CO129-193 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [5-7] — Page 260

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SIR,

Hongkong, 31st December, 1880,

We have the honour to recull to your remembrance the fact that, on 29th October last, we wrote to you, giving cover to a despatch and enclosures, in triplicate, addressed to the Right Honourable the Earl of KIMBERLEY, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, which we requested that His Excellency the Governor would be good enough to transmit.

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Notwithstanding the lapse of more than two months, we have not yet received any acknowledgment of this communication, and, while we have reason to feel aggrieved thereat, we are more concerned at the possibility of there being any unnecessary delay in the settlement of the important questions which we felt it to be our duty to submit for the decision of the Secretary of State.

We shall therefore feel obliged by your informing us whether our representation has been forwarded to Lord KIMBERLEY, and, if it has, on what date it was despatched.

In support of the views we so unsuccessfully urged upon the Governor, we take the liberty of directing His Excellency's attention to section 81 of the Spirit Act, 1880, passed by the Imperial Parliament, which restates the principle, upon which the Home Authorities have uniformly actel, that no duty is exigible upon Spirits intended for exportation, and as there is no authority under which the Governor can levy taxes on Spirits consumed in the Colony, the conclusion seems irresistible that it was never contemplared that an additional source of revenue should be provided by the issue of licences to distil, but that it was merely intended that the industry should be carried on under strict supervision, and that nominal fees should be exacted, sufficient to cover the cost of printed forms and other small expenses incident to the administration of the Ordinance.

As we are desirous that a copy of this letter should be sent to the Secretary of State, we have to request that the Governor will be good enough to transmit one, and, in anticipation of His Excellency's compliance, we enclose copies, in triplicate, as required by the official regulations.

The Honourable

FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.,

Acting Colonial Secretary,

No. 19.

GENTLEMEN,

(Signed)

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servants,

JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.,

General Agents,

CHINA Sugar Refining Company, LaMITED,

DRAFT.

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× Mr. Wingfield. 19

Mr. Brumston.

Mr. Meade.

Mr. Herbert.

Mr. Courtney.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Hongkong, 5th January, 1881.

X

Lord Kimberley.

20

I have the bonour to inform you that, in accordance with your request, your letter of the 31st ultimo (received by me on the 3rd instant), complaining of the moderate licence fee imposed by the Governor in Council on your tum distillery, has been transmitted to the Secretary of State.

Your jetter of the 28th of October (which the Governor regrets he did not, owing to an oversight of his, cause to be acknowledged at the time of its receipt) has also been transmitted by him to the Secretary of State.

I bave the honour to be,

Gentlemen,

(Signed)

ESSRS. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co..

Je..

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Your most obedient Servant,

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary,

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