CO129-033 - General Stavely - Lieut. Governor - 1850 [5-8] — Page 329

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

&

disposition of the Government; for they

would surely rather remain in, or return to, the island, with a knowledge of what is truly to be exacted from them, than with a constant uncertainty of the demands their residence in the place will make them liable.

I would not give a considerable amount for a scheme so speculative, and I can in fact honestly say, it does not seem to me to be a serious or practical proposal. One aspect that appears to have been overlooked is: first, as concerns the matter itself of our inquiry, it should be remembered that at the sales of land no premiums were demanded, the competition was public, and that the offer was made in other Colonies, it is required.

3239

It is commonly observed that the high price of land is attributed to a high demand, and I own the property to be affected by it, and I cannot therefore recommend the trial of the experiment to the Government.

Whether this Colony is destined to advance, remain stationary, or retrograde, is a subject which other circumstances are likely to control, and which it is therefore beyond the power of our Committee to resolve; but I would wish to point out some few facts which in the ordinary discussions of the annual rent, where the rent was the act of the landholder, who, were the transaction to occur with a private person in the usual business, would scarcely think of cancelling the bargain; secondly, it should be borne in mind that the Police Rate is the only one imposed upon the Colony, and that it meets but little more than a third of the expenses of the Police Force, which is confessedly not too great for the purposes of its establishment; and lastly that the Government has for the past three years been gradually reducing the strength of the Civil...

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& disposition of the Government; for they would surely rather remain in, or return to, the island, with a knowledge of what is truly to be exacted from them, than with a constant uncertainty of the demands their residence in the place will make them liable. I would not give a considerable amount for a scheme so speculative, and I can in fact honestly say, it does not seem to me to be a serious or practical proposal. One aspect that appears to have been overlooked is: first, as concerns the matter itself of our inquiry, it should be remembered that at the sales of land no premiums were demanded, the competition was public, and that the offer was made in other Colonies, it is required. 3239 It is commonly observed that the high price of land is attributed to a high demand, and I own the property to be affected by it, and I cannot therefore recommend the trial of the experiment to the Government. Whether this Colony is destined to advance, remain stationary, or retrograde, is a subject which other circumstances are likely to control, and which it is therefore beyond the power of our Committee to resolve; but I would wish to point out some few facts which in the ordinary discussions of the annual rent, where the rent was the act of the landholder, who, were the transaction to occur with a private person in the usual business, would scarcely think of cancelling the bargain; secondly, it should be borne in mind that the Police Rate is the only one imposed upon the Colony, and that it meets but little more than a third of the expenses of the Police Force, which is confessedly not too great for the purposes of its establishment; and lastly that the Government has for the past three years been gradually reducing the strength of the Civil...
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& disposition of the Government ; for they would se surely rather remain in, or recort to, the island, with a knowledge of what is truly to be exacted from them, than with a constant uncertainty of the which their residence in make them liable. I would not give a am nount. the place will I can in fact honestly say, ive a serious ther scheme so speculative, were thought any seem to me to be the question sec. overlooked : first, 3239 commonly as concerns the matter itself of our inquiry it should be remembered that at the sales of land no premiumd, soas. 1 public, and that the offer et for in other Colonies, Exquired, that the competition was public. of the high is 4 high, himself, that to a own the property to be affected by it, and I cannot therefore recommend the trial of the experiment to the Government. Whether this Colony to advance, remain is a than is destined stationary, or retrograde, subject which other circumstances investigation of Land Conurd ard aw likely to control, and which it is therefore beyond the power of our Committed to resolve ; but I would wish to point out somed few facts which in the odinary discussions of annual pent, where the rent was the act of the landholder who, were the transaction to cecar with a privater person in the neual business, would so Courdes t of his scarcely think of as cancellation of the bargain ; secondly, it should be borne in mind that the Police Cae is the only one imposed apow the Colony, more than and that it meets but little third of the of the expened of the Police Free, which is confessedly not too To great for the purposes of it's establish = mont; and lastly that the lastly that the Governmen has for the past three years been gradually reducing the strength of the Civil
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&

disposition of the Government ; for they

would se

surely rather remain in, or recort

to, the island, with a knowledge of what

is truly

to be exacted from them, than with a constant uncertainty of the

which their residence in

make them liable.

I would not give a

am

nount.

the place will

I can in fact honestly say,

ive

a serious ther

scheme so speculative,

were

thought

any

seem to me to be

the question sec. overlooked : first,

3239

commonly

as concerns the matter

itself of our inquiry

it should be remembered

that at the sales of land no premiumd,

soas.

1 public, and that the offer

et for

in other Colonies,

Exquired, that the

competition was public.

of the high

is

4 high, himself,

that

to a

own the

property to be affected by it, and I cannot therefore recommend the trial

of the experiment to the Government.

Whether this Colony

to advance, remain

is a

than

is destined

stationary, or retrograde,

subject which other circumstances

investigation of Land Conurd ard

aw

likely to control, and which it is therefore beyond the power of our Committed to resolve ; but I would wish to point out somed

few facts which in the odinary discussions of

annual pent, where the rent was the act of the landholder

who, were

the transaction to cecar

with a privater person in the neual business,

would so

Courdes

t of his

scarcely think of

as cancellation of the bargain ; secondly,

it should be borne in mind that the

Police Cae is the only one imposed apow the Colony,

more than

and that it meets but little

third of the

of the expened of the Police Free, which is confessedly not

too

To great for the purposes of it's establish = mont; and lastly that the

lastly that the Governmen

has for the past three years been gradually reducing the strength of the Civil

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