226582-1936-Minutes-No-5 — Page 4

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAY 15, 1936.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

7. The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee

(No. 2), dated 19th March, 1936, and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

MOTIONS.

8. The Colonial Treasurer addressed the Council and said that the question of extra revenue to be expected from the new liquor duties was one that could not be answered as consumption was such a variable factor. Assuming as a basic figure the amount of duty paid during the first quarter, that is on a total gallonage of $299,392, the increase per quarter would amount to $24,781 or, say, $100,000 for a full year. There had been, however, very heavy with- drawals of European liquors during the first quarter, and it was not probable that such a figure would be realised this year. He then moved the following resolution:

LIQUORS DUTIES RESOLUTION.

Resolved pursuant to section 39 of the Liquors Ordin- ance, 1931, Ordinance No. 36 of 1931, that the Liquors Duties Resolution of the 28th March, 1935, published in the Gazette by Notification No. 255 of the 29th March, 1935, be rescinded and that on and after the coming into operation of this Resolution the duties to be paid upon intoxicating or spirituous liquors imported into, or distilled, made or pre- pared in, the Colony shall be assessed in Hong Kong currency as in the following Table.

TABLE.

Part I.

EUROPEAN TYPE LIQUOR.

Per gallon.

On all liqueurs, and on all champagnes and other

sparkling wines

$13.00

On all brandy consigned from and grown or pro-

duced in the British Empire

5.00

On all other brandy and on gin, whisky and other

spirituous liquors

10.00

On all port, sherry and madeira

6.00

On all other still wines

5.00

0.80

On cider and perry

On beer (as defined in the Ordinance, but exclusive of cider and perry) not exceeding 1055 degrees original gravity, that is to say the specific gravity of the worts before fermentation

with the addition of $0.02 per gallon for every degree by which the original gravity of the worts for such beer exceeds 1055 degrees as measured by the "Bates" standard saccharometer.

0.80

i