Wengtong R:139
15th October 1866
Gunna
Wie Richard Graves MacDonnell
Right Honorable
The Earl of Carnarvon
Stamp Ordinance.
Cs.
Memorial against addressed
Carl of Observations
Carnarvon -
on-
my st 7
All the previous papers
dannutul with this 200.
MW. Ellut
circulation, but
Stamp Ordinan
balevi board Camaron
Cla
Deputation
the sabert
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2 Enclosures.
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THE STAMP ACT MEMORIAL.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CARNARVON, HER MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.
THE HUMBLE MEMORIAL OF THE UNDERSIGNED RESIDENTS OF HONGKONG.
SHEWETH, That a Memorial against the Proposed Stamp Ordinance signed by nearly the whole of the Community of Hongkong (exclusive of Chinese) was presented to His Excellency the Governor on the Fifth day of September last.
That on the Tenth day of September the Committee for preparation and presentation of the said Memorial received from His Excellency Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, a Communication commenting upon the said Memorial, and upon the Protest lodged against the Ordinance by the non-Official Members of the Legislative Council, and which professed to answer, or deal with, the said Memorial and the subject thereof.
The Memorial and His Excellency's Communication or Reply having been forwarded to Your Lordship, Your Memorialists now proceed to beg, that Your Lordship will give to that Memorial, that careful and dispassionate consideration to which they consider the expressed wishes of the Community are entitled, upon a question so vital to their interest, as the mode in which the amount of all necessary expenditure for the Colony of Hongkong is to be raised, in the event of the existing Revenue being insufficient, and would hereby ask Your Lordship to assure yourself, that they do not object to any necessary expenditure being made, or to pay for it, but they do object to additional taxation for items of expenditure not strictly required by existing circumstances, and they protest against any such amount being raised in a manner likely to be prejudicial to their interests.
Your Memorialists will not reiterate the arguments advanced by the Memorial already referred to, as they conceive they have not been, except in the single instance of the Sum of $4,000 for roads at Kowloon, answered or weakened, but they purpose respectfully submitting to Your Lordship some considerations arising upon the Reply of His Excellency the Governor.
His Excellency, in that Document, asserts that the Original Memorialists did not represent the Community, and to this Your Memorialists beg to say, that it was signed by the whole of the Banks, the entire Mercantile Community with the exception of one American and one German firm, and (excepting of course Government servants) by nearly all other residents who either as professional men, large landholders, or in other ways, have any stake in the prosperity and welfare of the Colony.
Since His Excellency's assertion that the Asiatic residents who pay 4/7ths of the existing Ordinary Revenue did not assent to the Memorial was made, His Excellency has received a Memorial against (amongst other things) the proposed system of taxation, signed by all the important Chinese residents of every class, and the fact of the principal Chinese traders in the Colony being desirous of paying any required sum in any other manner than by Stamp imposts is indisputable.
In opposition to the Memorial, His Excellency appears to have received "argout remonstrances from several gentlemen" whose names however are not disclosed, Your Memorialists feel certain that Your Lordship will judge rightly of the status of those few persons, who, even in defending a Government Measure, withhold their names, when contrasted with the conduct of that enormous majority of the Community, who give their names and positions as guarantees for their public acts, and for the sincerity and honesty of their motives.
His Excellency seems to find his strongest, if not his sole argument for the Stamp Tax, in an alleged analogy in position and circumstances between Hongkong and Singapore, but Your Memorialists emphatically deny the existence of any such analogy. Singapore, it is true, is a Mart or Emporium for the purchase of the products of the surrounding Countries, but there is the significant fact in addition, that purchasers are not likely to go anywhere else if the Straits or adjacent Parts because the same (or in the case of Java, larger) taxes exist wherever they could go, and also because there is no other place where the business could be carried on with so many advantages and facilities of every kind, while a considerable portion of the business transacted at Hongkong was formerly carried on at Canton, and could be carried on in most instances at two or three other places with equal facilities. Again, in Singapore, the Chinese population have settled and become Colonists, the majority of them being by birth British Subjects and having their families resident there, while the Chinese in Hongkong are, with a few marked exceptions, entirely a migratory and shifting population, who have no ties, either of family or birth, to connect them with the Colony, a most important distinction when analogy of circumstances is used as the main argument for one mode of taxation over another.
