CO129-323 - Acting Governor May Governor Nathan - 1904 [6-7] — Page 15

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

Extract from the Acting Local Auditor's letter dated 14th April, 1904.

"The business of collection falls almost entirely to the lot of Sergeant Interpreter, his qualifications as such being indispensable to the work. He can only occasionally be helped by the Detective or Police Sergeant, and when absent on sick or ordinary leave, or when engaged on Police duties in Court or elsewhere, collections must necessarily cease. A particular instance was quoted to me in which owing to pressure of Police work the payment of Crown Rent had to be 'choked off', as it was expressed, for a fortnight.

"It often happens too at Taipo, from the fact of its being the telephone remitting station for the New Territory, that the Interpreter will be engaged in receiving, translating and transcribing messages, sometimes a lengthy business, when lot holders come in to pay rent.

"The consequent failure to receive prompt attention results in certain cases in the lot holder decamping and not being heard of for some time.

"In fact Police business and the collection of Crown Rent in the New Territory, as far as it is possible to form a judgment of the case from the state of affairs at Taipo, act and react one upon the other to their mutual disadvantage.

"Looking at the system as a whole it cannot be considered satisfactory that the collection of a large source of revenue should be in the hands of other than experts. Since the New Territory was taken over, sums amounting to close on $10,000 have been written off as impossible of collection; and while due allowance must be made for the newness of the work, the fact cannot be overlooked

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Extract from the Acting Local Auditor's letter dated 14th April, 1904. "The business of collection falls almost entirely to the lot of Sergeant Interpreter, his qualifications as such being indispensable to the work. He can only occasionally be helped by the Detective or Police Sergeant, and when absent on sick or ordinary leave, or when engaged on Police duties in Court or elsewhere, collections must necessarily cease. A particular instance was quoted to me in which owing to pressure of Police work the payment of Crown Rent had to be 'choked off', as it was expressed, for a fortnight. "It often happens too at Taipo, from the fact of its being the telephone remitting station for the New Territory, that the Interpreter will be engaged in receiving, translating and transcribing messages, sometimes a lengthy business, when lot holders come in to pay rent. "The consequent failure to receive prompt attention results in certain cases in the lot holder decamping and not being heard of for some time. "In fact Police business and the collection of Crown Rent in the New Territory, as far as it is possible to form a judgment of the case from the state of affairs at Taipo, act and react one upon the other to their mutual disadvantage. "Looking at the system as a whole it cannot be considered satisfactory that the collection of a large source of revenue should be in the hands of other than experts. Since the New Territory was taken over, sums amounting to close on $10,000 have been written off as impossible of collection; and while due allowance must be made for the newness of the work, the fact cannot be overlooked
Baseline (Original)
; СОРУ. C. 0. 23629 14 Rece Red 4 JUL. 04: Extract from the Acting Local Auditor's letter dated 14th. April, 1904. "The business of collection falls almost entirely to the lot of Sergeant Interpreter, his qualifications as such being indis- pensable to the work. He can only occasionally he helped by the Detective or Folice Sergeant, and when absent on sick or ordi- nary leave, or when engaged on Folice duties in Court or else- where, collections must necessarily cease. A particular instance was quoted to me in which owing to pressure of Folice work the payrent of Crown Rent had to be "choked off", as it was expres- sed, for a fortnight. "It often happens too at faipo, from the fact of its being the telephone remitting station for the New ferritory, that the Interpreter will be engaged in receiving translating and trans- cribing s ressage, scretines a lengthy business, when lot hold- ers core in tc pay rent. "The conscquent failure to receive prompt attention resuits in certain cases in the lot holder decamping and not being heard of for some time. IN in fact Police business and the collectionor Crown Rent in the New Territory, as far as it is possible to form a judgment of the case from the state of affairs at Teipo, act and react one upon the other to their mutuel disadvantage. "Looking at the system as a whole it cannot be considered sabis- factory that the collection of a large source of revenue should be in the hands of other than experts. Since the New Territory was taken over sums amounting to close on $10,000 have been written off as impossible of collection; and while due allowance must be wade for the newness of the work, the fact cannot be overlooked
2026-06-01 17:57:59 · Baseline
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;

СОРУ.

C. 0.

23629

14

Rece Red 4 JUL. 04:

Extract from the Acting Local Auditor's letter dated

14th. April, 1904.

"The business of collection falls almost entirely to the lot of Sergeant Interpreter, his qualifications as such being indis- pensable to the work. He can only occasionally he helped by the Detective or Folice Sergeant, and when absent on sick or ordi-

nary leave, or when engaged on Folice duties in Court or else-

where, collections must necessarily cease. A particular instance

was quoted to me in which owing to pressure of Folice work the payrent of Crown Rent had to be "choked off", as it was expres-

sed, for a fortnight.

"It often happens too at faipo, from the fact of its being the

telephone remitting station for the New ferritory, that the

Interpreter will be engaged in receiving translating and trans-

cribing s ressage, scretines a lengthy business, when lot hold-

ers core in tc pay rent.

"The conscquent failure to receive prompt attention resuits in

certain cases in the lot holder decamping and not being heard

of for some time.

IN

in fact Police business and the collectionor Crown Rent in the

New Territory, as far as it is possible to form a judgment of

the case from the state of affairs at Teipo, act and react one

upon the other to their mutuel disadvantage.

"Looking at the system as a whole it cannot be considered sabis-

factory that the collection of a large source of revenue should

be in the hands of other than experts. Since the New Territory was taken over sums amounting to close on $10,000 have been written off as impossible of collection; and while due allowance must be wade for the newness of the work, the fact cannot be

overlooked

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