*722
SHANGHAI
Western (foreign residential) District, 5,538 mow, at Tls. 26,389,074, against Tls. 8,081,572 at the previous quinquennial period, an increase of 226 per cent., a total on 15,643 mow of Tls. 151,047,257, against Tls. 60,423,773 on 13,126 mow in 1902, equal to 150 per cent. for the whole Settlement (exclusive of the French). The assessment of the British and Hongkew divisions, respectively, was in 1880 Tls. 6,118,265 and Tls. 1,945,325, total Tls. 8,063,590; in 1890 Tls. 12,397,810 and Tls. 5,110,145, total Tls. 17,507,955. The totals in 1907 were thus nearly twenty times those of 1880 and over eight and a half times those of 1890. The assessment for 1924 was--for the Central District, Tls. 146,729,836; Northern District, Tls. 52,126,703; Eastern, Tls. 75,012,601; Western, Tls. 62,843,354, on which-after deducting rebates on ground occupied by churches, cemeteries, and municipal properties amount- ing to Tls. 9,657,900-a tax of 7/10ths of one per cent. was levied, estimated to yield, net, Tls. 1,600,000. One piece of land in the Nanking Road, assessed in 1867 at Tls. 4,000 per mow, the then basis of assessment on the best Bund lots, in 1899 at Tls. 13,000, and in 1903 at Tls. 27,500, was sold later for Tls. 85,000 per mow. During the land boom in 1921 a piece of land near the Bund sold for the high figure of Tls. 300,000 per mow, which, at the exchange of the day on which the deal was closed, represented approximately £300,000 per acre.
The latest Land Assessment figures (1927) for rateable land in the Settlement are as under :
District
...
...
...
Area
Мого
2,184.179
...
2,245.092
...
9,370.968
...
...
7,641.080
Assesment Taels 169,368,231
Central Northern Eastern Western...
...
Mow 21,441.319
59,771,678
82,545,119
88,236,927
Tls. 399,921,955
Based on the above figures, the receipts from Land Tax for 1928 at 8/10ths of one per cent. are estimated at Tls. 2,930,000.
This figure excludes land which, while assessed, is exempt from Municipal Land Tax, i.e. Municipal properties, Hospitals, Churchs, etc. Six mow equal one acre.
At the close of 1927 there were 4,830 foreign and 73,299 Chinese houses within the Settlement area, carrying assessments of Tls. 15,626,022 and Tls. 25,340,68C respectively. The total income from General Municipal Rate for the year amounted to Tls. 4,629,334. The Council's ordinary income from all sources, including Rates, Taxes and Licence Fees, amounted to over Tls. 11,000,000 for 1927.
Owing to the influx of Chinese who find residence in the foreign Settlements pleasanter and safer than in the districts under native control, foreigners are gradual- ly being driven to the outskirts of the Settlement, where the principal residental districts are now situated. The Municipal Council still continues to levy a special modified form of rate on these districts, which are actually beyond the nominal boundaries of the Settlement, although approached by Municipal roads.
The total number of foreign houses in the four divisions of the General Concession on 31st December, 1923, was 4,021 assessed at Tls. 11,851,174, against 3,119 assessed at Tls. 4,809,155, and 2,472 assessed at Tls. 3,235,311, on the corresponding dates in 1910 and 1905. On 64,979 native houses the assessment was $16,260,090 against 52,008 assessed at $8,332,449 in 1910, and 45,328 assessed at $6,830,461 in 1905. In addition, six per cent. (half rate) is now collected on 1,267 foreign houses assessed at Tls. 1,350,718 and 2,165 native houses assessed at $192,196 outside the Settlement limits, but supplied with water by the Shanghai Waterworks Co., with electricity, or with telephones. For 1923 the land of the French Concession was valued for assessment at Tls. 40,000,000; the rental assess- ment of foreign houses at Tls. 1,316,500, and of native houses at Tls. 2,541,650. The British and French Settlements, exclusive of the extensions acquired in 1899 and 1901, are now all built over, and the vacant spaces in Hongkew are being rapidly covered. The Captain-Superintendent of Police in a late report said that nearly the whole area may be described as densely populated: how crowded few residents can have any conception." Many of the best foreign houses, both in the Settlements and outside roads, are now occupied by Chinese retired officials and merchants.
A greatly enlarged boundary for the Settlement was granted in 1901. The area within Municipal limits is now 8 square miles, or 5,584 acres, with a population of 152 per acre. There are in the whole Settlement and outside roads (exclusive of the
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