263077-
W. & S. Ltd.-16679-6000---10-07.
#
-1979-6000-4-08.
The rats to be addressed to
"The Secretary."
Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company,
3 Offices, 122, Leadenhall Street,
London, E.C.
0.0
31147
22nd August 1908.
Sir,
I beg to inform you that the Directors have received a telegram from Hong Kong, stating that a scheme for erecting a large Harbour of Refuge at Mongkoktsui, at a cost of £1,500,000 has been carried through the local Legislature, and the Directors learn from the same telegram that half of the cost of this work is to be borne by shipping using the port, in the form of an increase in Light Dues of One cent per ton.
I am instructed to attach for your information copy of a letter addressed by all the Shipping Firms to the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce at Hong Kong, protesting against the scheme, and I am to beg the consideration of the Secretary of State to the matter, with a view to vetoing the large expenditure referred to, or at any rate of deferring the same, until the scheme has been reported upon as suitable by competent Naval authorities. If it be admitted that a Typhoon Harbour of Refuge for small boats is a necessity for the benefit of the Colony, it is surely unfair that the large Shipping Lines should be taxed to pay for it. The scheme, moreover, is considered unnecessarily large to meet a condition of things which has only within the last few years appeared to render such a Harbour necessary, and it certainly seems, from the information before the Directors, that the required security for small craft can probably be obtained at a very smaller cost; but in any case, at a time when everything points to the fact that it is almost generally admitted that Light Dues should not be imposed as a special tax upon shipping.
The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies,
COLONIAL OFFICE.
S. V.
263077-
W. & S. Ltd.-16679-6000---10-07.
#
-1979-6000-4-08.
The rats to be addressed to
"The Secretary."
Peninsulay & Oriental Steam Navigation Companf. 3 3
Offices. 122, Leadenhall Street.
London, E.C.
0.0
31147
22nd August 1908.
sir,
I beg to inform you that the Directors have receive ed a telegram from Hong Kong, stating that a scheme for erect- ing a large Harbour of Refuge at Mongkoksui, at a cost of ₫ 1,500,000 has been carried through the local Legislature, and the Directora icarn from the same telegram that half of the cost of this work is to be borne by shipping using the port, in the form of an increase in Light Dues of One cent per
ton.
I am instructed to attach for your information copy of a letter addressed by all the Shipping Firms to the Chair- man of the Chamber of Commerce at Hong Kong, protesting against the scheme, and I am to beg the consideration of the Seoretary of State to the matter, with a view to vetoing the large expenditure referred to, or at any rate of deferring the same, until the scheme has been reported upon as suitable by competent Naval authorities. If it be admitted that a Typhoon Harbour of Refuge for small boats is a necessity for the benefit of the Colony, it is surely unfair that the large Shipping Lines should be taxed to pay for it. The scheme, moreover, is considered unnecessarily large to meet a condi- tion of things which has only within the last few years appear, ed to render such a Harbour necessary, and it certainly seems, from the information before the Directors, that the required segurity for small craft can probably be obtained at a very
smaller cost; but in any case, at a time when everything pointą to the fact that it is almost generally admitted that Light Dy should not be imposed as a special tax upon shipp- The Under Segretary of State for the Colonies,
COLONIAL OFFICE.
ing
1
S. V.
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