CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 220

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Any further communication should be addressed to-

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, (HARBOUR DEPARTMENT).

And the following letter and number should be quoted --

H.

6721.

214

C.O

47407

RECO

BOARD OF TRADE, REG 5 OCT 16

(HARBOUR DEPARTMENT),

7, WHITEHALL GARDENS,

LONDON, 5.W.

Telegraphic Address.

OARD TRADE, HARBOUR,

LONDON.

CONFIDENTIAL.

$2,000,000.

sir,

4th October, 1916.

I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th September last (llo. 45247/1916) asking for their observations on the proposal of the Governor of Hong Kong to impose an additional light due of 2 cents per ton on all steamers using the port and to utilise the revenue to cover inter- est and sinking fund on a suggested loan of two million dollars to be raised as an additional gift to the Imperial Government.

In reply I am to state, for the information of Mr Secretary Bonar Law, that the maintenance of the principle that light dues should not be used for any purpose other than the provision of aids to navigation 1s" regarded by the Board as a matter of utmost importance, and is one which they have always fed upon other countries. Inasmuch as the suggested imposition of the additional light due at Hong Kong would directly contravene, this principle the Board are strongly of opinion that proposal put forward in the penultimate sentence of the paraphrase of the telegram from the Governor enclosed in your letter ought not to be sanctioned.

Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office,

3.W.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Farnham Roper