should
to should
the letter from ency
the publish
tion from His Unofficial Mem mous in considering. given by his the special Light the majority of made in His Ex- Otter that
the future a fixed rate its per ton should be imposed as Light.
shippin entering the harbour. st be pointed out that the Unofficial of Council present at the meeting at the subject was discussed, who were in of this proposal, were absolutely uncon- ted with the shipping interest of the port, nd were mainly representatives of landed pro-
on
rathera than of commercial enterprise.. bringing this fact under notice, we do not for one moment impute any selfish action on the part of these gentlemen, but we simply call attention to what must reasonably be felt to be the natural bias of their views.
As soon as the action of His Excellency the Governor became publicly known in Hong it called forth a protest from the ship and mercantile interests affected, a copy hich is also attached. It will be seen from his document that the present estimated cost whole Lighthouse establishments of the Colony amounts to less than $17,000 per annum, whilst the estimated amount to be raised by the imposition of a charge on shipping of 24 cents per ton is $113,000 per annum. It is, therefore, beyond question that the proposed fixed ad- ditional charge of 11 cents per ton is to be devoted to purposes in no way connected with shipping, and, in view of the fact that the dvancement and welfare of Hongkong is due its having been a free port, we submit that e unfairness and unwisdom of the proposed tax are clearly apparent.
We, therefore, respectfully express the hope that you will instruct His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong that the additional charge of 14 cents per ton, under the de. nomination of Light Dues, which was imposed in a terminable way, for the purpose of covering a given expenditure on the Gap Rock Lighthouse, shall now be discontinued, and that it shall not be reimposed on other and totally different grounds.
We venture to add that, in our judgment, it Would be for the true interest of the Colony the port of Hongkong should be restored hat status of perfect freedom which so long sted, for it was this freedom from dues and imposts of all kinds which made Hongkong the rtant entrepot of trade that it now is, and which would be certain to advance its prosperity still further as one of the greatest shipping ports of the world. We have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servants,
H. H. JOSEPH,
Secretary P. & O. 8. N. Co. Ocean Steamship Co..
JOHN SWIRE & SONS,
Managers China Navigation Co., MCGREGOR, Gow & Co.,
“Glên - Line.
For the China Mutual S. N. Co., Ltd., WA. GULLAND, Managing Director. M SAMUEL & Co.,
Shell" Line,
The Mogul Steamship Co., Limited, HS. KENNEDT, Secretary,
Jenkins & Co Limited,
NOBLE I ENKINS,
Shire Line, Director.. WH THOMPSON & CO.,
To the
cottish O. 8. Co., Ltd.,
thern P 8. Co
Chamberlain Colonies.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE SHANGHAI CHAMBER
COMMERCE AND THE HONG KONG LIGHT DUES
At a Committee Meeting of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce 8th of March the following corre was ordered for publicat
Chamber of Commerce Shanghai Gene
Shanghai, 23rd February 1897-
گھر
The Secretary
Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong. Dear Sir Your letter of 20th enclosure, has had the careful con my Committee, and I am directed you that this Chamber is entirel with your protest against the levying Dues on shipping for any other than house purposes; and in view of the stater made by the Hongkong Government at the time when the tax was originally imposed, was only levied in order to pay for the actual cost of the Gap Rock lighthouse and would be. withdrawn when that was accomplished, my Committee fail to see justification for any departure on the part of the Government from the undertaking then given. I am, however, desired to add, that if you wish this Chamber to address the Home Authorities in support of your protest, it is desirable that we should be more fully informed regarding all the circum- stances of the case, and particularly as to the reasons upon which the Colonial Government base their proposal to continue the taxation complained of.-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
DRUMMOND HAY,
Secretary.
Shanghai, 23rd February, 1897.
E. A. Hewett, Esq.,
Acting Agent, P. & O. 8. N. Co.,
Shanghai.
Dear Sir, Your letter of the 13th ult., re the Hongkong Light Dues, has received the care
ful consideration of the Committee of this Chamber, together with a letter on the same subject recently received from the Hongkong. Chamber.
The Committee are certainly of opinion that Light Dues should only be levied on shipping for Lighthouse purposes. It appears that when the Hongkong Government levied a special tax upon shipping to cover the cost of the Gap Rock lighthouse, it was promised that when the object for which it was imposed was accomplished the tax would be withdrawn, and under these circumstances the Committee cannot see any justification for a departure from the undertaking then given by the Gov- ernment. But before this Chamber can join in any protest against taxation that the Hong kong Government may propose levying on shipping visiting that port, they must be in full possession of all the circumstances of the ease, and particularly of the reasons which Actuated the Colonial Government in proposing to: levy such a tax-I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
E. F. ALFORD,
Chairman,
THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE.
A Government Gazette Extraordinary was issued on the 17th March containing a noti- fication to the effect that His Excellency the Governor, has been pleased to appoint the fol- lowing Committee for the purpose of consider- ing and making arrangements for the steps to be taken by this colony to celebrate the com pletion of the 60th year of the Reign of H Majesty the Queen :-- Hon. E. R. Belilios Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving Hon. C. P. Chater Hon. F. A. Cooper Mr A Coxon Mr. D. R. Crawford Mr. N. J. Edő Mr J. J. Francis Mr. D. Gillies Mr R. M. Gray Mr. Ho Amai
proposed gold | Hon. Hồ Kai
Mr. Li Sing Hon. J. H. Stewart
Lookhart
Hon. FH. May C.M.G Mr AP MOBwen Mr H M. Mehta Mr H NMody MERM Mr. J. Ray Mr. H
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THE MURDER IN A BOARDING HOUSE!
TWO Att
with
boardin
ONF.
Mounsey defended.
PRISONER- 16th March Chai fore: Commander Hastings ile in the Ki Shing
3. Prava Central. Mr. K. W
Hau Hong Chinese detective, 137, said At 10 minutes past 5 on the a inst. I was sent by Detectiv to
accompany Chinese detec Shang boarding house,48
we arrived detective 268 was the the defendant, who had be open his bedroom door duced a key and unlocked the told him we had come he opened a small box and and some cartridges. We the
open a big trunk in the room: had not the key with him as hi it to Yaumati. He tried to open key, but could not. This box was no but corded. Defendant told us open, and he and I carried it into th where a man knocked out the pins Just then Inspector Stanton Molver arrived and the cords roun were out and the box opened by 1 Stanton A blood-stained bed cover the top of the tray and
corpse of the defendar throat cut. While
the
holding
in the house Inspector Stanton cautione him about any sta make. He then made a sta signed after it had been re
Dr. Penny, actin Government Civil Ha the 16th inst. I
body There was an incised wound on the
three fextending four inch
and one. left of the middle right. The severed. There were slight
hand and
thu
were no othe
of Japan will
Mr. Ho Tung
MI Hon
Mr. T Jackson
Hon. TH
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immediately A
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