CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5] — Page 750

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

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21831

746

PS: 0 TR. 20 JUL 04!

9th January, 1904.

Sir,

I have the honour to forward a few notes on the "Tax Lords",

the clans or families in the New Territory through whose hands

passed the majority of the Land Tax received by the Chinese

Government.

I would define a "Tax Lord" shortly as :-

"A person who pays, or purports to pay, tax for land in which

"some other person has an interest greater than a lease for years

"or a customary mortgage"

The origins of the "Tax Lord" fall under four main headings.

He originates :-

When new land is taken up for cultivation owing to a move-

ment of immigration into districts hitherto sparely settled.

Old established families inform new arrivals that all unoccupied

land in the vicinity belongs to themselves and that they are

responsible for the taxes but that they are prepared to issue

leases to applicants on easy terms.

To the Hon. Colonial Secretary.

The

Page 750

Page 751

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21831 746 PS: 0 TR. 20 JUL 04! 9th January, 1904. Sir, I have the honour to forward a few notes on the "Tax Lords", the clans or families in the New Territory through whose hands passed the majority of the Land Tax received by the Chinese Government. I would define a "Tax Lord" shortly as :- "A person who pays, or purports to pay, tax for land in which "some other person has an interest greater than a lease for years "or a customary mortgage" The origins of the "Tax Lord" fall under four main headings. He originates :- 1. When new land is taken up for cultivation owing to a move- ment of immigration into districts hitherto sparely settled. Old established families inform new arrivals that all unoccupied land in the vicinity belongs to themselves and that they are responsible for the taxes but that they are prepared to issue leases to applicants on easy terms. To the Hon. Colonial Secretary. The Page 750 Page 751

Baseline (Original)

21831 746 PS: 0 TR. 20 JUL 04! 9th January, 1904. Sir, I have the honour to forward a few notes on the "Tax Lords", the clans or families in the New Territory through whose hands passed the majority of the Land Tax received by the Chinese Government. I would define a "Tax Lord" shortly as :- "A person who pays, or purports to pay, tax for land in which "some other person has an interest greater than a lease for years "or a customary mortgage" The originsof the "fax Lord" fall under four main headings. He originates :- 1. When new land is taken up for cultivation owing to a move- ment of immigration into districts hitherto sparely settled. old established families inform new arrivals that all unoccupied land in the vicinity belongs to themselves and that they are responsible for the taxes but that they are prepared to issue leases to applicants on easy terms. The To the Hon. Colonial Secretary. The Page 750Page 751

2026-06-01 17:44:46 · Baseline

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