Hongkong was destined to be by becoming a mart for the exchanges of a portion of the Eastern world: a safe and convenient asylum for merchants of all nations; and also, it is hoped, a luminous spot, whence the neighbouring nations may receive the rays of Christianity and its ever-attendant civilization. Every honest person possessing independent means of support, or who can procure for himself the necessaries of life by labour, and every person possessed of capital for the employment of others, may be welcomed to the Colony as an addition to its wealth and prosperity, and the departure of every such person may be lamented as a subtraction from the same.
The problem which, on the cession of Hongkong to Great Britain, the Colonial Minister seems to have considered it called upon himself to solve was, how to attract to the new Colony the greatest number of such settlers as have been last alluded to, so as to derive the largest amount of revenue, and at the same time prevent "the island from becoming the undisturbed resort of pirates, which it was very likely to become from its position and the circumstances of its occupation.
The supposed solution of the problem was the present system of land tenure, which it was hoped might make taxes unnecessary and provide in the simplest mode the expenses of Government. The outline of this system is as follows. At certain times chosen by the Government, lots of ground are put up to public auctions, at an upset annual rental: the person who bids the highest annual rental is granted a lease for a term of years. A payment in advance of this rental is made. The term was at first 75 years; it may be extended at the option of the lessee to...
Page 399
H
be by becoming a
a mart for the cochanges of a portion of the Eastern world: a safe and
asylum for merchants of all
convenient
nations; and also, it is hoped, a luminous
may
spot, whence
the neighbouring
Christianity
d
be the over Chine
Chind and
nations the rays of
and its ever-attendant
civilization. Every honest persons possessing
independent
here
Imeans
of support, or who car
• procurd for himself the necessaries
of life by laber, and a bond all every person possesed of capital for the employment
be welcomed to the Colony as
of others, may
aw
addition to its wealth and
fo
prosperity,
and the departure of every suck person. may be lamented as a subtraction from
the same .
The problew which, on the cession of Hongkong to Great - Britain, the Colonial
Minister seems to have considered
called
upow
himself
to solve was, how to attract
399
to the new Colony the greatest number of such settlers as have been last alluded:
to, so as to derive
the
largest
amount
of revenue, and at the same time prevent "the island from becoming the undisturbed resort of pirates, which it was ve
1 very likely to become from its position and the
Circumstances
of its recupation.
supposed solution of the problem
the
ivas
the
present systems of land tenure, which it
hoped might
make taxes unnecessarys
dvas
and provide in the simplest modé
the expences of Government.
this systers, is as follows.
by the Government,
At certain times chosen
lots of ground are put up to public auctions,
at an
expect annual pental : the person who bids the highest
t
in advance of this,
of this rental is made lesser for a term of years.
terris was at
of years. This
now
first 75 years; it may be extended at the option of the lessed to
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