CO129-009 - Public Offices - 1844 — Page 298

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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The Governor forwarded a scale of fees which was recommended by the Board of Officers.

292 In the first place the principle of an ad valorem fee where the amount of trouble to be taken in the Land Office bore no relation to the value of the transaction has met with criticism from the Council. To the last three items in this scale we are not prepared to object, though we beg leave to subjoin an abstract of the first three charges which cannot help thinking excessive.

"Reparing any Lease or grant... 10 per cent on the amount of Annual rental"

"Affixing Public seal thereto... 5 per cent Do."

"Registering any assignment mortgage or other alienation... 5 per cent Do."

In every case, this appears to us erroneous, and calculated to impose a disadvantage on large purchasers from the Government, and in the next place the rate of these fees, when the very high rents which have been realized at Hong Kong are considered, appears to us to have been excessive and to have constituted a tax which was itself neither politic nor proper in its amount.

The rental lately disposed of having amounted to £15,000 per annum.

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The Governor forwarded a scale of fees which was recommended by the Board of Officers. 292 In the first place the principle of an ad valorem fee where the amount of trouble to be taken in the Land Office bore no relation to the value of the transaction has met with criticism from the Council. To the last three items in this scale we are not prepared to object, though we beg leave to subjoin an abstract of the first three charges which cannot help thinking excessive. "Reparing any Lease or grant... 10 per cent on the amount of Annual rental" "Affixing Public seal thereto... 5 per cent Do." "Registering any assignment mortgage or other alienation... 5 per cent Do." In every case, this appears to us erroneous, and calculated to impose a disadvantage on large purchasers from the Government, and in the next place the rate of these fees, when the very high rents which have been realized at Hong Kong are considered, appears to us to have been excessive and to have constituted a tax which was itself neither politic nor proper in its amount. The rental lately disposed of having amounted to £15,000 per annum.
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Fores Offic The fovernor fouvardo a scale of fees which by the mended by was recom. Board of Officers 292 In the first place the principle of an ad valorem Jee where the amount. of trouble Lo be taken in the Land office bane at Hong Kong, and which has raped the Council. To the last three items in this scale We are not prepared to object, tech we beg leave to subjoin an which stract of the first three charges cannot help thinking excepive. "Reparing any Lease or grant. 10 per cent on ! the amount of. Annual rental" A Affixing Public seal there to... 5 per cent Do to" "Registering any apijn= ment mortgag other alienation. 5 her Cut D. D." In ན must. be the in every case appears to us erroneous, and calculated mucetparity to impor a disadvantage on large Purchasers from the frocrument, and in the next place the rate of these fees, when the very high rents which have been realized considered, Alles at Hong Kong are to us to have been excepive__ and to have constituted a tax which was itself, neither politic in nor proper in its amand. The rental lately disposed of haring amounted to £15,000 her
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Fores

Offic

The fovernor fouvardo a

scale of fees which

by the

mended by

was recom.

Board of Officers

292

In the first place the

principle of an

ad valorem

Jee where

the amount.

of

trouble

Lo

be

taken

in the Land office

bane

at Hong Kong, and which has

raped the Council. To the last

three items in this scale

We

are not prepared to object, tech

we beg leave

to subjoin an

which

stract of the first three charges

cannot help thinking

excepive.

"Reparing any

Lease

or grant.

10 per cent on

!

the amount of. Annual rental"

A

Affixing Public seal

there to... 5 per cent Do to"

"Registering any apijn=

ment mortgag other alienation.

5 her Cut D. D."

In

ན

must.

be

the

in every

case appears to us erroneous, and calculated mucetparity to impor

a disadvantage on large Purchasers from the frocrument, and in the next place the rate of these fees, when the very high rents which have been realized

considered, Alles

at Hong Kong are

to us

to have

been excepive__

and to have constituted a tax

which was

itself,

neither politic in

nor proper in its amand.

The rental lately disposed of

haring amounted

to £15,000 her

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