His Excellency appears to have misconceived that portion of the Memorial which alludes to the "expansiveness" of this peculiar system of taxation as being one of its greatest evils, as, in the Document now under comment, His Excellency addresses himself to some imaginary objections against the "expansive powers of a Stamp Ordinance," whereas the Memorial never alluded to the expansiveness of the Ordinance, but of the system of taxation. That His Excellency has failed to conceive the meaning intended to be expressed by the Memorial, is obvious from the fact of his not, in the slightest way, alluding to the grave reason advanced as the ground of the objection, and though Your Memorialists cannot believe that the Justice of the reasoning will fail to attract Your Lordship's attention, it will be as well if they point out specifically, that it is not the levying of $120,000 for this year by a Stamp impost that is so objectionable, but it is because the Colonial Government by resorting to this entirely new source of Revenue, announces, in fact, that all existing modes of taxation have failed, and that, to raise even this comparatively small sum, no local taxation can be devised, and, as a consequence, that in future all monies required, for whatever purpose or object, cannot be raised except by means of Stamps, or in other words, by taxing Trade.
It did not want His Excellency's assertion to convince Your Memorialists that the present Ordinance could not be extended beyond its legitimate extent, but it is self-evident to them that once the principle of the taxation is admitted, it is a much easier matter to pass a supplemental or new Ordinance, with an amended or additional Schedule.
Your Memorialists think that the dread of increased Stamp imposts, which is what they believe will decrease the existing trade, and prevent its growth or increase, will rather be enhanced than lessened, by His Excellency's intimation that he hopes always to see the usual expenditure in the Surveyor General's Department, and "that such expenditure will never be less than in recent years," because, judging from the bitter experience of past years, the expenditure of this Department has been so improvident that, in too many instances, the expenditure of the one year, has entailed an additional outlay or charge on the Revenue of the succeeding years, and, if this new principle of taxation is to be introduced solely to spend a certain sum per annum, Your Memorialists may well pray for "finality in progress" in this direction, as even without such a class of expenditure, it is clear that in the event of any unforeseen exigency, demanding expenditure either large or small, it will have to be made up by increased Stamp imposts if the present Policy is persisted in.
Your Memorialists again bring to Your Lordship's notice that while they object to the Principle of the proposed Tax, and earnestly deprecate the initiation of such a radical change in the Policy which has hitherto, in their opinion, so wisely been followed here in all matters relating to Revenue, they are strongly impressed with the belief that no increased taxation whatever is necessary and that the existing Revenue will be found ample to meet any expenditure that is really called for or required in the Colony. Representing, as they assert themselves to represent, every class in the Community (Government Servants excepted), they sincerely believe that it will be far better in the interests of the Colony, and its residents of all walks in life, that, in the event of any increased taxation becoming actually necessary, it should be raised, as hitherto, by direct local taxation, than by incurring, what Your Memorialists believe to be, a certain risk of causing the withdrawal, or diminution, of that Trade, upon which alone the Colony exists, and of diverting from it that enormous capital, which is at present attracted here for investment or employment.
Your Memorialists might, and can, controvert many of the statements and conclusions appearing in His Excellency's Reply, but their object is not to make Your Lordship the arbiter in a controversy between the Governor and the Colonists, but to endeavour to impress upon Your Lordship's mind that though they do not object to pay all necessary expenditure, they are sincere in their conviction that no increase of taxation is at present called for and, even if it be, that the mode of raising the money will be prejudicial to their interests and those of the Colony at large...
Your Memorialists therefore humbly beg Your Lordship to advise Her Most Gracious Majesty to refuse the Royal Confirmation to the Stamp Ordinance.
Wengtong R:139
15th October 1866
Gunna
Wie Richard Graves MacDonnell
Right
Honorable
The Earl of Carnarvon
Stamp
tī
Ordinance.
