Pr
Land was originally sold ; (promises, which were at any rate tacitly acknowledged by the Go- vernment, and not repudiated until after the lapse of 3 years); while at the same time it is no exaggeration to state, that had the existing regulations been promulgated before, instead of after the outlay of their funds, not one British Merchant would have been found willing to become a resident in the Colony.
We have deemed it necessary and due to ourselves, to enter thus at length into some account of the formation of the Colony and its progress hitherto, with the view of shewing: First, the nature of the inducements under which we were led to abandon our Residences at Macao and Canton, where both House rent and Taxation are very light; which we may illustrate by the fact, that the Ground rent alone of most of the eligible sites in Hongkong is (without including rent or interest of money) a heavier charge, than all payments, rent inclusive, required of the Tenants of Houses in Macao;
And Secondly To prove that the very onerous ternis, on which we have been compelled to occupy our property in Hongkong, have been forced on us, not only against our urgent re- monstrances, as a question of justice and equity, but in opposition to what we have always considered and represented to be the true interest of the Colony.
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 declared to be a free Port, every description of commerce and Trade a Subject of Taxation, or source of revenue, or of Monopoly sold to the highest Bidders, thus driving away, instead of encouraging Trade in an infant Settlement: and lastly we have now to complain of the promulgation of an ordinance, which we submit to be unconstitutional and illegal, empowering Government Assessors arbitrarily to value all Household Property, with the view of raising a new tax, ostensibly for payment of a Police force, there being no Muni- cipal Body of any kind in the Colony to determine whether such tax be necessary, or equitably levied and appropriated.
The result of the System actually in operation for the last two years; commencing with the proceedings in Land Sales and Leases under the administration of the first Governor, and continned by the financial arrangements of his Successor, is sufficiently exemplified in the present state of the Colony: for owing to the heavy rents and unsatisfactory tenure of property, the continued arbitrary taxation and impediments to Trade of all kinds, and the entire want of confidence, as well on the part of the Foreign Community in China. as of the Chinese themselves, as to the establishment of a better course of policy, there is, at this moment, after 4 years occupation of the Island, scarcely one foreign Resident, except Government Officers, and those British Merchants and Traders who commenced Building before the enforcement of the Leases; there are no Chinese Merchants, or even Shop-keepers, with any pretension to property; there is neither an import or export Trade of any kind; and as will be seen by the public papers, even now, when many private Dwellings are temporarily occupied by the Civil and Military Officers of Government, pending the completion of the Public Buildings, several Houses have been untenanted for months past; and the value of all property is daily on the decrease.
It is necessary to bear in mind, that the Trade of this part of China has long been ac- customed to flow through other Channels, that the Island of Hongkong has no natural produc- tions, or consumers of imports, beyond the more wants of the Colonists themselves, and is even dependent for its daily supply of food on the main land: and that a place so circumstanced, especially in a Country like China, proverbially averse to sudden change, can only be expected very gradually to acquire a Trade by facilities and encouragement, instead of being subject to ceaseless and heavy taxation, charges, from which places in its vicinity are moreover exempt.
We trust therefore, wo shall not be deemed presumptuous in submitting to H. M. Go- yernment our urgent entreaty, that they will be pleased to direct the abolition of the Opium Farm, Auction Duties, and other harrassing Taxation recently imposed, which have already had the effect of deterring many Chinese from settling in the place, and driven away several, who were already established, and been in fact utterly destructive of our incipient Trade. If this be not conceded, many of the European Residents will also be compelled to quit a place totally without Commerce, but more heavily taxed, in Ground rents alone, than any other part of China, and remove to those Ports where the Trade is actually carried on, abandoning properties on which many have expended their whole fortunes.
We further venture to suggest that the system adopted in other colonies may reasonably be extended to this distant settlement; and that it is hoped Government will be pleased to au- thorise the formation of a Municipal Body, vested with the usual power of deciding on the appropriation of the monies raised for Local purposes.
We cannot in conclusion refrain from urging, that such a settlement as Hongkong was never actually required by the British Merchants; and that it has become even less so since the opening of the five Chinese Ports, where the Foreign Residents are free from all taxation, and where the rent of Land and Houses is generally very moderate.
We submit therefore, that it will be found as inexpedient in principle, as under existing circumstances we consider it would be unjust in practice, to call on the Civil part of the Com- munity for any large proportion of the expences of a Colony which is held rather as a Military and Naval Station, giving Great Britain the Command of these Seas, and as the Residence
not
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of a few Merchants, occupied in extending British Commerce along the Coast of China, and keeping up an active correspondence with the rest of the World, than a place which under any circumstances can be expected to possess an extensive Trade, or afford any considerable revenue towards the payment of its own expences.
VICTORIA, 13th August, 1845.
Hughesdon & Co.
George R. Barton M. D. N. Duus.
Bord, Lange & Co.
John Cairns.
Henry Holgate.
M. Ford & Co.
L. Just, Sen:
L.. Just, Jun:
D. Lapraik.
J. D. Porter.
Geo: Duddeli.
J. Palmer. Chas. W. Bowra.
Samil: Jno: Cooke.
GENTLEMEN,
We have the honor to be,
MY LORD,
Your Lordship's most obedient and hunible Servants,
Jardine Matheson & Co.
Dent & Co.
Macvicar & Co.
Fox, Rawson & Co.
Turner & Co. Lindsay & Co.
Gibb, Livingston & Co. Jamieson, How & Co. W. & T. Gemmell & Co. Fletcher & Co.
per. pro. Murrow & Co.
Chas. W. Murray,
Copy.
R. Oswald & Co. Thos. Ripley & Co. Dirom, Gray & Co. Holliday, Wise & Co. Robt. Strachan. John Carr.
SALE OF LANDS ON HONGKONG ISLAND.
MACAO, 7th June, 1841.
HAVING had under my consideration the particulars of the first sales of lots in Hongkong on the 14th Instant, I am of opinion that I shall be consulting the best in- terests of the establishment in making inmediate public declaration of my purpose to move Her Majesty's Government either to pass the lands in fee simple for one or two years purchase at the late rates, or to charge them in future with no more than a nominal quit rent, if that tenure continues to obtain.
My own object respecting the disposal of lands pending the pleasure of Her Majesty's Government, was to secure to firms and all other persons (British or foreigners) having per manent interests in the Country, sufficient space for their necessities, at moderate rates, with as little competition as might enable parties to accommodate themselves according to their re- spective wants; I feel assured upon attentive reflection that steady adherence to this rule will be found most conductive to the well understood interests of the establishment, and to the fair clairos of persons upon the spot; parties falling within the description I have specified, not yet supplied with lots, will soon be in a situation to accommodate themselves.
May I request you, Gentlemen, to circulate this letter.
Το
Messrs JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.
and DENT & Co.
I have the honor to be Your most obedient humble Servant, (Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.
Chief Superintendent, Charged with the Government of Hongkong.
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