We have taxation largely based on land revenue, and one of the most important subjects to consider is the Land question. Hp 6.7 and 4.13.
That the Chinese are anxious about it, I gather, and that we must be very careful in dealing with it. Unless M. Lockhart is satisfied that we have a good man for the purpose in Hongkong, I think we must bend to the straits for a man who has experience both of Chinese and of land experience. There has been no land question at Hongkong, but they have had a great deal of experience of the subject in the Straits and in the Malay states: it will probably be necessary to create an office of Commissioner for Land, and surveyors should be procured from Ceylon as suggested on p. 13 of the report, but they should work not under the land office, but under the Director of Public Works, unless it is decided to have from the first a first-class surveyor.
A great initial expense will be involved in completing a survey, marked C 21715, and in that case, more extra expense will be involved at the time, and we should perhaps allow for a P.W.D. office and make the surveyors quite independent of the Public Works department. This would probably be a saving in the long run, but for the time being, I incline to what is cheaper, though rougher.
We must lay down from the first that the land tax will be subject to revision at intervals of, say, five years. The land will become more and more valuable, in all human probability, and there should be no doubt on what principle the tax will be levied and collected. The Chinamen will readily pay at the start what they are paying now, as they will be free from the additional squeezes of the mandarins.
The Viceroy of Canton drew up regulations for the ceded territory, one of which was that land owned by Chinese subjects within the new settlement must pay the land tax to the Chinese authorities. In a letter of 26 September, the Foreign Office agreed to the inadmissibility...
present system
We
& Sauces
me
taxation. For the
futner hoe shall look. I table it. largely to land revenue, and monof the most important Subjects ar sabing the third paint to consider is The Land question. Hp 6.7. and 4.13
9
that the Chinese are auxions about
I gatha this and that we must be very careful in dealing with it. Unless M. Lockhart is sotified that we have a good man for
in Hongkong. I think we must
purpose bend to the straits fo
had
for the
a man who hay
d
19
I
experience both of Chinese & of land experience. There has been no land question
Settlement.
at Horykay, but they have had a great
Kay! deal of experience of the subject in the Straite I in the Malay states: it will probably be necessary to cuate an office g Commissioner for
Native
Surveyors
a certain time
Land
should or procured from Ceylon as suggested on p. 13 of the but they should work not under
repent
the land grice, but under the Director of
Public Works, unless it is decided to have from the first a first class server.
11
+
A
Jagne-thi Expense I Complett sur great suloy
h
S
18928
Marked
C
21715
ameld
Ew
in that
case,
More ext
expense will be involved at the time & we should perhaps affle
for an P. E.
•ffice & make Would his surveyors quite independent of the Public Walle department. This wom.
saring Mobably be a
in the long
run but
on the shoe I incline to what is cheaper I rougher for the time being
We must lay down from the first that the lund tax wis be subject to revision at
*This is intervals of youve.
vay
helets 1.
The land will become more & more.
valuable, in human
man probability & there
aild the system on which
should be no doubt on what prind ply the tax wil be levied & collected. The Chinamen
will reading pay at the start alat ubat they are paying now. as they will be bet free from the additional squeezes
the mandarins.
ди
The Viceroy of Canton dew up regulations for the ceded teritory, one of which
Land oined by Chinese subjecti
Tuns
within the new setflendent must pay. the land tax to the Chinese authorities
in a letter of the
The Farign Mice
26 Sepia hable agreed
as
to the ithadmis-
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