Cs.
Memorial against addreficed
Carl of Observations
Carnarvon -
on-
ކ
my st 7
Ale the previous papers
dannutul with this 200.
MW. Ellut
circulation, but
Stamp Ordinan
balevi board Camaron
Cla
Deputation
the sabert
I foward
en w
2 Enclosures.
t jou
dirfalit
THE STAMP AUT MEMORIAL. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF CAR- NARTON, HER MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRE TARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.
THE HUMBLE MEMORIAL OF THE UNDERSIGNED. RESIDENTS OF HONGKONG.
SHEWETH, That a Memorial against the Pro- posed Stamp Ordinance signed by nearly the whole of the Community of Hongkong (exclusive of Chinese) was presented to His Excellency the Governor on the Fifth day of eptember last.
That on the Tenth day of September the Com- mittee for preparation and presentation of the said Memorial received from His Excellency Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, a Communication commenting upon the said Memorial, and upon the Protest lodged against the Ordinance by the non Official Members of the Legislative Coun il, and which professed to answer, or deal with, the said emorial and the subject thereof.
The Memorial and His Excellency's Communi. cation or Reply having been forwarded to Your Lordship, Your Memorialists now proceed to beg, that Your Lordship will give to that Memo rial, that careful and dispassionate consideration to which they consider the expressed wishes of the Community are entitled, upon a question so vital to their interest, as the mode in which the amount of all necessary expenditure for the Co- Jony of Hongkong is to be raised, in the event of the existing Hevenue being insufficient, and would bere ask Your Lordship to assure your- self, that they do not object to any necessary expenditure being made, or to pay for it, but they do object to additional taxation for items of expenditare not strictly required by existing eirenmstances, and they protest against any such amount being raised in a manner likely to be prejudicial to their interests.
Your Memorialists will not reiterate the argu- ments advanced by the Memorial already referred to, as they conceive they have not been, except in the single instance of the Sum of 4,000 for roads at Kowloon, answered or weakened, but they purpose respectfully submitting to your Lordship some considerations arising upon the Reply of His Excellency the Governor.
His Excellency, in that Document, asserts that the Origi al Memorialists did not represent the Community, and to this Your Memorialists beg to say, that it was signed by the whole of the Banks, the entire Mercantile Community with the exception of one American and une German firm, and (excepting of course Government ser- Mans) by nearly all other residents who either as professional men, large landholders, or in other ways, have any stake in the prosperity and welfare of the Colony.
Since His Excellency's assertion that the Asiatic residents who pay 4/7ths of the existing Ordinary Revenue did not assent to the Memo- rial was made, His Excellency has received a Memorial against (amongst other things) the proposed system of taxation, signed by all the important Chinese residents of every class, and the fuct of the principal Chinese traders in the Colony being desirous of paying any required sum in any other manner than by Stamp imposts is indisputable.
In opposition to the Memorial, His Excellency appears to bave received "argout remonstrances from several gentlemen" whose names however are not disclosed, Your Memorialists fe I cer tain that Your Lordship will judge rightly of the status of those few persons, who, even in defend. ing a Government Measure, withbold their names, when contrasted with the conduct of that enor mous majority of the Community, who give their names and positions as guarantees for their public acts, and for the sincerity and honesty of their motives.
His Excellency seems to find his strongest, if vot his sole argument for the Stamp Tax, in an alleged analogy in position and circumstances between Hongkong and Singapore, but Your Memorialists emphatically deny the existence of any such analogy, Singapore. it is true, is a Mart or Emporium for the purchase of the pro- ducts of the surrounding Countries, but there is thie significant fact in addition, that purchasers are not likely to go any where else if the straits
or adjacent Parts because the same (or in the case of lava, larger,) taxes exist wherever they could go, and also because there is no other place where the business could be carried though with so many advantages and facilities of
every kind, while a considerable portion of the business transacted at Hongkong was formerly carried on at Canton, and could be carried on in
most instances at two or three other places with equal facilities. Again, atingapore the Chinese population have settled and become Colonists, the majority of them being by birth British Sub- jects and having their families resident there while the Chiuese in Hongkong are, with a few marked exceptions, entirely a migratory and
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AMA
4071
shifting population, who have no ties, either of family or birth, to connect them with the Colony, * most important distinction when analogy of circumstances is used as the main argument for one mode of taxation over another.
