204
which hardly justifies the above allegation.
The Memorialists at first declare not to be understood as claiming exemption from reasonable taxation; but further on they beg the attention of your Lordship to the questionable policy of entailing upon the few who make Hong Kong their residence the burden
of maintaining its Government. This seems to confirm the observation of a Member of the Committee of 1847, that by a face they meant the payment of all Colonial charges by Parliamentary votes.
There seems, however, no sufficient reason why the general rule, that Her Majesty's Colonies should defray their own Civil expenses, need be departed from in this instance. With the exception of the Police Rate, which pays about a fourth only of the actual Police expenses, not a tax or rate of any kind is levied on the Merchants of this Colony; for the wine and spirit and opium licences are a charge on the lower classes only, while upon the consumption of those articles, the better classes get their wines and spirits free of all taxes whatever. Neither do they pay the income tax which is imposed on all Her Majesty's Civil, Military and Naval Officers. There being then not a single import or export duty, or harbour due payable by the Merchant residents, nor a single other tax or rate of any kind (except the small Police-rate above stated), the ground rents which were set by themselves, or bid up by themselves, can scarcely be considered as very heavy taxation, high though they may be in itself.
A modification, however, suggests itself which would at once tend to reconcile the Merchants to these rents, and benefit the Government. If the 75 years to which the existing leases are limited were extended to something like a perpetuity, all future sales of land would be effected
204
which hardly justifies the above allegation.
The Memorialicts at first decire not to be understood as claiming exemption from reasonable tavation; but further on they beg- the attention of your Lordship to the questionable polies of entailing upon the few who make Houghing their residence the burden
of maintaining its Government. _ This seems
confirm the observation of r
Member of the Committee of 1847, that by a face port they
to
a
meant the payment of all Colonial charges by Parliamentary votes. "
There
seems,
however, no sufficient
"Her
reason why the General rule, that "sten -
Majesty's
Colonies should defray their mon Civil
expences, need be departed from in this ___
instance. With the exception of the
Rate, which pays
Police
about a fourth only of the
actual Police expences, not a tax or rate
arry
of
Kind is levied on the Merchants of this Colony; for the wine and spirit and opium
i
Licences
are a
Charge on the lower classes only,
while
upon the consumption of those articles, the better classes get their wines and spirits free of all taxes whatever. Neither do they pay the income tax which is imposed on all Ster Majesty's Civil, Military and Naval Officers- There being then not a single Import or export duty, or harbour due payable by the Merchant single other tay or rate of any Wind (except the small Police-rate above stated)
residents, nor a
the ground rents which
were se
self-impored, or bid up by themselves, can scarcely be considered
Theary
very taxation, high though they may
as a very,
a
ground rents.
itself,
вс
A modification, however, suggests which would at once tend to
reconcile the Merchants to these rents, and
benefit the Govemment. If the 75 years to
which the
existing.
leases
are limited were-
extended to something like a perpetuity, all
future
Lales
of land would be effected
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