CO129-023 - Sir John Davis - 1848 [1-3] — Page 105

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

Preface

which brings the whalers from the Pacific to Hongkong is the cheapness and abundance of the supplies, and the absence of all shipping dues whatever. Hear Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, who had commanded a warship from the age of eighteen,

a Man

WAS

MAI As

of opinion that Hongkong is as cheap and well supplied a station as most that he had ever visited; and it has only existed as a Colony since 1842.

With regard to the spicuum farmmon, which the pretended failure of the Colony is attributed, this has been since altered into separate licenses to Opium shops, precisely the same as licences for retailing wine and spirits. No apparent change has resulted from this, except the silence of the objectors to the former system.

The Colony continues to prosper as usual, neither more nor less.

After what has gone before, it becomes less surprising to find Mr. Matheson

"

104

assert that the marriage fee at Hongkong is fifty dollars, the actual fee being five, and this only on marriages by licence; though on being asked if fifty dollars are paid in every marriage, he says, "Yes." He then goes on to add, "I have known instances where people have gone from Hongkong to Macao to get married, in order to avoid the fee."

Now it is absolutely impossible for any member of the established Church to be married at Macao, where there is no Protestant Clergyman, and no British officer to authorize the marriage. No single instance can have occurred. The marriage fee never having exceeded five dollars, the boat hire would come to much more.

Mr. Matheson slanders the Colonial Government by asserting that a Revenue is derived from houses of bad fame. It is almost unnecessary to say that this

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Preface which brings the whalers from the Pacific to Hongkong is the cheapness and abundance of the supplies, and the absence of all shipping dues whatever. Hear Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, who had commanded a warship from the age of eighteen, a Man WAS MAI As of opinion that Hongkong is as cheap and well supplied a station as most that he had ever visited; and it has only existed as a Colony since 1842. With regard to the spicuum farmmon, which the pretended failure of the Colony is attributed, this has been since altered into separate licenses to Opium shops, precisely the same as licences for retailing wine and spirits. No apparent change has resulted from this, except the silence of the objectors to the former system. The Colony continues to prosper as usual, neither more nor less. After what has gone before, it becomes less surprising to find Mr. Matheson " 104 assert that the marriage fee at Hongkong is fifty dollars, the actual fee being five, and this only on marriages by licence; though on being asked if fifty dollars are paid in every marriage, he says, "Yes." He then goes on to add, "I have known instances where people have gone from Hongkong to Macao to get married, in order to avoid the fee." Now it is absolutely impossible for any member of the established Church to be married at Macao, where there is no Protestant Clergyman, and no British officer to authorize the marriage. No single instance can have occurred. The marriage fee never having exceeded five dollars, the boat hire would come to much more. Mr. Matheson slanders the Colonial Government by asserting that a Revenue is derived from houses of bad fame. It is almost unnecessary to say that this
Baseline (Original)
Preifie which brings the whalers from the Pacific to Houghtong is the cheapness and abundance- of the supplies, and the absence of all shipping dues whatever. Hear Admiral- Sir Thomas (ochrane, who had commanded of war from the age of eighteen, a Man WAS MAI As of txinion that Houghing cheap and well supplied a station as moit that he had ever visited; and it has only existed as a Colony since 184.2. With regard to the spicuum farmon, which the pretended failure of the Colony is attributed, this has been since altered to into separate licenses to Opium shops, precisely the same as licences for retailing wine and spirits. No apparent change has resulted from this, except the silence of the objectors to the former system. to The Colony continues prosper as usual, seither usual, seither more nor less. After what has gove before, it becomes less surprising to find Mech. Matheso " 104 accert that the marriage fee at Houghong_ is fifty dollars, the netual fee being five, and this only on marriages by licence; though on being acted if fifty dollars are paid in every marriage, he says, "Yes. _ He then -goes M to add, "I have known instances where - people have gone of omne Houghing to Macas "to get married, in order to avoid the Ace" Now it is absolutely impossible for any member of the established Church to be of married at Macas, where there is no protestant Clergyman, and no British officer to authorize the Single instance- can Marriage. No by any possibility home recured. The marriage fee never having exceeded five Dollars, the boat hire would come to much more. - Mr. Matheson standers the Colonial Goverment by ascerting. that a Revenust- is derived from houses of bad fame. It is almort unnecessary to say that this
2026-05-17 02:20:37 · Baseline
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Preifie

which brings the whalers from the Pacific to Houghtong is the cheapness and abundance- of the supplies, and the absence of all shipping dues whatever. Hear Admiral- Sir Thomas (ochrane, who had commanded of war from the age of eighteen,

a Man

WAS

MAI As

• of txinion that Houghing cheap and well supplied a station as moit that he had ever visited; and it has only existed as a Colony since 184.2.

With regard to the spicuum farmon, which the pretended failure of the Colony

is attributed, this has been since altered

to

into separate licenses to Opium shops, precisely the same as licences for retailing wine and spirits. No apparent change has resulted from this, except the silence of the objectors

to the former system.

to

The

Colony continues

prosper as usual, seither

usual, seither more nor less.

After what has

gove before, it

becomes less surprising to find Mech. Matheso

"

104

accert that the marriage fee at Houghong_

is fifty dollars, the netual fee being five, and this only on marriages by licence; though on being acted if fifty dollars are paid in every marriage, he says, "Yes. _ He then

-goes

M

to add, "I have known instances where

-

people have gone of omne Houghing to Macas

"to get married, in order to avoid the Ace"

Now it is absolutely impossible for any

member of the established Church to be

of

married at Macas, where there is no

protestant Clergyman, and no British

officer to authorize the

Single

instance-

can

Marriage.

No

by any possibility home

recured. The marriage fee never

having

exceeded five Dollars, the boat hire would

come to much

more. -

Mr. Matheson standers the Colonial

Goverment by ascerting. that a Revenust- is derived from houses of bad fame. It is

almort unnecessary to say that this

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