CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 84

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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

norc reveni were

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any good. It won't do dealers any good or anybody else. Therefore, 1 ask hon. members to accept the provisions of thi Bill, which have been very well thought out and of which the mercantile com- munity and the unofficial members hars been given very ample notice, much greater notice than they would get in other Colonies well known to me.

Hos. Ma. POLLOCK-In reply to your Excellency, I wish to deny that the un official members asked for this taxation.

His EXCELLENCY--Not for this tax ation; 1 said it had been conveyed to me that unofficial members of both Council of this Culony were anxious that some sort of increased taxation should be in troduced.

Hox. MR. POLLOCK-Then all I can Bay 19 that what has bres conveyed to you is entirely wrong

in a sarcastic way, because I am among those who thoroughly respect them; they are a most useful body and guide us an many points The Chamber of Comunerce took a month to consider the letter, a reply being received on May 2rd and the Chamber approved the principle of this taxation \if

In addition tu that Wi required. circulated 趄 report on June 28th

the unofficial members, amongst that they have had it in their hands for a fortnight. The Government took them into its confidence, and I know that that confidence as not misplaced. We showed the unofficial members and the Chamber of Commerce our hand

Nowe come to the every card in it. Bill and in connection with it I may say that we studiously avoided the pit- falls, profiting by the experience gained with regard to the liquor duties, of allow ing stock in the Colony to escape the tax.

I may add that I was somewhat This does not impose any hardshiphat all

astonished, and I think that the on the merchant, because any increase

hou. member who represents the made will come down on the consumer. The traders do not lose money by it; you Chamber of Commerce was also astonish and I pay the tax when we buy our cigars, to find that this measure was being and tobaccU. We have made an extra-introduced to add to the general revenue ordinary generous allowance to the petty the Colony. And I think, Sir, that we have the strongest possible grounds trader and the luxurious private con-

for ur astonishment in view of what feli We are allowing these two classes 100lbs. free. The tax will not affect from your Excellency's own lips on March 1st last when speaking on the 100lbs. of tobacco. If they have 101lbs.

increase in the liquor duties. You said they will have to pay a tax only on 1lb. We lost a lot of money, and we were put

after going fully into a large number to untold worry and trouble and expense

of figures, that about $100,000 was m

thr

by allowquired to establish equilibrim between liquor duties, ing stocks in the Colony to could be attained by the proposed in revenne and expenditure, and that that We the taxation.

want to avoid that. There is one matter more.

As to

ercases in the resolution then befor the Council. With regard to the sug the question of imposing taxation in this manner, hon, unofficial members, I am gestion that the unofficial members had informed, agreed to this imposition of invited this taxation, as your Excellency perfectly well knows, what the unofficial taxes after very careful consideration,

members discussed

the question was HON. ME. POLLOCK-No, Sir.

suner.

over

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Say

HIS EXCELLENCY 1 did not that.

flox. POLLOCK-Your words con- vered that impression, and I certainly took you be mean that.

HON. MR. HOLYOAK was about to speak when

His EXCELLENCY remarked--You are not entitled to speak again,

Hos. M. HOLYOAK-1 was about to make a statement with regard to what Four Excellency has said in connection with suggestions by unofficial members. You distinctly implied that we had asked for this additional taxation)

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Hrs EXCELLENCY--If you wish to carry on your public works you must have more revenue. This is one of the ways in which I think it can most easily and advantageously be found. And the Chamber of Commerce agree with me.

HON. MR. HOLYOAK "If necessary," which cannot be proved.

can,

His EXCELLENCY--11 great deal more, I can assure you.

J

and a

The amendment to postpone considera- tion of the Bill for a fortnight was then put to the meeting and defeated, only the Hon. Mr. Pollock and the Hon. Mr. Holyoak voting for the amendment. The other unofficial members voted with the official majority.

0%

رادة

Reasons meagre, The

His EXCELLENCY—I would like first of all to answer the hon. member who_re presents the Justices of the Peace. The

THE ATTORNEY - GENERAL then balancing of revenue and expenditure moved the second reading of The

Bill. to which reference has been made as

In doing

be said- This reduced Budget.

regret that the Objects and very

were this year

cub attached to the Bill ale public works

$1,000,000. I do down by about

but it was not found possible in not suppose you want that surt of thing time at my disposal to give a more de- tailed resume of the Bill. The Bill is to go on. It was very obvious in March last that I would have to tax tobacco, but founded upon the Hungkong Liquors I was not going to tell everybody that 1 Ordinance, and whole sections have been was going to do so. With regard to what taken from that Ordinance as they stand. the hon. member has said as to unofficia! Certain provisions adopted in the Straits Settlements Tobacco Duties members suggesting the new taxation, I may say that they asked for some new

Ordinance have been utilised. The taxation, and I did not say for what searching of passengers' luggage here is

it would be used.

no new thing to the Colony, for it has purpose

existed here for, at least, the last seven Hox. MR. POLLOCK--That is not cor- years, if not longer. In no way can this rect, Sir.

be regarded as retrospective taxation. It is a misuse of language to call the Colony retrospective taxation. There are imposition of duty on tobacco in the

two main points of interest in the Bill In the first place the trade will want to know how the system is to be worked. The answer is that the system will be almost the same as the system

under which the liquor duties are collected. In the second place the consumer wil Want to know how the duties will affect the retail price of tobacco, eigar's, and cigarettes. The answer to this is that the duties will increase the retail price by about 25 per cent. om an average. Your Excellency referred to a generous abatement of 100lbs. under section 5 of the Bill. Any tobacco in the possession of any person under this section up to 100lbs. will be duty free. It is not in- tended that any tobacco which is ex-

HIS EXCELLENCY-If there is any misunderstanding then the fault is mine. I understood there was no objection to the increased taxation. I did not say for what purpose.

HON. MR. HOLYOAK Was given permission to say А. few words. The

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of raising some sort of contribution to wards a special war purpose. It had His EXCELLENCY-Well, then, I nothing whatever to do ith establisk

han. Juember said-Inofficial have been misinformed. It is necessary ing equilibrium between revenue and er

members distinctly understood that to increase the revenue of the Colony. We penditure. I absolutely deny, as velie

any new taxation would be in the have increased the liquor duties, and themently as I can, any suggestion that form of contribution for some wer least item which we think we can tax unofficial members have asked for, or

purpose other. That was their now is your tobacco. The price of opium have even discussed, taxation for the pur suggestion when the matter was discuss has already been put up. The matter is pose of balancing revenue and expended. Among the possibilities discussed in urgent because we want to lose no time. ture. I cannot understand how the To suspend this legislation for a fort- unofficial members' suggestions could night simply means that everybody will have been twisted into what has fall attempt to avoid taxation as far as they from your Excellency to-day, that wo possibly can. That will not do anybody had asked for this taxation.

this connection was a tobacco tax, or an increase in the assessment but such extra taxation was not to be for the the pur- pose of balancing revenue and expendi ture.