2
With regard to compelling Chinese Servants who are in the employ of Europeans to take out Licenses, for the purpose of distinguishing those intentionally and those who unintentionally do wrong and punishing them accordingly, we beg to say that all Servants have their Masters and Servants therefore it can be always ascertained when they do wrong. They are paid very small wages and if they are always to be fined they will be unable to pay and therefore the greater number will go to prison instead and the Government will thus be deprived of its Revenue.
With regard to compelling Money Changers to take out Licenses, we beg to say that the capital that they begin with is very small not exceeding in most cases a Hundred Dollars and their yearly profits are just sufficient to keep them in food. With so little money how will they be able to pay the Government Fees?
The Ordinance says that a tax will be laid on Cattle and Pigs. Now meat is consumed in large quantities both by Europeans and Chinese and if a tax is laid on Cattle, meat will consequently become very dear and cause inconvenience both to the buyer and seller.
We find that our houses are to be inspected by a Medical Officer and if found dirty we are to be fined or imprisoned. A great number of the houses are inhabited by the wives and families of Merchants and it is for their own interest to keep their houses clean. If a Medical Officer is to be constantly coming into our houses and inspecting them he will alarm the inmates and especially the female portion thereof.
If every Junk that comes or goes out of the Harbour is to report herself and to give a correct description of her cargo and passengers, and is not to be allowed to leave till an appointed hour, we consider that this will cause a great hindrance to trade. These last two Regulations will cause the greatest inconvenience and at the same time bring a very small Revenue to the Colony.
We humbly think that Your Excellency's wish in the Government of the Colony is to protect the good and punish the bad. If a Revenue is to be collected by the imposition of the taxes in these Ordinances, it will bring the greatest hardships on your petitioners which they are unable to bear, and will as it were tie their hands and prevent them from coming forward.
When your Honorable Government first established this Colony it was its object to make the place agreeable to the Chinese.
When your Honorable Government wishes to raise a Revenue it always carefully considers what is the best thing to lay a tax upon. We beg to suggest that money may be raised by laying a tax on house rent and ground rent. We, the Merchants and Traders of Hongkong, have thought right to come forward in a body to humbly beg that Your Excellency in consideration of the difficulties of trade will annul these new Ordinances, and thus meet the wishes of the Merchants and quiet their minds. With regard to imposing a tax on ground rent and house rent we will await Your Excellency's decision as to whether it shall take effect or not.
If Your Excellency thinks fit to grant our prayer we will unite together in returning thanks for Your Excellency's kindness.
Submitted to His Excellency the Governor. Hongkong, 5th September, 1866.
Stamped with the Seals of the Chinese Mercantile houses and Shops.
3
REPLY OF HIS EXCELLENCY
SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B.
When you waited on me with a Memorial on the 5th of last month I told you I was sorry you had not brought a translation of it with you. I afterwards got that Memorial translated by the Government Interpreter; but nevertheless wished to see whether you would not of yourselves present to me a translation, that we might together discuss the topics adverted to in the Memorial. Though you did not do so, I find you have made such great mistakes in speaking of certain new Laws that it may be useful if I point out some of those mistakes.
Many Chinese have lived here for years. They must have learnt that the Queen of England's Officers never molest or trouble peaceful residents under the English Flag, and should know better than to speak of any Law here as obstructive "and" oppressive. You yourselves must have seen that great pains are taken to administer the Law with strict Justice, and that, if it were not for Chinese Thieves, Pirates, and other bad characters, this Government would not have the expense of such a numerous Police, and such extensive Prisons. Fifty Police would suffice to keep the European Population in order.
It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the great expense incurred by this Government on your account should require its Revenue to be increased.
Nevertheless you, who cause this outlay, complain of a new Law, which instead of making you pay for the expense which the Chinese entail, treats all Europeans and Chinese alike—by imposing a light tax on the business of all and in such an equitable manner that those who must pay the most are those who have the largest business. Why should an Englishman pay a Duty, and a Chinese not pay his proportion of the tax, though his House and Property are protected and his Street drained and paved by Government?
I do not think you wish such an unjust difference made between you and Europeans; I believe simply that you drew up your Memorial—without understanding the nature of the proposed tax, and indeed your spokesman on the last occasion admitted he knew nothing about it.
You say however, a "Stamp on Receipts, and Bills and Promissory "Notes" would be an "oppressive burden" and "perplexing."
You might say with more truth that Stamps on letters—which every one now thinks so convenient—are "perplexing and oppressive" because different distances and destinations require a great variety of letter Stamps, whereas by the new Ordinance only one sort of Stamp is necessary for each class of those transactions, which occur frequently in the current of ordinary mercantile business, such as Promissory Notes, Bills of Exchange, Receipts, Bills of Lading and the like.
Why cannot every merchant keep in his house a small supply of the Stamped Paper and Stamps required for each of those transactions? and why do you wish me to suppose you who in other cases are so intelligent, can be perplexed by a matter so plain? I cannot believe what is absurd.
There are many thousands of Chinese at Singapore, where they have a Stamp Act with three times as many complications and Articles as the short and simple Ordinance, of which you complain here. Why cannot ...
