CO129-033 - General Stavely - Lieut. Governor - 1850 [5-8] — Page 298

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

14

Mr Duddell, the next on the list, is simply speculation, although he denies the fact in his letter to the Committee; and his mode of reference to manner in which preceding will be understood, on Paragraph 9, showing that he purchased Mr Shelley's ground : this is also particularly referred to in Mr May's Report. The above 20 Firms pay annually £5,747, of which that portion occupied by themselves and let to Foreigners pays £4,914, leaving a Balance of £833 to be paid by 93 Foreigners owning 171 lots of land which are occupied by Foreigners.

15. This is all the information that I have to offer on the subject. The conclusion I have come to is, that Foreigners in Hongkong, although they undoubtedly pay a very large sum for their land, are not overtaxed, nor taxed higher than British Subjects elsewhere. It is a self-imposed tax also, and (save the Police Rate), the only one they pay. Its collection is easy and costs but little, and if the rates be materially reduced, recourse must be had to other means of upholding the revenue of the Colony. This can only be done by the imposition of taxes on minor articles of consumption, which will be both expensive and troublesome in realizing, and will subject the inhabitants to much inconvenience and generally to objectionable supervision, from which they at present are entirely free.

14. I think it likely, however, at no distant period that some of the 20 Firms above mentioned may probably re-establish themselves; but in that case their removal will not be in consequence of the Land tax that they pay, but because they find maintaining separate establishment in this Colony does not compensate in any way for the expense it entails. With the exception of the trade

Edit History

2026-05-17 17:05:58 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
14 Mr Duddell, the next on the list, is simply speculation, although he denies the fact in his letter to the Committee; and his mode of reference to manner in which preceding will be understood, on Paragraph 9, showing that he purchased Mr Shelley's ground : this is also particularly referred to in Mr May's Report. The above 20 Firms pay annually £5,747, of which that portion occupied by themselves and let to Foreigners pays £4,914, leaving a Balance of £833 to be paid by 93 Foreigners owning 171 lots of land which are occupied by Foreigners. 15. This is all the information that I have to offer on the subject. The conclusion I have come to is, that Foreigners in Hongkong, although they undoubtedly pay a very large sum for their land, are not overtaxed, nor taxed higher than British Subjects elsewhere. It is a self-imposed tax also, and (save the Police Rate), the only one they pay. Its collection is easy and costs but little, and if the rates be materially reduced, recourse must be had to other means of upholding the revenue of the Colony. This can only be done by the imposition of taxes on minor articles of consumption, which will be both expensive and troublesome in realizing, and will subject the inhabitants to much inconvenience and generally to objectionable supervision, from which they at present are entirely free. 14. I think it likely, however, at no distant period that some of the 20 Firms above mentioned may probably re-establish themselves; but in that case their removal will not be in consequence of the Land tax that they pay, but because they find maintaining separate establishment in this Colony does not compensate in any way for the expense it entails. With the exception of the trade
Baseline (Original)
14 Mr Duddell, the next on the list, is simply speenlaton, although he denies the fret in his letter to the Committee; and his mode of reference to manner in which prreceding will be understood, on Paragraph 9, showing the he purchased Mor Shelley's ground : this is also particularly referred to in. Mr May's Report- The above 20 Firms pay annually £5,747, of which that portion occupied by themselves and £4,914, leaving a. let to Foreigners pays Balance of £2,875 to be paid by 93 Foreigners owning 171 lots of land which recupied by Freigners.- me nearly all 15. This is all the information that. I have to offer on the subject... The conclusion_ I have come to is, that Foreigners in Houghing, although they undoubtedly pay a very large- Lam their land, are not overtaxed, 02 for tared higher than British Subjects elsewhere. It is a self-imposed tax also, and, ( save the 15 292 Police Rate), the only one they pag. Its collection. is easy and corts but little, and if the rates be: materially reduced, recourse must be had to other means - of upholding the revenue of of the Colory. This can only be done by the imposition. of Javes on minor articles ai will be both of consumption, which expensive and troublesouce in realizing, and will subject the inhabitants to much inconvenience in an generally to objectionable supervision, from which, they at prezent entirely free.. me 14. I think it likely, however, at no distante period that mentioned Lone of the 20 Firms above rencove may probably retablishments; but in that Case their their removal will not be in consequence of the Land tay that they pay, but because they find maintaining separate establishment in this Colony does not compensate in a any way for the expence it entails. With the exception of the trade
2026-05-17 17:05:58 · Baseline
View content

14

Mr Duddell, the next on

the list, is simply

speenlaton, although he denies the fret in his

letter to the Committee; and his mode

of

reference to manner in which

prreceding will be understood, on Paragraph 9, showing the he purchased Mor Shelley's ground : this is also particularly referred to in. Mr May's Report- The above 20 Firms pay annually £5,747, of which that portion occupied by themselves and

£4,914, leaving

a.

let to Foreigners pays Balance of £2,875 to be paid by 93 Foreigners owning 171 lots of land which recupied by Freigners.-

me

nearly all

15. This is all the information that. I have to offer on the subject... The conclusion_ I have come to is, that Foreigners in Houghing, although they undoubtedly pay a very large-

Lam

their land, are not overtaxed,

02

for tared higher than British Subjects elsewhere. It is a self-imposed tax also, and, ( save the

15

292

Police Rate), the only one they pag. Its collection.

is

easy

and corts but little, and if the rates be:

materially reduced, recourse must be had to other means

-

of upholding the revenue of

of the

Colory. This can only be done by the imposition.

of Javes on minor articles

ai

will be both

of consumption, which expensive and troublesouce in

realizing, and will subject the inhabitants

to much inconvenience in an

generally to

objectionable supervision, from which, they at prezent entirely free..

me

14. I think it likely, however, at no distante

period that mentioned

Lone

of the 20 Firms above

rencove

may probably retablishments; but in that

Case

their

their removal

will not be in consequence of the Land tay that they pay, but because they find maintaining separate establishment in this Colony does not compensate in

a

any way for the expence it entails. With the exception of the trade

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.