Taxpayers Conference Shanghai International Settlement

Ratepayers’meeting,which is the highest authority of the settlement, is an authority where foreigners in Shanghai International Settlement can exercise autonomy, participate and discuss governmental affairs. It was firstly convened by the Britain Consul in1846and gradually withering away due to various changes home and abroad in1941. From1846to1941, shanghai international settlement experienced war time, peace time, economic prosperity and crisis, which lasted for nearly a century. Its history is the foreigner’s history who lived in shanghai.Ratepayers’meeting used to be called Land renter’s meeting, which aims at collecting funds to build or repair roads, wharfs and other municipal administrations. At first, all land renters need to pay for the cost. Soon afterwards, only those who posess proper assets are allowed to attend the meeting. In1869, the new Land Regulations and Bye-Laws for the Foreign Settlement of Shanghai rules that part of the ratepayers can attend the meeting. So from1870, the meeting was called Ratepayers’Meeting.The annual meeting was convened at the beginning of the year, and the special meeting is not held on a regular basis. The foreigner living in the settlement can put forward resolutions at the public concession by themselves or others. The resolutions include the development planning, management methods of the settlement. It is an effective way of public participation in the government. The foreigners can express their demands in the meeting, make the management rules of the settlement, add new functions of the government, appoint or remove municipal board, and formulate the Rules of Procedure on Meeting of Ratepayers to improve the process of the meeting, set up organization system, which not only formed the ratepayer’s institution, but also promote the prosperity of the modern international settlement in the field of economy, politics, culture and society.The Ratepayer’s Meeting is the highest authority in Shanghai International Settlement. The municipal shall be responsible for it directly. At the annual meeting of the ratepayer’s meeting held at the beginning of each year, the chairman of the municipal board will report to all present, and ratepayers put forward suggestions on the plans for the coming year, check the final accounts, and pass the financial budget report. The municipal board will resign if any ratepayers distrust them.Ratepayer’s meeting is an important character of the merchants’governing in Shanghai International Settlement, which is different from the western parliamentary system. Although Shanghai was opened by the unequal treaty, the city become prosperous accompany with the development of trade. Most of the foreigners pursue business interests, so the formation, development and organization of the settlement are dominated by the businessmen. To improve the development of trade, the municipal work from only paving roads, building docks, extend to all areas of security, life and environment, finally promotes the formation of a modern city. The ratepayers all own lots of real estate, or pay a lot of taxes, are the highest class. Therefore, the interests and demands of this group of people is an important clue of the study of the development of Shanghai International Settlement.