L
buy further Bommunication should be
HE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, HARBOUR DEPARTMENT).
And the following letter and number
dbe quoted:-
H. 8832.
503
O
Telegraphic Address.
495
BOARD OF TRADE.
(HARBOUR DEPARTMENT,
7, WHITEHALL GARDENS,
LONDON, S.W.
ARD
TRADE, HARBOUR.
LONDON.
REC! REGO 3 JAN 17
2nd January, 1917.
Sir.
I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th December (No. 59360/1916) transmitting a copy of a further despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong regarding the proposed increase of light dues in the Colony and asking for the observations of the Board thereon.
In reply, I am to state, for the information of Er. Secretary Long, that in the opinion of the Board of Trade dues, whether they are known as light dues, harbour dues or tonnage dues, which are charged for particular services should not be used for other purposes and that any departure from this principle such as that suggested in the Governor's despatch would form a precedent which might gravely inconvenience His Majesty's Government and would preclude any effective protest against similar steps by foreign Governments.
I am to add that as regards light dues levied under the authority of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, which go to form the General Lighthouse Fund administered by, this Department, their application is limited by section 1(2) of the Lerchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898, to the payment of the expenses by that Act charged thereon and to no other purpose whatever, that is to say, "all expenses incurred by the general lighthouse authorities in the works and services of lighthouses,
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
Over
D..
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