946

HONGKONG

subscription in Statue Square, facing the Harbour, and was unveiled by his successor, Sir R. É. Stubbs on May 3rd, 1923. Sir R. E. Stubbs was succeeded as Governor by Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.B., in the autumn of 1925.

The following is a list of those who have administered the Government from the date on which the Island was erected into a Colony:--

K.C.B.

1843 Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart., G.C.B. 1844 Sir John Francis Davis, Bart., K.C.B. 1848 Samuel George Bonham, C.B. 1851 Major-General W. Jervois (Lt.-Governor) 1851 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., 1852 John Bowring, LL.D. (Acting) 1853 Sir S. George Bonham, Bart., K.C.B. 1854 Sir John Bowring, Kt., LL.D. 1854 Lieut.-Colonel Wm. Caine (Lt.-Governor) 1855 Sir John Bowring, Kt., LL.D. 1859 Colonel Caine (Lieut.-Governor) 1859 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Kt. 1862 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1864 Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson, Kt. 1865 William Thomas Mercer (Acting) 1866 Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Kt., c. B. 1870 Maj.-Gen. H.W. Whitfield (Lt.-Governor) 1871 Sir Richard G. MacDonnell, K.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, K.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.M.G. 1885 Wm. Hy. Marsh, c.M.G. (Administrator) 1887 Maj.-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 Maj.-Gen. G. Digby Barker, c.в. (Adm.) 1891 Sir William Robinson, G.c M.G. 1898 Maj. Gen. Wilsone Black, C.B. (Admiur.) 1898 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G. 1902 Maj.-Gen. Sir W. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G. (Adr.) 1902 Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G. 1903 Francis H. May, C.M.G. (Administrator) 1904 Sir Matthew Nathan, K.C.M.G. 1906-7 Hon. Mr. F.H.May,C.M.G., Admr. (1month) 1907 Sir Matthew Nathan, K,C.M.G. 1907 Brigadier-Gen. Sir F. D. Lugard, K.C.M.G. 1907 Hon. Mr. F. H. May c.M.G. (Adminis.) 1909-10 Sir H. May, K.C.M G. (Administrator) 1910-12 Brig.-Gen. Sir F. D. Lugard, K. C.M.G. 1912 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn (Administrator) 1912 Sir Henry May, K.C,M,G,

1913 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn (Administrator) 1914-19 Sir Henry May, K.C.M.G.

1917-18 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, C. M.G. (Admr.) 1918-19 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, C.M.G. (Admr.) 1919-25 Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs, K.C.M.G. 1922 Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, C.M.G. (Ad:nr., 1925 Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.B.

The Government is administered by a Governor, aided by an Executive Council of six officials and three unofficials. The Legislative Council is presided over by the Governor, and is composed of the Officer Commanding the Troops, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Treasurer, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Capt. Supt. of Police, and six unofficial members, one of whom is elected by the Chamber of Commerce and another by the Justices of the Peace. The remaining four, two of whom are of Chinese race but British nationality, are appointed by the Government. Demands for a greater measure of popular representa- tion were made by the British residents to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1916 and again in 1919, both times unsuccessfully. In 1922 a numerously-signed petition on the subject was presented to the House of Commons.

FINANCES

The revenue for 1924 was $24,209,638 and the expenditure $26,726,426. In October, 1925, the revised estimate of the revenue for the year 1925 was $22,279,855 and the revised estimate of the expenditure $30,032,127. At the same date the estimated revenue for 1926 was $21,367,743 and the estimated expenditure $23,790,615. The Colony opened the year 1925 with a credit balance of just over thirteen million dollars. A good many important works of development were decided upon, and when the Budget for the year was introduced an estimated expenditure of $30,463,611 was approved against an estimat- ed revenue of $21,812,700. During the first five months of the year progress was satis- factory and it appeared extremely probable that the deficit would not be as large as anticipated. Then came the strike and boycott. Revenue diminished and expenditure, under many heads, was unavoidably increased. As a consequence cconomies were effected wherever possible and public works that were not urgently necessary were post- poned. The economies effected and the postponement of public works more than offset any extra expenditure due to the strike and the exceptional expenditure rendered necessary by the abnormal rains, and land slides. The actual increase in revenue despite the falling off of receipts in many departments was due to the death duties paid on several large estates.

The rateable value of the whole Colony in 1924-25 was $22,147,951, showing an increase of 5:16 per cent over the previous year. The rateable value of the Colony shows an increase of 55.02 per cent. in the past ten years.

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