CO129-034 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [9-12] — Page 250

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

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Civil Government to exempt the premises of Mess's Fletcher wherein the above officers reside from the rate in question, as those adjoining them which are owned by the same proprietor, and it is through oversight alone that it has before been demanded.

Lever

This oversight, His Excellency would have admitted, would have afforded ground for a doubt on the part of the recipients as to the propriety of what seemed to them a proceeding entailing loss on themselves; but His Excellency has read with considerable astonishment the remarks that those gentlemen have seen fit to make upon the motive of Government.

That the writers, as Military men, should have been unacquainted with the process and requirements of the law under which the rate is levied, is not surprising. They were evidently under the impression that a rate, for which the owner's residence is liable, unless his lease imposes it upon the lessee, was to be drawn from their pay; they were not aware, either, that if the rate levied appeared to them exorbitant, they would have, under the provisions of the ordinance if they were liable to payment, an appeal to the Supreme Court. But His Excellency cannot consider an officer in Mr. Smith's position entitled to pronounce a rate "levied according to law an exaction"; or to style the opinion of the legal authority under which it is levied "unreasonable"; or to insinuate that it is levied with a view to producing an "appearance of increase in the revenue."

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4 Civil Government to exempt the premises of Mess's Fletcher wherein the above officers reside from the rate in question, as those adjoining them which are owned by the same proprietor, and it is through oversight alone that it has before been demanded. Lever This oversight, His Excellency would have admitted, would have afforded ground for a doubt on the part of the recipients as to the propriety of what seemed to them a proceeding entailing loss on themselves; but His Excellency has read with considerable astonishment the remarks that those gentlemen have seen fit to make upon the motive of Government. That the writers, as Military men, should have been unacquainted with the process and requirements of the law under which the rate is levied, is not surprising. They were evidently under the impression that a rate, for which the owner's residence is liable, unless his lease imposes it upon the lessee, was to be drawn from their pay; they were not aware, either, that if the rate levied appeared to them exorbitant, they would have, under the provisions of the ordinance if they were liable to payment, an appeal to the Supreme Court. But His Excellency cannot consider an officer in Mr. Smith's position entitled to pronounce a rate "levied according to law an exaction"; or to style the opinion of the legal authority under which it is levied "unreasonable"; or to insinuate that it is levied with a view to producing an "appearance of increase in the revenue." 6 245 1
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4 Civil Government to exempt the premises of Mess's Fletcher tift in which the above the rate in question officers recide from than those adjoining them which are owned by the same proprieton, and it is through oversight alone that it has before been demanded. Lever This oversight. His Excelleney would have admitted to afford ground for a doubt doubt on the port of the recupants as to the propriety of what semed to them a preceding entailing love on inconvenienec on themselves; but His kucelleney has read with considerable actonishment the remarks that those bentlemen have seen letters to make upon fit in their the not and motive of Goremment. That the writers as Military men should have been unacquainted. with the process 6 requirements of the law under which the rate is levied, is not surprising They 245 were their evidently under the impression that a nate, for which the owner residence is liable, unless his lease of impores it upon the lessee, was to be drawn 1 from their pay; they were not aware, either, that if the rate levied appeared to them exorbitant, they would have, under the of the ordinance if they its Supreme provisions were liable payment, an appeal to the Court. But His Excelleney cannot consider an position, entitled to or to to officer in Mz Smith's pronounce rate a "levied according to law an exaction"; style the opinion of the legal authority under which it is levied. "unreasonable"; or to incinnate that it is levied with a view to producing an "appearance of increase in the fotenial.
2026-05-17 18:02:40 · Baseline
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4

Civil Government to exempt the premises of Mess's Fletcher tift in which the above

the rate in question officers recide from than those adjoining them which are owned by the same proprieton, and it is through oversight alone that it has

before been demanded.

Lever

This oversight. His Excelleney would have admitted to afford ground for a doubt

doubt on the

port

of the recupants

as to the propriety of what semed to them a preceding entailing love on

inconvenienec on

themselves; but His

kucelleney has read with considerable actonishment the remarks that those

bentlemen have seen

letters to make upon

fit in their

the not and

motive of Goremment.

That the writers as Military men should have been unacquainted.

with the

process

6

requirements

of the law under which the rate is

levied, is not surprising

They

245

were

their

evidently under the impression that a nate, for which the owner residence is liable, unless his lease

of

impores it upon the lessee, was to be

drawn

1

from

their

pay;

they

were not

aware, either, that if the rate levied appeared to them exorbitant, they would have, under the of the ordinance if they

its

Supreme

provisions

were

liable

payment, an appeal to the Court. But His Excelleney

cannot consider an

position, entitled to

or to

to

officer

in Mz Smith's

pronounce

rate

a

"levied according to law an exaction";

style the opinion of the legal authority under which it is levied. "unreasonable"; or to incinnate that it is levied with a view to producing

an

"appearance of increase in the fotenial.

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