Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 297

Sessional Paper, No. 19.

No. 105.

MY LORD,

( 3 )

(1.)

(Governor to Secretary of State.)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 10th April, 1888.

In reply to Your Lordship's Despatch, No. 23, of the 25th February last regarding the proposed Light-house on Gap Rock, I have the honour to inform

you that I can find no data on which Sir WILLIAM MARSH based his calculation in his despatch, No. 369, of the 25th November, 1886, beyond the estimate furnished him by the Chamber of Commerce in the printed correspondence which I enclose.

2. The Chairman of the Chamber stated in his letter of the 28th September, 1886, that the payment of one cent per ton extra Light Dues would realize $15,000 per annum, and Sir W. MARSH in his despatch above referred to repeated the state-

ment.

3. The figures given in my Despatch, No. 12, of 16th January last were based on the estimated Revenue from Light Dues for the current year. The sum entered in the Estimates is $32,000, which is derived from the levy of one cent per ton. An additional one cent per ton would give an additional $32,000, which, in three years,

would amount to $96,000; or, if the additional tax were 1 cent per ton, the result would be $48,000 in one year or $96,000 in two years.

4. The sum of $30,000 entered in the Estimates for 1888 under Extraordinary Public Works for a "Light-house for the Southern approach to the Harbour" refers to the present scheme, and will be recouped from the new tax.

The Right Honourable

LORD KNUTSFORD, G.C.M.G.

&C..

&c.,

&c.

HONGKONG.

No. 45.

(2.)

I have, &c.,

G. WILLIAM DES VEUX.

(Sir Robert G. W. Herbert to Governor.)

DOWNING STREET,

26th March, 1888.

SIR,

I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit to you for your information with reference to his despatch, No. 23, of the 25th of February last, the document specified in the annexed Schedule.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble Servant,

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.

Date.

21st March, 1888.

Description of Document.

Letter from the Board of Trade to the Colonial Office on the subject

of the proposed Light-house on the Gap Rock.