Hongkong.
No 184
October, 1866,
12
th
Governor
Sir Richard Graves Macdonnell
C.B.
Right Honorable
Earl of Carnarvon.
Chinese Memorial
against recent Legislation.
3 Enclosures
To HIS EXCELLENCY
THE GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG.
HUMBLY SHEWETH:
The Petition of all the Merchants of Hongkong, viz.: Gold and Silver Dealers, Rice Factors, Opium Sellers, Traders with the North and South of China, and Dealers in Piece Goods-
That since the new Ordinance is an obstructive and inconvenient one, we have joined together to humbly beg Your Excellency to do us the favor of altogether annulling it and making up the deficiency in the Revenue instead by a tax which is agreeable to the Community and convenient for the Merchants.
We now humbly receive from His Excellency's hands a new Ordinance established for the purpose of levying a percentage by means of a "Stamp Act"--which requires the affixing of a Stamp on Leases, Receipts and Payments, Purchases and Sales, Contracts and also on Chinese and foreign Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Agreements-according to the amount of each a proportionate Stamp must be affixed.
Looking at the various kinds of trades carried on, on all sides and the very extensive Commerce of this Colony, we find therein trades which are brisk and trades which are dull.
Within late years the profits of trade have been very small-in many cases the yearly expenditure in shops and house rent, servants' wages and food is greater than the profits.
The shops have been established for many years and it is impossible for them to close at once so that they are often obliged to manage as well as they can, and keep their business afloat-consequently the business connected with Remittances and Promissory Notes, Receipts and Payments is much more difficult in comparison to former years. Seeing that these men are already suffering under the pressure of difficulties if Your Excellency in addition imposes the Stamp Act on them the burden will indeed be oppressive.
The business of Paying and Receiving money in a Merchant's house every day is even now a work of great labour, but when we have in addition to fix a Stamp on all Receipts and Payments, the work will indeed be perplexing. Hereafter corrupt practices will grow up apace. Each Merchant cannot avoid being discouraged when he sees such a state of affairs and consequently there will be a great hindrance to trade.
With regard to compelling Householders to register their names and address, Your Excellency's object was no doubt to drive away thieves and bad characters from the Colony. The new Ordinance however requires Householders to find security for people living in their houses, or else they will be fined. Now the Merchants in Hongkong carry on an honest and upright trade and merely attend to their own business, how can they well be responsible for the good conduct of any persons who may be occupying part of their houses? If Your Excellency compels us to give security, it will be a most coercive measure. It only requires a vigilant watch to be kept to enable the Colony to enjoy peace and quietness.
Heonghong.
No 184
October, 1866,
12
th
Governor
Sir Richard Graves
alb
salbac Donnell
C.B.
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Right. Hem crable
Earl of Camaroon.
Chinese Memorial
ust recent Legislation. against recent Niply of Go
3 Enclosures
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To HIS EXCELLENCY
THE GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG.
HUMBLY SHEWETH:
The Petition of all the Merchants of Hongkong, viz.: Gold and Silver Dealers, Rice Factors, Opium Sellers, Traders with the North and South of China, and Dealers in Piece Goods-
That since the new Ordinance is an obstructive and inconvenient one, we have joined together to humbly beg Your Excellency to do us the favor of altogether annulling it and making up the deficiency in the Revenue instead by a tax which is agreeable to the Community and convenient for the Merchants.
We now humbly receive from His Excellency's hands a new Ordinance established for the purpose of levying a percentage by means
of a "Stamp Act"--which requires the affixing of a Stamp on Leases, Receipts and Payments, Purchases and Sales, Contracts and also on Chinese and foreign Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Agreminents-according the leash
to the amount of each a proportionate Stamp must be affixed.
Looking at the various kinds of trades carried on, on all sides and
the very extensive Commerce of this Colony, we find therein trades which are brisk and trades which are dull.
Within late years the profits of trade have been very small-in many cases the yearly expenditure in shops and house rent, servants' wages and food is greater than the profits.
The shops have been established for many years and it is impossible for them to close at once so that they are often obliged to manage as well as they can, and keep their business afloat-consequently the business connected with Remittances and Promissory Notes, Receipts and Payments is much more difficult in comparison to former years. Seeing that these men are already suffering under the pressure of difficulties if Your Excellency in addition imposes the Stamp Act on them the burden will indeed be oppressive.
The business of Paying and Receiving money in a Merchant's house every day is even now a work of great labour, but when we have in addition to fix a Stamp on all Receipts and Payments, the work will indeed be perplexing. Hereafter corrupt practices will grow up apace. Each Merchant cannot avoid being discouraged when he sees such a state of affairs and consequently there will be a great hindrance to trade. With regard to compelling Householders to register their names and address, Your Excellency's object was no doubt to drive away thieves and bad characters from the Colony. The new Ordinance however requires Householders to find security for people living in their houses, or else they will be fined. Now the Merchants in Hongkong carry on an honest and upright trade and merely attend to their own business, how can they well be responsible for the good conduct of any persons who may be occupying part of their houses? If Your Excellency compels us to give security, it will be a most coercive measure. It only requires
a vigilant watch to be kept to enable the Colony to enjoy peace and quietness.
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