THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH MARCH, 1868.
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18. There can also be little doubt that the result of the new Law has been to keep many evil disposed persons out of Hongkong. Formerly there was good reason to suppose that Piratical vessels were fitted out in this Harbor. Free trade amongst Junks had become free License and these piratical pests of our waters had unmolested ingress and egress at all hours of the day or night. Under the existing system the certainty of being boarded on arrival and the uncertainty as to the number of times the Junks are likely to be visited whilst lying here, check the operations of any Chinese who may be meditating aggressive measures on Vessels at sea.
19. In concluding that part of my Report which has reference to the Arrivals and Departures of Vessels, I insert a statement of all vessels Foreign and Native (exclusive of Fishing Junks) that have entered and left the Ports of the Colony during the Year of which this Report treats.
Arrived Departed
Grand Total....
No. of Vessels.
34,007
83,708
67,715
or, including Sundays, 185.5 Vessels enter and leave these waters daily.
Tons.
Crews.
2,881,736
466,693
2,857,057
462,983
5,738,793
929,676
20. Besides the cargoes brought by the above mentioned Vessels they have also brought 429,079 Chinese Passengers to Victoria, and a somewhat less number have left by the same means. This would make it appear that the population of Hongkong has not increased to any great extent. But the Arrivals and Departures of Chinese included in this Report must not be taken as affecting the resident population, as many Passengers daily arrive in the Colony by means of the small pulling boats and of whom no register can be kept by this Department.
EMIGRATION.
21. Emigration from Hongkong has sensibly decreased, there having been but 4,129 souls despatched in 1867, which is 986 less than in the previous Year. This is in a great measure to be attributed to the present cheapness of Rice and clothing in China, as it is well known that Chinese will not leave their native Country unless driven from it by want of em- ployment or by want of food.
22. The number of Chinese returned from various Countries to on the previous Year. In this increase are included 97 from Havana. reported as returning from that place.
their native land is 9,866, being an increase of 613 This is the first Year that any Chinese have been
23. The Netherlands Government is continuing its efforts to encourage Chinese to emigrate to Dutch Guiana and with that view, the advantages to Emigrants have been improved. The terms of their Contracts are most liberal. On their engagement at this place, they receive two suits of clothes with bedding and other comforts for the voyage. In addition to this a sum of eleven dollars is given them, with which they purchase a few articles, giving a large proportion of their remaining money to their friends who accompany them to see them off. The intending Emigrants agree to serve for a term of Five Years at the rate of Seven Dollars a month. They are excused from all labor on Sundays and public holidays. At the end of their service they receive Sixty Dollars bonus, which, with the savings accrued from their monthly pay, enables them either to pay their passage back to China or to embark their little fortune in shopkeeping or in cultivating a piece of ground which the Netherlands Government gives to those who wish to remain in the Country as settlers. During their period of service the Chinese are under the special protection of the Government and enjoy the same rights as other citizens.
With so many advantages offered it is difficult to conceive on what facts the opponents to the system of hired Emigration can ground their arguments, for it must be self-evident that the condition of the Chinese is much improved by their transferrence to British or Dutch possessions.
24. It has lately been prominently brought to my notice that during the North-east monsoon the Masters of some of the Vessels bound to Singapore and Bangkok have been in the habit of carrying more Chinese Passengers than is permitted by the Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855.
25. The Vessels are cleared in the usual manner with 20 Passengers, after which they are dropped a little way beyond Green Island and then take on board large numbers of Chinese. In the possible event of any Vessel so laden falling in with heavy weather or calms, the loss of life in the former case from want of proper accommodation, and in the latter from want of food and water together with the risk of an epidemic breaking out would be frightful.
26. Heavy penalties have been imposed in each case where the Masters of Vessels have been proved to have infringed the Law.
27. I trust that the steps adopted at this Port with the co-operation of the Government of the Straits Settlement, will shortly put a stop to this most objectionable and dangerous practice.
REGISTRY OF SHIPPING.
28. Thirty Vessels have been registered during the Year and Thirty-seven have for various reasons been struck off. The loss on the difference amounts to 2,182 tons.
SEA MEN,
29. The number of Seamen shipped during the Year amounts to 8,117 and of those discharged to 7,535.
30. A large number of Seamen have been forwarded to this Colony during the Year from the Consular Ports in China, the Philippine Islands and Siam.
31. The system of doing so, in cases where it could be avoided, is most antagonistic to the good order of Victoria. The legal discharge of Seamen at the local Mercantile Marine Office is purposely limited to meet the probable requirements of the Port; therefore any large influx of Seamen from other Ports tends to overthrow all calculations made here to keep the supply and demand of this class of men on a proper footing and is attended with considerable expense to the Imperial Government as the greater proportion of the Seamen land in a destitute condition. Measures have been taken which I hope will prevent a recurrence of this evil.
32. The sum expended in 1867 for the relief of destitute Seamen was $6,545.75.
MARINE MAGISTRATE'S COURT.
33. The total number of cases tried during the Year was 241 or 10 less than in 1866 and of these 51 were for breaches of the Harbor and Coasts Ordinance, so that it will be observed that Seamen have not been so frequently as hitherto before the Court for breaches of discipline.
EXAMINATIONS,--Ordinance No. 17 of 1860.
34. Under this Ordinance 35 Masters and Mates have received Certificates of Competency, 6 only have been rejected, showing an improvement on the last Year's Return.