214
5. The countries with which the decrease of British tonnage is most apparent are :—
Coast of China and Formosa,
Cochin-China,
Continent of Europe,....
Australia,..
6. The principal increase appears with the following countries:
British Columbia,
Great Britain, Japan,
,190,977 tons.
123,894
"
.104,201 22,178
"
55
22,173 .121,066
40,918 >>
+"
7. The principal decrease, that with Coast of China and Formosa, may be partly accounted for by the fact that, during the year several steamers trading on the Coast, which were formerly under the British flag, were transferred to the German flag. The decrease under the heading of Continent of Europe is partly consequent on this trade being carried more in Foreign bottoms. But it is more largely due to an alteration in the system of classification adopted in this Report. In former Reports, the vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental Company calling at Brindisi and Marseilles en route were classed under the heading of "Continent of Europe," while now they are classed under "Great Britain." With Australia, the decrease must be put down to the altered circumstances of trade con- sequent on the suppression of Chinese Emigration to the Australian Colonies.
8. During the year, 3,660 steamers arrived, being a daily average of over 10, 7 of which were "Ocean going." They represented a total tonnage of 4,416,000, over 68 per cent. of them were under the British flag.
9. The statistics show an increase in the Junk trade over last year, with the Coast of China and Formosa of 103,497 tons, and with Macao of 40,284 tons. There is a decrease however of 9,863 tons in the local trade.
10. On the 31st December there were 91 steam-launches in the Harbour, of these, 41 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, 42 were privately owned, and
42 were privately owned, and 8 were the property of the Colonial Government. There were, in addition, 6 launches, the property of the War Department.
EMIGRATION.
11. During the year 1888, 96,195 Emigrants left Hongkong, of these, 72,744 (65,976 males, 5,109 females, and 1,659 children) were for the Straits Settlements; 18,275 (18,119 males, 95 females, and 61 children) were for San Francisco; 1,972 (1,942 males, 3 females, and 27 children) were for the Australian Colonies. Owing to the restrictions placed on Chinese Emigration by the various Govern- ments in the Australian Colonies, Emigration there has been practically stopped since the month of May, 1888.
12. The subject of abuses connected with Chinese Emigration has lately received much attention. That abuses do exist there can, I think, be little doubt, but I question much if they exist to the extent which some suppose. Frequent cases of so-called "kidnapping" are reported, but, except in the case of women or children, my impression is that in a large number of these reported cases, the so-called "kid- napped" coolie is a rogue, who, having agreed to emigrate and received a "bounty" for so doing, either escapes from the vessel as she is leaving the harbour, or gets some of his friends to report that he has been taken away against his will in the hopes that he may be taken out of the ship before leaving, or traced and sent back from the port for which he has sailed, in either case, if he is successful, he will be ready to try his game on again sooner or later. The jumping overboard of "kidnapped" coolies from out- ward bound Chinese passenger ships, of which a good deal was heard a short time ago is one of the symptoms of abuses in which I do not believe. It is a curious fact that few if any of these individuals are ever heard of after jumping overboard, though they are seen to be picked up by boats which appear to be waiting for them. It is more than probable, I think, that in nearly all these cases, could they be clearly traced, it would be found that this "kidnapped one was really either a "Bounty Jumper" or else a thief who had got on board surreptitiously and remained as long as he could, with a view of seeing what there was to be picked up, and who, having done all he could in the time at his disposal, cleared out by jumping overboard at a suitable spot where his friends would be waiting to pick him up in a boat.
"
13. Cases of forged contract passage tickets have come under my notice, also cases of Emigrants going on board after the medical inspection by the Health Officer and the issue of the Emigration Officer's Certificate. During the past year, on one occasion under the latter circumstances I detained the vessel until the number on board corresponded with the number passed by the Health Officer and certified to by me. A claim was made for compensation for this detention, but it was not persisted in. As one precaution against fraud, every ticket is now numbered as the owner passes before the Health Officer and Emigration Officer's Deputy on board.
on board. A further proposed precaution is to have the tickets printed on specially prepared paper in order that forgeries may be readily recognized, but no means adopted by the Government will prove wholly effectual, unless we have the active co-operation of the Agents or Charterers and the Master of the vessel towards the prevention of abuses.
·
14. The present system of the Emigrants going on board at any time after their passing at the Harbour Office and before the sailing of the vessel, and while the vessel is lying in the Roads, in a great measure open to the public,—since the officers and crew are so fully employed in their other