Confirmed
2
With regard to compelling Chinese Servants who are in the employ of Europeans to take out Licenses, for the purpose of distinguishing those intentionally and those who unintentionally do wrong and punishing them accordingly, we beg to say that all Servants have their Masters and Servants therefore it can be always ascertained when they do wrong. are paid very small wages and if they are always to be fined they will be unable to pay and therefore the greater number will have to go to prison instead and the Government will thus be deprived of its Revenue.
With regard to compelling Money Changers to take out Licenses, we beg to say that the capital that they begin with is very small not exceeding in most cases a Hundred Dollars and their yearly profits are just sufficient to keep them in food. With so little money bow will they be able to pay the Government Fees?
The Ordinance says that a tax will be laid on Cattle and Pigs. Now meat is consumed in large quantities both by Europeans and Chinese and if a tax is laid on Cattle, meat will consequently become very dear and cause inconvenience both to the buyer and seller.
We find that our houses are to be inspected by a Medical Officer and if found dirty we are to be fined or imprisoned. A great number of the houses are inhabited by the wives and families of Merchants and it is for their own interest to keep their houses clean. If a Medical Officer is to be constantly coming into our houses and inspecting them he will aların the inmates and especially the female portion thereof.
If every Junk that comes or goes out of the Harbour is to report herself and to give a correct description of her cargo and passengers, and is not to be allowed to leave till an appointed hour, we consider that this will cause a great hindrance to trade. These last two Regulations will cause the greatest inconvenience and at the same time bring a very small Revenue to the Colony.
We humbly think that Your Excellency's wish in the Government of the Colony is to protect the good and punish the bad. If a Revenue is to be collected by the imposition of the taxes in these Ordinances, it will bring the greatest hardships on your petitioners which they are unable to bear, and will as it were tie their hands and prevent them from coming forward.
When your Honorable Government first established this Colony it was its object to make the place agreeable to the Chinese.
When your Honorable Government wishes to raise a Revenue it We always carefully considers what is the best thing to lay a tax upon. beg to suggest that money may be raised by laying a tax on house We the Merchants and Traders of Hongkong rent and ground rent. have thought right to come forward in a body to humbly beg that Your Excellency in consideration of the difficulties of trade will annul these new Ordinances, and thus meet the wishes of the Merchants and quiet their minds. With regard to imposing a tax on ground rent and house rent we will await Your Excellency's decision as to whether it shall take effect or not.
If Your Excellency thinks fit to grant our prayer we will unite together in returning thanks for Your Excellency's kindness.
Submitted to His Excellency the Governor. Hongkong, 5th September, 1866.
Stamped with the Seals of the Chinese Mercantile houses and Shops.
3
REPLY OF HIS EXCELLENCY
SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B.
When you
waited on mo with a Memorial on the 5th of last month I told you I was sorry you had not brought a translation of it with you. I afterwards got that Memorial translated by the Government Interpreter; but nevertheless wished to see whether you would not of yourselves present to me a translation, that we might together discuss the topics adverted to in the Memorial. Though you did not do so, I find you have made such great mistakes in speaking of certain new Laws that it may be useful if I point out some of those mistakes.
of
Many Chinese have lived here for years. They must have learnt that the Queen of England's Officers never molest or trouble peaceful residents under the English Flag, and should know better than to speak
44 any Law here as obstructive " and "oppressive." You yourselves must have seen that great pains are taken to administer the Law with strict Justice, and that, if it were not for Chinese Thieves, Pirates, and other bad characters, this Government would not have the expense of such a numerous Police, and such extensive Prisons. Fifty Police would suffice to keep the European Population in order.
It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the great expense incurred by this Government on your account should require its Revenue to be increased.
Nevertheless you, who cause this outlay, complain of a new Law, which instead of making you pay for the expense which the Chinese entail, treats all Europeans and Chinese alike-by imposing a light tax on the business of all and in such an equitable manner that those who must pay the most are those who have the largest business, Why should an Englishman pay a Duty, and a Chinese not pay his proportion of the tax, though his House and Property are protected and his Street drained and paved by Government?
I do not think you wish such an unjust difference made between you and Europeans; I believe simply that you drew up your Memorial— without understanding the nature of the proposed tax, and indeed your spokesman on the last occasion admitted he knew nothing about it.
You say however, a "Stamp on Receipts, and Bills and Promissory "Notes" would be an "oppressive burden" and "perplexing."
You might say with more truth that Stamps on letters-which every one now thinks so convenient-are "perplexing and oppressive" because different distances and destinations require a great variety of letter Stamps, whereas by the new Ordinance only one sort of Stamp is necessary for each class of those transactions, which occur frequently in the current of ordinary mercantile business, such as Promissory Notes, Bills of Exchange, Receipts, Bills of Lading and the like.
Why cannot every merchant keep in his house a small supply of the Stamped Paper and Stamps required for each of those transactions? and why do you wish me to suppose you who in other cases are so intelligent, can be perplexed by a matter so plain? I cannot believe what is absurd.
There are many thousands of Chinese at Singapore, where they have a Stamp Act with three times as many complications and Articles as the short and simple Ordinance, of which you complain here. Why cannot
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