CO129-559-19 Naval Commander-in-Chief- alleged exemption from customs duties 17-12-1936 - 8-5-1937 — Page 8

No. 271.

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RECEIVED

11 MAY 1937

O. O. REC

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

8th April, 1937.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt

of your despatch No.62 dated the 10th February, 1937, forwarding a copy of a letter from the Admiralty regarding the payment by the Naval Commander-in-Chief of customs duties on alcoholic liquors transferred from the Flagship to Admiralty House.

2.

Although the Governor in Council may, under section 88 (8) of the Liquors Ordinance, No. 36 of 1931, grant exemption from payment of duty, the only actual exemption in the Colony is that provided by section 89 of that Ordinance, and it has never been maintained that this section applies to liquor imported for private consumption.

3.

In this connection I would point out that, whatever may be the practice in other Colonies, duty is here paid on liquor consumed at Government House

and at Flagstaff House, the residence of the General Officer Commanding the Troops.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

W.G.A.ORMSBY-GORE, P.C., M.P.,

&C.,

&C., &C.