His Excellency appears to have misconceived that portion of the Memorial which alludes to the expansiveness" of this peculiar system of taxation as being one of its greatest evills, as, in the Document now under comment, His Excel lency addresses himself to some imaginary, ob jections against the "expansive powers of a Stamp "Ordinance," whereas the Memorial ne- ver alluded to the expansiveness of the Ordi- nance, but of the system of taxation That His Excellency has failed to conceive the meaning intended to be expressed by the Memorial, is obvious from the fact of his not, in the slightest way, alluding to the grave reason advanced as the ground of the objection, and though Your Memorialists cannot believe that the Justice of the reasoning will fail to attract Your Lordship's attention, it will be as well if they point out specifically, that it is not the levying of $120,000 for this year by a Stamp impost that is so ob jectionable, but it is because the Colonial Government by resorting to this entirely new- source of Revenue, announces, in fact, that all existing modes of taxation have failed, and that, to raise even this comparatively small sum, no local taxation can be devised, and, as a conse quence, that in future all monies required, for whatever purpose or object, cannot be raised except by means of Stamps, or in other words, by taxing Trade. It did not want His Excellency's assertion to convice Your Memorialists that the present Ordinance could not be extended beyond its legitimate extent, but it is selt evident to them that once the principle of the taxation is admitted, it is a much easier matter to pass & supplemental or new Ordinance, with an amended or additional Schedule.
Your Memorialists think that the dread of in- creased Stamp imposts, which is what they be lieve will decrease the existing trade, and pro vent its growth or increase, will rather be enhan ced than lessened, by His Excellency's intimation that he hopes always to see the usual expenditure in the Surveyor General's Department, and "that such expenditure will never be less than in re- cent years," because, judging from the bitter ex- perience of past years, the expenditure of this Department has been so improvident that, in too many instances, the expenditure of the one year, has entailed an additional outlay or charge on the Revenue of the succeeding years, and, if this new principal of taxation is to be introduced sole- ly to spend a certain sam per annum, Your Me- morialists may well pray for "finality in pro gress" in this direction, as even without such a class of expenditure, it is clear that in the event of any unforeseen exigency, demanding expendi ture either large or small, it will have to be made up by increased Stamp imposts if the present Po licy is persisted in
Your Memorialists again bring to your Lord. ship's notice that while they object to the Pria- ciple of the propsed Tax, and earnestly deprecate the initiation of such a radical change in the Policy which has hitherto, in their opinion, so wise y been followed here in all matters relating to Revenue, they are strongly impressed with the belief that no increased taxation whatever is necessary and that the existing Revenue will be found aiuple to meet any expenditure that is really called for or required in the Colony. Ra presenting, as they assert themselves to represent, every class in the Community (Government Servants excepted,) the sincerely believe that It will be far better in the interests of the Colony, and its residents of all walks in life, that, in the event of any increased taxation becoming actual. ly necessary, it should be raised, as hitherto, by direct local taxation, than by incurring, what your Memorialists believe to be, a certain risk of causing the withdrawal, or diminution, of that Trade, upon which alone the Colony exists, and of diverting from it that enormous capital, which is at present attracted here for investment or employment,
our Memorialists might, and can, controvert many of the statements and conclusions appear. ing in His Excellency's Reply, but their object is not to make your Lordship the arbiter in a controversy between the Governor and the Colonists, but to endeavour to impress upon your Lordship's mind that though they do not object to pay all necessary expenditure, they are sin- cere in their conviction that no increase of taxa- fign is at present called for and, even if it be, that of raising the money will be prejudicial to dicir interests and those of the Colony at
·large...
tuis "
Your Memorialists therefore humbly beg your Lordship to advise Her Most Gracious Majesty to refuse the Royal Confirmation to the Stamp Ordinance.
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