kong for shice yours. It - consisted principally of transportscm = veying troops, and vessels catting for orders, or seeking freight - Qcple trial- has been given to the place sexthout any &xtisfactory result nearly four years residence- ow, or occupation of the Island. arrot onA immense expenditure, Courrier cial hav failed to produce any operation. Frary mouth the shipping Focacy : entering the barbour is divineshing, and the imposition of.. ol. tornage duty decrca fl- will it is said still further the number. There does not appear she slightest- any dieumstances probability that under any Mong King will ever become aplace of trade . The island produces nothing geographical position- whatever; its either as cards the Chinese Coast - as regards generally or Canton in particular is lad 53 73 bad. For the trade of the Coast of China it is too far to the Southward of a buitory which extends upwards of 2000 miles ; and if it were practicable to remove the 4msign trade of Wauton, the accusval of the open would be either to come. Wists to the Hurtheword, is the awighboun hom of the Tex dishiols, D to come. Island, or plave in the Canton River- Avering ether delusions that have low presiulgated, is the allegation that Hong Kong is a protection to the British Jommerce at Canton, and especially to the Tex hader with: reference to the latter it should be remembered, that the Chineses are as eager to sell us lea, as we are to buy it ; that the cessation of the trade would. be r greater injung totheme, than to the British Nation; that there was no difficulty in procuring varing. lex during the
2026-05-16 16:15:47 · Baseline
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і

52

Starber of Hong Kong for shice yours. It - consisted principally of transportscm = veying troops, and vessels catting for orders, or seeking freight - Qcple trial- has been given to the place sexthout any &xtisfactory result nearly four years

residence- ow, or occupation of the Island.

arrot onA

immense expenditure,

Courrier cial

hav

failed to produce any operation. Frary mouth the shipping

Focacy

: entering

the barbour is divineshing,

and the imposition

of..

ol.

tornage duty

decrca fl-

will it is said still further

the number.

There does not appear she slightest-

any dieumstances

probability that under any

Mong King will ever become aplace of trade . The island produces nothing

geographical position-

whatever; its

either as

cards the Chinese Coast -

as regards

generally

or Canton in particular is

lad

53

73

bad. For the trade of the Coast of China it is too far to the Southward of a buitory which extends upwards of 2000 miles ;

and if it were practicable to remove the 4msign trade of Wauton, the accusval

of the open

would be either to come.

Wists to the Hurtheword, is the awighboun

hom of the Tex dishiols,

D

to come.

Island, or plave in the Canton River-

Avering ether delusions that have low presiulgated, is the allegation that Hong Kong is a protection to the British Jommerce at Canton, and especially

to the Tex hader with:

reference to the latter it should be remembered, that the Chineses are

as eager to sell us lea, as we are to buy it ; that the cessation of the trade would.

be

r

greater injung totheme, than to the

British Nation; that there was no

difficulty

in procuring

varing.

lex during the

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