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HONGKONG
Colony infected was withdrawn. The total number of deaths recorded was 2,547 In the meantime the trade of the Colony had suffered severely. Large numbers of the natives fled, it being estimated that the population was reduced at one time by no less than 80,000, and the usually busy Queen's Road appeared almost deserted. As the disease waned the population returned, business was gradually resumed, and with the withdrawal of the quarantine imposed at the other ports vessels which had for the time being passed by Hongkong resumed their regular calls. A vigorous policy of sanitation is now being carried out in order to avoid any reappearance of the plague in the future.
The following is a list of those who have administered the Government from the date on which the Island was erected into a Colony 1843 Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.C.B. 181 Sir John Francis Davis, Bart., K.C.B. 1848 Samuel George Bonham, C.F. 1851 Major-General W. Jervois (Lt.-Governor) 1831 Sir S. George Bonham. Bart., K.C.B. 1852 John Bowring, LL.D. (Acting) 1853 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., K.C.B. 1851 Sir John Bowring, LL.D. 1854 Licut.-Colonel Wm. Caine (Lt.-Governor) 1833 Sir John Bowring, Knight, LL.D. 1859 Colonel Caine (Lieut.-Governor) 1859 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Knight 1862 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1864 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Knight 1865 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1866 ir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Knt., c.B.
1870 Mj Gl. H. W. Whitfeild (Lt.-Governor) 1871 ir Richard G. MacDonnell, к.C.M.G., C.B. 1872 Sir Arthur E. Kennedy, K.C.M.G., C.B. 1875 John Gardiner Austin (Administrator) 1876 Sir Arthur E. Kennedy, x.C.M.G., C.B. 1877 Sir John Pope Hennessy, K.C.M.G. 1882 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1883 Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.c.3.G. 1885 Win. Hy. Marsh, c.M.a. (Administrator) 1887 Mjr.-Gen. W. G. Cameron, c.B. (Adminis.) 1887 Sir George William Des Voeux, K.C.M.G. 1890 Francis Fleming, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1890 Sir George William Des Voeux, K.C.M.G. 1891 Mjr.-Gen. G. Digby Barker, c.B. (Adm.) 1891 Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G.
The Government is administered by a Governor, aided by an Executive Council of five officials. The Legislative Council is presided over by the Governor, and is composed of the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Registrar-General, the Treasurer, the Director of Public Works, the Harbour Master, and five unofficial members, one of whom is clected by the Chamber of Commerce and another by the Justices of the Peace. The other three, one of whom must be a Chinaman but a British subject, are appointed by the Government.
FINANCES.
The estimated revenue for 1894 was $2,007,210, and the ordinary expenditure $1,982,981, in addition to which an expenditure of $364,500 on extraordinary public works chargeable against the loan was provided for. The Colony has a small public debt, a loan of £200,000 having been contracted in 1886, the sinking fund for repayment of which now amounts to £51,768. Another loan of £200,000 was contracted in 1893.
The annual rateable value of the city of Victoria is $3,179,999, that of Kowloon $291,308, and that of the various villages on the island and the Hill District $216,987.
DESCRIPTION.
The island is about 11 miles long and from 2 to 5 broad; its circumference is about 27 miles. It consists of a broken ridge of lofty hills, with few valleys of any extent and scarcely any ground available for cultivation. The only valleys worthy of the name are those of Wong-nai Chung and Little Hongkong, both of which are remark- ably beautiful and well wooded, being in fact the only parts where any considerable arborescent vegetation was formerly to be found. The island is well watered by numerous streams, many of which are perennial. The city of Victoria and the suburbs are supplied with water froin the Pokfolum and Tytam reservoirs. The former, constructed in 1866-69, has a storage capacity of seventy-four million gallons, while the Tytam reservoir, constructed in 1883-88, has an area of about 29 acres and a storage capacity of about four hundred million gallons, which is about to be increased by another hundred million gallons. From the Tytain reservoir the water is conveyed into town by means of a tunnel a mile and one-third in length and a conduit along the hillside some 100 feet above the sea level and nearly four miles in length, on which a fine road— called the Bowen Road-has been formed, which commands the most charming views of the city and the eastern district, and is a favourite resort of pedestrians. In many parts the conduit is carried over the ravines and rocks by ornamental stone bridges, one of which, above Wanchai, has twenty-three arches.
The natural productions of the Colony are few and unimportant. There is little land suitable for tillage, and nothing is grown but a little rice and some vegetables near the outlying villages. There are large granite quarries, both on the island and in