CO129-013 - Sir John Davis - 1845 [8-12] — Page 73

exaggeration

ction to state, that had the existing regulations been promulgated. before, instead of after the outlar of their cunds, not one British etterchens, would have beser found willing to Reconse a resident in the Colony.

We have deemed it necessary and due to ourselves, to enter thes at length into some account of the formation of the Colorry and its progress hitherto, with the view.

cheving : First, the nature of

the inducements under which we

were led to abandon our Residences atellacar and Canton, where both House kent and Taxation are ver light, which we may illustrate by the fact, that the Ground sent alone of most of the eligible sites in Hong Kong is without including Rent- on interest of money) a heavier lebarge, life than all payments, rent inclusive, required of the semants of Houses in Macao

And 2ndly, to prove that the very onerous terms, on which we have been compelled to occupy property in Hongesting; have been forced on is not only against urgent sermonetrances, as a question of justice and equity, but in oppo dition to what we have always considered and represented to

the true interest of the Colony,

72

Since the enforcement of these Leases, the measures of the existing Government of the Island have still further aggravated the evils under which we have been suffering, by making in a place, nominally de- clared to be a free Bort, every descrip.

tions of Commerce and trade a subject of Tadation, or source of

2. Sot of for meenue, or of allonopoly sold to the highest Bidders, thes driving away instead of encoura;

१,

encouraging

trade

in an infant settlement: and Passly. we have now to complain of the promulgation of an ordinance, which we submit to be unconstitutional In and illegal, empowering

Lovernment.

assessors arbitrarity to valice all 10 Household Property with the view

of raiding a new tax, ostensibly for payment of a Police force, there being no Municipal Body of any kind in the Colony to

determine, whether such Fax Re

necessary, or equitably levied and appropriated.

The result of the system actually in operation for the last bos Tears : commencing with the proceedings in Land Tales and Leases under the administration of the

first Governor, and continued by the financial arrangements of his successor. sufficiently exemplified

is