CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4] — Page 409

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imposition of the proposed duty

will have on

this

now

decaying

branch of commerec . . The cost of

the spirit as exported from. HongKong range's between 30 and 40 cents per gallon, the proposed new duty is 72 cents per gallon. This duty will practically prohibit the trade, both from its magnitude compared with the cost price, and from the fact ____

that it is the same

Dutch

duty which

on

the

it is proposed to levy

spirit which is of greater

strength

strength and higher price.

y:

onsequence of the

action taken, a petition has been

presented to me

some

of the

leading Chinese firms trading with diam, of which I enclose a

copy. petitioners allude to the vexations . character of the trade restrictions, as well as to the increased duty. now raised in diam, contrary to the terms of the Treaty of 1855; although it is understood that they are prepared to acquiesce in

It will be seen that the

an