Boa
of
Tra
743-
Under 8 oz.
With
130
in 1ột trong hoang
IN Mustin's respects
Commercial Relations with China.
Martis, 18° die Maii, 1847.
Robert Montgomery Martin, Esq., called in; and Examined.
JA 19
1848
441
3906. Mr. Ewart.] YOU have been in China?---I have been in China as Her Majesty's Treasurer from May 1844 until the 8th of July 1845, when I resigned to return to England to lay before Her Majesty's Government a Report on the state of our affairs in China.
3907. Had you an opportunity of attending at the land sales in Hong Kong? -On my arrival in China, the first step that I took was to ascertain what were the probable prospects of revenue in the colony, and the sources from which it was derived, and on investigating I ascertained that although there had been very large sales of land, amounting to considerable sums, yet that very little had ever been paid to Her Majesty's Government. Out of the whole amount of the land sales from June 1841, amounting to 3,224l. yearly, I found that up to June 1844 only 641l. had been paid. In fact, on my arrival in May 1844, only 441l. had been paid into Her Majesty's Treasury. Being impressed with the fact that some of the sales were fictitious more than real, I urged a deposit being called for at all future sales. Perceiving that almost every individual connected with the Government was identified with the purchase or the profits derived from building land (I think the Attorney-general and myself were the only two not connected with the purchase and sale of land), I therefore urged bona fide sales to correct what appeared to me a great evil in the disposal of the land. I also laid before Governor Davis, in June 1844, a financial letter urging that the merchants connected with the island should be allowed their land in perpetuity, as the only means of enabling them to meet the difficulties that I foresaw would be the result of the absence of trade at Hong Kong. I considered that there was a great deal of deception in the purchase of land by parties who did not really intend to hold it, and I urged deposits being called for on all future sales. I urged also that the parties who had built houses in Hong Kong, and expended so much money thereon, should receive the encouragement of having the land granted to them in perpetuity. I would take this opportunity of stating, that to the British merchants in Hong Kong great credit is due for the manner in which they seconded the efforts of the authorities to establish the colony; their public spirit and enterprise deserve every encouragement from Her Majesty's authorities in England.
3908. Have you reason to believe that Hong Kong will become a commercial emporium-I never from the first moment expected that Hong Kong would become a commercial depôt. I have devoted 20 years of my life to the investigation of the colonies of England, and an examination of Hong Kong in its most favourable aspect induces me to entertain the opinion which I stated in my Report to Her Majesty's Government in July 1844, that Hong Kong never could become a commercial depôt; that it is unsuitable for a colony by reason of its limited size, rocky and barren structure, and incapability of producing food for one day for the inhabitants upon it; that it cannot be made a fortress, because half the harbour does not belong to England, and every island around it belongs to China; that it does not command the Canton River, being at a considerable distance from the usual entrance, and that it is totally inefficient for the protection of the trade at Canton; and in every point of view I consider the selection of Hong Kong the most unfortunate step that has been taken with regard to our position in China. It has brought discredit upon us by the occupation of such a wretched spot. But every credit is due to the merchants for their endeavours to make it a valuable possession.
3909. Does Hong Kong affect our trade at Canton or the northern ports? -The trade at Canton is entirely independent of Hong Kong, and the northern
A
18 May 1847.
Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed,
23 July 1847.
MR. MONTGOMERY MARTIN.
Office of TREASURER of Hong Kong, Colonies, relating to his RESIGNATION of the Martin with the Secretary of State for the COPY of CORRESPONDENCE of Mr. Montgomery
(Viscount Sandon.)
ports
Boa
of
Tra
743-
Under 8 oz.
With
130
in 1ột trong hoang
IN Mustin's respects
Commercial Relations with China.
Martis, 18° die Maii, 1847.
Robert Montgomery Martin, Esq., called in; and Examined.
JA 19
1848
441
3906. Mr. Ewart.] YOU have been in China?---I have been in China as Her R. M. Martin, Esq. Majesty's Treasurer from May 1844 until the 8th of July 1845, when I resigned to return to England to lay before Her Majesty's Government a Report on the state of our affairs in China.
3907. Had you an opportunity of attending at the land sales in Hong Kong? -On my arrival in China, the first step that I took was to ascertain what were the probable prospects of revenue in the colony, and the sources from which it was derived, and on investigating I ascertained that although there had been very large sales of land, amounting to considerable sums, yet that very little had ever been paid to Her Majesty's Government. Out of the whole amount of the land sales from June 1841, amounting to 3,224 7. yearly, I found that up to June 1844 only 641 1. had been paid. In fact, on my arrival in May 1844, only 441 7. had been paid into Her Majesty's Treasury. Being impressed with that fact that some of the sales were fictitious more than real, I urged a deposit. being called for at all future sales. Perceiving that almost every individual con- nected with the Government was identified with the purchase or the profits derived from building land (I think the Attorney-general and myself were the only two not connected with the purchase and sale of land), I therefore urged bona fide sales to correct what appeared to me a great evil in the disposal of the land. I also laid before Governor Davis, in June 1844, a financial letter urging that the merchants connected with the island should be allowed their land in perpetuity, as the only means of enabling them to meet the difficulties that I foresaw would be the result of the absence of trade at Hong Kong. I considered that there was a great deal of deception in the purchase of land by parties who did not really intend to hold it, and I urged deposits being called for on all future sales. I urged also that the parties who had built houses in Hong Kong, and expended so much money thereon, should receive the encouragement of having the land granted to them in perpetuity. I would take this opportunity of stating, that to the British merchants in Hong Kong great credit is due for the manner in which they seconded the efforts of the authorities to establish the colony; their public spirit and enterprise deserve every encouragement from Her Majesty's authorities in England.
3908. Have you reason to believe that Hong Kong will become a commer- cial emporium-I never from the first moment expected that Hong Kong would become a commercial depôt. I have devoted 20 years of my life to the investigation of the colonies of England, and an examination of Hong Kong in its most favourable aspect induces me to entertain the opinion which I stated in my Report to Her Majesty's Government in July 1844, that Hong Kong never could become a commercial depôt; that it is unsuitable for a colony by reason of its limited size, rocky and barren structure, and incapability of produc- ing food for one day for the inhabitants upon it; that it cannot be made a fortress, because half the harbour does not belong to England, and every island around it belongs to China; that it does not command the Canton River, being at a considerable distance from the usual entrance, and that it is totally ineffi- cient for the protection of the trade at Canton; and in every point of view I con- sider the selection of Hong Kong the most unfortunate step that has been taken with regard to our position in China. It has brought discredit upon us by the occupation of such a wretched spot. But every credit is due to the merchants for their endeavours to make it a valuable possession.
3909. Does Hong Kong affect our trade at Canton or the northern ports? -The trade at Canton is entirely independent of Hong Kong, and the northern
A
18 May 1847.
Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed,
23 July 1847.
MR. MONTGOMERY MARTIN.
Office of TREASURER of Hong Kong, Colonies, relating to his RESIGNATION of the Martin with the Secretary of State for the COPY of CORRESPONDENCE of Mr. Montgomery
(Viscount Sandon.)
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