under construction and contained an ordnance yard, coal depot and dock yard with six to eight large buildings including a working foundry, forge and machine shop. There was an iron floating dry dock that could raise a fully loaded frigate. Lafont set out to make the system of taxation fairer and less burdensome to small landowners, many of whom had not registered their land. He reduced land property taxes but added a tax on rice exports, which affected only the largest landowners, and as a result made some powerful enemies. He confirmed the Catholic Church's property titles, for which he earned the thanks of Bishop Isidore Colombert. He tried to prevent direct dealings between the Vietnamese and the Chinese. Lafont as governor of Cochinchina had overall responsibility for the protectorate of Cambodia, which was poorly governed by King Norodom of Cambodia. Under pressure from the French a royal decree of 1877 introduced administrative reforms, but little was done to put them into effect. Lafont wrote to the king asking him to implement the reforms. He wrote, "Many individuals, being implicated in theft, insolvency and even crime, get themselves issued with documents from senior mandarins, Princes, and even Your Majesty's wives,certifying to no-one is entitled to pursue them without having first obtained the prior authorization of the Protectorate ... This state of affairs is not compatible with justice in a civilized country." Lafont's complaint was ignored. Lafont was replaced as governor in July 1879 by Charles Le Myre de Vilers. Later career (1879–1908) On 1 April 1880 Lafont was appointed deputy commander of the training squadron under Vice-Admiral Henri Garnault(fr) with the battleship Suffren as his flagship. He was promoted to vice-amiral on 24 February 1881. In February 1882 he was prefect of the 2nd maritime district at Brest. Lafont was maritime prefect of Brest from 15 February 1882 to 15 October 1885. He was made a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour on 8 July 1884. On 20 October 1885 he was appointed commander in chief of the training squadron. In November 1886 he was appointed Chairman of the Marine Works Council. Lafont was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on 9 July 1889. Lafont retired from active service in April 1890 at the age of 65. On 4 December 1894 he was made president of central council that raised money for a hospital ship to