Site of Area in Lot. square feet. Annual Ground Rental as assessed Lots surrendered. Rente Inland for Police Rates Remarks.
d. $. s. d.
To
329 800 16
330 800 16.
331 800
332 800 4
333 800
334 000
335 000 2 18
336 800 18
337 800 3
Market. 125 12/
/2/ Farm. 5.10
J 3 7
Long 10.10
Forfeited.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL GREY,
Secretary of State for Her Majesty's Colonies.
The Memorial of the British and other Inhabitants of Hongkong and its vicinity,
Sheweth,-
That your Memorialists are deeply interested in the welfare of this Colony, either as owning or renting property in it.
Your Memorialists deem it unnecessary to obtrude on your Lordship a detailed statement of the unsatisfactory position of the Colony, the subject having been so recently brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Ministers in the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on British Commercial relations with China: but your Memorialists respectfully submit to your Lordship, that since the Establish-ment of the settlement, the unusually heavy Ground-rent has been felt as a severe burden upon themselves individually, and a serious drawback to the prosperity of the place.
Your Lordship is no doubt aware that the high Ground-rent was chiefly occasioned by the unnatural competition consequent upon the inadequate number of Lots of Land offered for sale in the first instance; and your Memorialists would now direct the attention of your Lordship to the absence of any active local trade capable of supporting such a burden.
Your Memorialists desire not to be understood as claiming exemption from reasonable taxation, but would urge on the consideration of Her Majesty's Government the necessity of an early and important reduction of the Ground-rents levied in Hongkong, as well as a revision of the terms of the present Leases, as the only effectual means of enabling your Memorialists to support their position as British Colonists.
Your Memorialists annex a Return shewing the Ground-rent paid for each Lot, its Area, and the Annual Rental or estimated Rental of the Buildings erected on it, by which it would appear that the Ground-rents received by Government in Hongkong equal or exceed the House-rents paid in many of the Cities and Towns of Great Britain.
In conclusion, your Memorialists beg the attention of your Lordship to the questionable policy of entailing upon the few who make Hongkong their residence the burden of maintaining a Government whose chief duty is the protection and control of the traffic of the people of two great Empires, a traffic by which the Revenues of Great Britain and her Indian Possessions are materially augmented.
Feeling a strong conviction of the justice of their cause, your Memorialists entrust it with confidence to the hands of your Lordship, and, relying on its favourable consideration by Her Majesty's Government, your Memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Hongkong, 19th February, 1848.
222
Ite of Area in
Lot.
square feet.
Annual Ground Rental as assessed Loto surrendered.
Rente
Inland
for Police Rates
Femarks.
d. $. s. d.
To
329
800
16
330
800
16.
331
800
332
800
4
ت محمد شد
800
334
000
که داشت
000
2
18
336
800
مجھے
18
337
800
3
Market.
125
12/
/2/
Farm.
5.10
J
3
7
Long
10.10
Forfeited.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL GREY,
Secretary of State for Her Majesty's Colonies.
The Memorial of the British and other Inhabitants of Hongkong and its vicinity,
Sheweth,-
That your Memorialists are deeply interested in the welfare of this Colony, either as owning or renting property in it.
Your Memorialists deem it unnecessary to obtrude on your Lordship a detailed statement of the unsatisfactory position of the Colony, the subject having been so recently brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Ministers in the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on British Commercial relations with China: but your Memorialists respectfully submit to your Lordship, that since the Establish- ment of the settlement, the unusually heavy Ground-rent has been felt as a severe burden upon themselves individually, and a serious drawback to the prosperity of the place.
Your Lordship is no doubt aware that the high Ground-rent was chiefly occasioned by the unnatural competition consequent upon the inadequate number of Lots of Land offered for sale in the first instance; and your Memorialists would now direct the attention of your Lordship to the absence of any active local trade capable of supporting such a burden.
Your Memorialists desire not to be understood as claiming exemption from reasonable taxation, but would urge on the consideration of Her Majesty's Govern- ment the necessity of an early and important reduction of the Ground-rents levied in Hongkong, as well as a revision of the terms of the present Leases, as the only effectual means of enabling your Memorialists to support their position as British Colonists.
Your Memorialists annex a Return shewing the Ground-rent paid for each Lot, its Area, and the Annual Rental or estimated Rental of the Buildings erected on it, by which it would appear that the Ground-rents received by Government in Hongkong equal or exceed the House-rents paid in many of the Cities and Towns of Great Britain.
In conclusion, your Memorialists beg the attention of your Lordship to the questionable policy of entailing upon the few who make Hongkong their residence the burden of maintaining a Government whose chief duty is the protection and controul of the traffic of the people of two great Empires, a traffic by which the Revenues of Great Britain and her Indian Possessions are materially augmented.
Feeling a strong conviction of the justice of their cause, your Memorialists entrust it with confidence to the hands of your Lordship, and, relying on its favour- able consideration by Her Majesty's Government, your Memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Hongkong, 19th February, 1848.
222
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.