299
VARIOUS STATISTICS.
51. The following statistics furnished to me by Mr. WODEHOUSE, Acting Treasurer, may prove of interest :--
30th Sept., 1879. 30th Sept., 1889.
Total amount of Deposits Current and Fixed in the
European Banks in Hongkong,
1.
$7,068,600
$ 23,882,000
Ditto (Estimated) in Chinese Banks,
15,000,000
Total amount in the Savings Bank,
211,000
Notes in Circulation with bullion in reserve of all
Banks,
4,776,856
9,100,826
Market value of all registered Companies in Hongkong, 39,380,000
63,921,700
REVIEW OF LEADING EVENTS AND OF THE CONDITION AND PROSFECTS
OF THE COLONY.
52. At the beginning of the period of two years above referred to viz.: in November, 1887, occurred the celebration of Her Majesty's Jubilee. The British Community fell short of no other in its outward expression of loyalty; but the most striking feature of the occasion was the heartiness with which the Chinese took part in it, and the very large expense, estimated as exceeding $100,000, which they incurred for processions and illuminations in honour of the event. There could scarcely be better practical proof that they are, on the whole, satisfied with the rule, of which they have now had some 45 years' experience.
53. In the following months occurred a very serious epidemic of small-pox among the Chinese, and one of fever among the European inhabitants of the Western District. The former was similar to what has occurred frequently, and is only what might be expected among a dense population hitherto so largely unvaccinated. The latter, though attributed at the time to other causes, has been shewn by later information to have been distinctly malarial (there having been only one case which shewed symptoms of drain-poison) and was in all probability due principally to the upturning of earth over large areas in connection with the Belcher's Bay Fort, and many private works.
54. In the spring of 1888 occurred a great "strike" on the part of some 4,000 cargo-boatmen which caused much interference with the trade of the Port and at one time threatened serious disturbance. The cause was a regulation, passed before my arrival in the Colony, according to which each cargo-boatman, as the condition of obtaining a licence, was compelled to provide (in addition to the fee of 25 cents per annum) a photograph of himself for the purpose of identification. My enquiries into the subject at once rendered it evident that, supposing a licence to be expedient for each boatman, the photograph was really necessary to preclude facility of transfer. But it was at the same tine equally evident that this very facility of transfer had rendered comparatively tolerable a tax on labour which somewhat savoured of oppression, and to the burthen of which the cost and trouble involved in providing photographs would make a very considerable addition. And it moreover seemed probable that the principal object of the measure, viz., facility of police supervision over cargo-boats, might be equally well attained by less questionable means.
55. While for these reasons sympathising with the strikers as having a just ground of complaint, I felt that, in a community of this kind, it would be unwise to amend the regulation until they had modified their attitude of combined obstruction to trade, inasmuch as the success of pressure under such circumstances would have quickly caused it to be used for less legitimate objects. Notification was therefore made to them that while they as free men were of course at liberty to cease work if they chose to do so, any attempt on their part at disorder or intimidation of others would be visited with the strongest measures of repression; and. they were at the same time informed in conciliatory terms that, when they returned to work, their complaints would at once receive careful consideration. In somewhat less than a fortnight from the commencement of the "strike" this policy had at length the desired effect; and after the men had returned to work the regulations were reconsi- dered. As now amended, the tax on ordinary boatmen is abolished, and the