CO129-214 - Public Offices & Others - 1883 — Page 472

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

of wine or spirit list.

Duty is paid not upon the gallon of spirit, but upon the gallon of proof spirit. So that a strong spirit pays more than a weak one; an additional percentage being levied according to strength.

There is a special duty on liqueurs and such as eau de Cologne.

The French (Cartier) standard fixes 33 degrees as the proof strength, and according to this standard potable spirits normally vary in strength from 16 degrees to 26, so that by this standard the Java Spirit would be abnormally strong & the Hong Kong Spirit abnormally weak.

In the latter case my brother seems to regret a third horrible explanation, that in the consul's reckoning 100 represents not proof spirit but pure alcohol. Mr. Refford points out that this would make the Hong Kong Spirit as weak as whisky.

I can only suggest one other possible explanation, viz: that the Consul means not 15.830 degrees of alcoholic strength by the term "proof spirit" but 18.830 degrees below proof; this would make the Java Spirit stronger, and the Hong Kong Spirit weaker, which I should have expected it to be, being I believe weaker than Rice Spirit. I am inclined to conclude the Hong Kong Spirit must be materially weaker.

I can only conclude that they measure the duty as we do in England, according to the actual strength of the spirit, & that the Hong Kong Spirit consequently pays a higher duty than the Java Spirit.

Edit History

2026-05-24 05:42:44 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
of wine or spirit list. Duty is paid not upon the gallon of spirit, but upon the gallon of proof spirit. So that a strong spirit pays more than a weak one; an additional percentage being levied according to strength. There is a special duty on liqueurs and such as eau de Cologne. The French (Cartier) standard fixes 33 degrees as the proof strength, and according to this standard potable spirits normally vary in strength from 16 degrees to 26, so that by this standard the Java Spirit would be abnormally strong & the Hong Kong Spirit abnormally weak. In the latter case my brother seems to regret a third horrible explanation, that in the consul's reckoning 100 represents not proof spirit but pure alcohol. Mr. Refford points out that this would make the Hong Kong Spirit as weak as whisky. I can only suggest one other possible explanation, viz: that the Consul means not 15.830 degrees of alcoholic strength by the term "proof spirit" but 18.830 degrees below proof; this would make the Java Spirit stronger, and the Hong Kong Spirit weaker, which I should have expected it to be, being I believe weaker than Rice Spirit. I am inclined to conclude the Hong Kong Spirit must be materially weaker. I can only conclude that they measure the duty as we do in England, according to the actual strength of the spirit, & that the Hong Kong Spirit consequently pays a higher duty than the Java Spirit.
Baseline (Original)
of wine or abrite lisof. Duty is paid paid not puson the fallon of oferit, but unfor the gallon of proof spirit So that a story spirit payo than a weak hore one; an additional percentage becny leved Jerof thength, 0 on sluit over تان a special duty on secutedt fait Auch as can de Cologne dr. The French (Cartice) standard fisces 33 degrees as the proof Pleinit, & according to this standard & potable shingto monally vary in thength from by 16 degrees to 26, so that A this من standard the Java Suit would be abnormally stery & the Horykay Sfirit abnormally weah. my In the latter attached my Brother teams to reggett a third Jerrible Explanations, that in the consul: B reckonciny 100 433 represents not proof spirit but que alcohol, Refonits out that this would make the Hay Kay ffirit as weak as weak therey. dean only suggest one other posible explanation viz: that The Corout incans not 15 830 degrees of alcoholic theory the bet of Refforton 18 $30 degrees belonde desof; this would make the Java thuit tement, the we a les 6, which I thould End.1 of have amaymied it to be, dum being I believe weake than Rice oficit a mince deonclude The hyae must be material 338 that naturally A Haware its exceeded Spess- and the 0.12544 Aut. I Hory Kay. used in Java & Rice in If to Ican only conclude that The tiamere polevy the duty as cre do in England, according to the accordury thength of the thrich, & that dhe Hory Kory oficit consequently rays a higher duty than the
2026-05-24 05:42:44 · Baseline
View content

of wine or abrite lisof.

Duty is paid

paid not puson the fallon of oferit, but unfor the gallon of proof spirit So that a story spirit payo

than a weak

hore

one; an

additional percentage becny leved

Jerof thength, 0

on sluit over

تان

a special duty on secutedt fait Auch as can de Cologne

dr.

The French (Cartice) standard

fisces 33 degrees as the proof Pleinit, & according to this standard & potable shingto monally vary in thength from

by 16 degrees to 26, so that A this

من

standard the Java Suit would be abnormally stery & the Horykay Sfirit abnormally weah.

my

In the latter attached my Brother teams to reggett a third Jerrible Explanations, that in the consul:

B

reckonciny

100

433

represents not

proof spirit but que alcohol,

Refonits out that this would make the Hay Kay ffirit as weak as weak therey.

dean only suggest one other posible explanation viz: that

The Corout incans not 15 830

degrees of alcoholic theory the bet

of Refforton 18 $30 degrees belonde desof; this would make the Java thuit tement, the we a les 6, which I thould End.1 of

have amaymied it to be, dum being I believe weake than Rice oficit a mince deonclude The hyae

must be material

338 that naturally

A

Haware

its exceeded

Spess-

and the

0.12544

Aut.

I

Hory Kay.

used in Java & Rice in If to Ican only conclude that The tiamere polevy the duty as cre do in England, according to the

accordury thength of the thrich, & that dhe Hory Kory oficit consequently rays a higher duty than the

Comments

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

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.