CO129-013 - Sir John Davis - 1845 [8-12] — Page 99

of the Lots

remain unoccupied, and are likely to continue st, as the Government have, we believe,

PL

security under which they

they

enforce the

completion of the agreements.

Iphen the Memorialists stated, that

L

the Ground rent alone in.

Hongkong exceeds

the House rent and all charges attendant on the occupation of a Residence in Mação or Cantow, they did not allude to the existing rates paid in Macas, which are unusually

:- generally the rates &

low but to what were

and 4.

years ago, prior to their removal

to Thongkong.

If the rent of Houses in Canton,

since the destruction of half the

was

e foreign factories

by fire, has temporarily been higher than it as prior to that event, the circumstance is easily explained by the statement, that Sr. Hemry Pottinger. with the view, it is + presumed, findeed it was at one time-openly.

c

vowed),

38

avowed), of forcing the British Merchants to Hongkong, studiously neglected to provide by treaty for any extensions of the ground allotted to the foreign Commsenity in Cauton, or indeed. for adequate facilities being afforded to build. on the space

space they formerly occupied. Many

months were indeed allowed to clapse, after

the retirement of Sir Henry Pottinger, before

any

this

steps

grave

were taken

taken by his successor to remedy

evil; and

even at this moment, Her Majesty's Consul is residing in a

Hong Merchant's Warichouse in Canton ..

There cannot be a stronger proof that

the high rents, and generally unsatisfactory state of the Colony, deter others from settling here, than the fact; that the Americans and all other foreigners, remain in Canton and Macao, notwithstanding.

Finding all the boasted. advantages of Hongkong as a free Brt.

That a particular House was, under

very