CO129-034 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [9-12] — Page 257

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

representing a breach of the public Service.

I was certainly unprepared to find that I had laid myself open to censure for applying hypothetically the term "unreasonable" to a matter of opinion on the part of the Attorney General. I still think we have a prescriptive right to exemption; we have never been assessed before; the question when raised seems to have been settled in our favour on a former occasion; and moreover we do not strictly come under the denomination of a dwelling house; only such limited portions of the building as can be spared after making suitable provision for public business and personal quarters; so that even the Ordinance itself would seem to contemplate the exemption under this view of our case.

But even supposing it doubtful on the points thus advanced I venture to submit with every deference that they are sufficient grounds upon which His Excellency would have been justified in continuing the power of exemption under invested in him by clause 10 of the same Ordinance which authorises "the said Governor with the advice of the Executive Council to exempt such districts or portions of the said Island from the operation of this Act or from the payment of the said rates as to him may seem advisable". The Attorney General might have extended his view of the case by pointing out the existence of this power; for it would not appear, as assumed, that the law is so imperative as to leave His Excellency no discretion in the matter.

A very strict reading of the Act

Page 282

Edit History

2026-05-17 18:08:25 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
representing a breach of the public Service. I was certainly unprepared to find that I had laid myself open to censure for applying hypothetically the term "unreasonable" to a matter of opinion on the part of the Attorney General. I still think we have a prescriptive right to exemption; we have never been assessed before; the question when raised seems to have been settled in our favour on a former occasion; and moreover we do not strictly come under the denomination of a dwelling house; only such limited portions of the building as can be spared after making suitable provision for public business and personal quarters; so that even the Ordinance itself would seem to contemplate the exemption under this view of our case. But even supposing it doubtful on the points thus advanced I venture to submit with every deference that they are sufficient grounds upon which His Excellency would have been justified in continuing the power of exemption under invested in him by clause 10 of the same Ordinance which authorises "the said Governor with the advice of the Executive Council to exempt such districts or portions of the said Island from the operation of this Act or from the payment of the said rates as to him may seem advisable". The Attorney General might have extended his view of the case by pointing out the existence of this power; for it would not appear, as assumed, that the law is so imperative as to leave His Excellency no discretion in the matter. A very strict reading of the Act Page 282
Baseline (Original)
representing a breach of the public Service. I was certainly unprepared to find that I had laid myself oper ofor applying hypothetically to censure the term "unreasonable "to a more matter of opinion n on the part of the attorney General. I still think we have a preccriptive right to exemption; we have never been accessed before; the quection when rained seems to have been settled in our on a former recasio favour; and moreover we do not strictly come under the denomination of a dwelling house; only such limited portions of the building us can be spared after making suitable provision for public business being und personal quarters; so that us the Erfinance itself would seem to contemplate of the exemption under this view our case. upon 282 But- even supposing it doubtful ints thus, advanced I venture the points to submit with every deference that they for sufficient grounds upon which. His Sweelleney would have been justified in continuing the powers the exemption under invested in him by clause 10 of the same ordinance which authorises "the said Governor with the advies "the Arcentive Conneil trexempt such- of "districts or portions of the said Island "from the operation_ operation of this not on this ret or from the "payment of the end rates as to him and advisable". The Attorney "them may scen beneral might have extended his view of the case by pointing out the existence of this power; for it would note this appear, az azemned, that the law is so imperative as to leave His kneelleney no discretion in the matter. A very strict reading of the not
2026-05-17 18:08:25 · Baseline
View content

representing a breach of the public

Service.

I was certainly unprepared to find that I had laid myself oper ofor applying hypothetically

to censure

the term "unreasonable "to a more matter

of opinion

n on

the part of the attorney

General. I still think

we

have a

preccriptive right to exemption;

we

have never been accessed before; the

quection

when rained

seems to have been settled in our

on a

former

recasio

favour;

and

moreover we

do not

strictly

come

under the denomination of a dwelling house; only such limited portions of the

building

us can be spared after making suitable provision for public business being und

personal quarters; so that

us

the Erfinance itself would seem to contemplate of the

exemption under this

view

our

case.

upon

282

But- even supposing it doubtful

ints thus, advanced I venture

the points

to submit with

every deference that they for sufficient grounds upon which. His Sweelleney would have been justified

in continuing

the powers

the

exemption under invested in him by clause 10

of the same ordinance which authorises "the said Governor with the advies "the Arcentive Conneil trexempt such-

of

"districts or portions of the said Island "from the operation_

operation of this not on

this ret or from the

"payment of the end rates as to him and

advisable". The Attorney

"them may

scen

beneral might have extended his view

of the

case

by pointing out the existence

of this power; for it would note this

appear,

az

azemned, that the law is so

imperative as to leave His kneelleney no discretion in the matter.

A very strict reading of the not

Comments

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

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.