713816-1866-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION — Page 3

an

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6т¤ OCTOBER, 1866.

405

Many Chinese have lived here for years. They must have learnt that the Queen of England's. eers never molest or trouble peaceful residents under the English Flag, and should know better to speak of any Law here as "obstructive" and "oppressive." You yourselves must have seen great pains are taken to administer the Law with strict Justice, and that, if it were not for mese Thieves, Pirates, and other bad characters, this Government would not have the expense of h a numerous Police, and such extensive Prisons. Fifty Police would suffice to keep the European pulation in order.

It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the great expense incurred by this Government on your count should require its Revenue to be increased.

$

Nevertheless you, who cause this outlay, complain of a new Law, which instead of making you ar for the expense which the Chinese entail, treats all Europeans and Chinese alike-by imposing a t tax on the business of all and in such an equitable manner that those who must pay the most are Bose who have the largest business. Why should an Englishman pay a Duty, and a Chinese not pay is proportion of the tax, though his House and Property are protected and his Street drained and aved by Government?

I do not think you wish such an unjust difference made between you and Europeans; I believe ply that you drew up your Memorial-without understanding the nature of the proposed tax, and sdeed your spokesman on the last occasion admitted he knew nothing about it.

You say however, a "Stamp on Receipts, and Bills and Promissory Notes" would be an uppressive burden" and "perplexing."

You might say with more truth that Stamps on letters-which every one now thinks so convenient- re "perplexing and oppressive" because different distances and destinations require a great variety of tter Stamps, whereas by the new Ordinance only one sort of Stamp is necessary for each class of those ansactions, which occur frequently in the current of ordinary mercantile business, such as Promissory Notes, Bills of Exchange, Receipts, Bills of Lading and the like.

Why cannot every merchant keep in his house a small supply of the Stamped Paper and Stamps equired for each of those transactions? and why do you wish me to suppose you so stupid as to be erplexed by a matter so plain? I cannot believe what is absurd.

There are many thousands of Chinese at Singapore, where they have a Stamp Act with three imes as many complications and Articles as the short and simple Ordinance, of which you complain ere. Why cannot you write to your Chinese friends at Singapore and inquire whether their business s perplexed by even that long and intricate Act? I think they will reply that they understand it as ell as Europeans, and, although they would rather have no tax at all, that they would greatly prefer he Hongkong Ordinance to the Singapore Stamp Act.

Even supposing that you find at first some difficulty as to Stamps on Leases, Deeds, and envegances, there is seldom any hurry about them as there often is about Bills, whilst, being enerally managed with professional advice, it is not true that your current daily business will be impeded thereby.

You ask, however, to pay an increased House Rate instead of a Stamp Duty. Is it just that Icuses, which now pay more than $200,000 per annum, should bear all burdens?

The general astuces of the Place has never yet contributed anything directly to its expenses. Now, under the tamp Ordinance, those who have no chance of making profit by business will pay nothing. The poor ho have only their labor, would under your plan, be soon made to bear your legitimate burden cause, if Rates were increased, you would charge more for Rent. The new Ordinance therefore sinore just than you. It also reaches in its operation many, who, though not residing in Hongkong, elune Hongkong as their chief Mart of business, whereas your plan would throw on those, who ccidentally reside here, all the cost of maintaining the Quays, Roads, Police and Harbor, which sequently facilitate the business of absentees just as much as of residents.

When the new Law comes into force I hope you will find in less than one month that your Jarm and apprehensions were groundless, but if experience shews that the operation of the Law can + made more simple and easy, I shall readily assist to improve it.

I have bocu particular in giving you these Explanations of the nature of the new Stamp Ordinance ecause in a matter of Public Policy, intended to deal with all classes alike, I wish foreigners to see bat auch intention is really carried out. I am ready, therefore, to discuss such Legislation with my body of residents in the Colony, to hear objections, and if I think them unfounded, to explain why

GO 80.

All this however is very different from permitting those, who resort here for their own profit, the protection Which the strong and just Government of England affords, to discuss or cavil at have necessary for Police and sanitary purposes, and for protection of the lives and property of the Jen's Subjects. Those laws must be obeyed, and cannot be relaxed. None know better than Pavalves how necessary it is at last to adopt stringent measures, too long deferred, for checking the