707243-1869-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-55 — Page 1

DI

MON

DROIT

THE HONGKONG

Government Gazette.

Published by Authority.

No. 20.

VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 15TH MAY, 1869.

VOL. XV.

No. 54.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Gentlemen have been nominated by His Excellency SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B., Cathedral Trustees on behalf of the Government for the Year 1869-70, under the provisions of Ordinances No. 2 of 1847, and No. 3 of 1850:-

The Honorable The Colonial Secretary for the time being. The Honorable The Attorney General for the time being.

The Surveyor General for the time being.

F. W. MITCHELL, Esquire.

CHARLES MAY, Esquire, is also appointed, on the same behalf, to be Auditor of Cathedral Accounts for the said Year.

It has also been notified to this Government, that the Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK, and T. PYKE, Esquire, have been re-elected Trustees, and EDWARD A. HITCHCOCK, Esquire, Auditor, on behalf of the Seat-Holders.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th May,. 1869.

J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

No. 55.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Communication, dated the 4th Instant, and received from Her Majesty's Consul at Manila, detailing certain important modifications of the Customs, Export, and Port Dues for the Philippine Islands, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 14th May, 1869.

J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.

H. B. M.'s CONSULATE,

MANILA, 4th May, 1869.

SIR,-I have the honour to transmit herewith inclosed to your Excellency a Decree in translation, issued by the Provi- sional Government at Madrid on the 29th December, 1868, and published in the Manila Gazette on the 5th April last, relating to certain modifications in the Customs Dues of this place.

The advantages offered by this reform on the present rate of Customs Dues most worthy of notice, are the reduction by 50% of the differential duties and their total abolition at the end of two years from the date of the "cumplase," i. e. from the 5th April last, the suppression of all Export Dues, and the merging of several troublesome Port-taxes into one charge.

Such measures, I need hardly remark, are likely to produce a salutary influence on the future commercial interests of this Colony. The decree in question, will I believe be brought into operation in the course of the present month.

I have the honour to be with the greatest respect, Sir, Your Excellency's, most obedient and most humble Servant,

His Excellency SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B.,

G. T. RICKETTS.

Governor of the Colony of Hongkong,

&c.,

&c.