175
19. That the number of steamers entering 13 times and over during the year-that is to say more than once a month-has increased, might, I think, be considered as indicating that their employment is not unprofitable to their owners; all these are engaged in the "coasting" or "distributing" trade, or in other words, in the "transhipment of cargo and branch line requirements", and from the fact of there being no falling off in the number and tonnage of these, (but rather the contrary) one might reasonably conclude that there is still a considerable amount of trade arriving, and requiring distribu- tion; and, seeing that this latter trade occupied 963 vessels aggregating 1,522,551 tons trading between Hongkong and places other than China and adjacent countries, we can be well content that our ship- ping trade is, in so far a flourishing state as not to necessitate steamers being laid up for want of profitable work, as has been the case at Home for instance, but rather that their employment is suffi- ciently remunerative to admit of increased dividends being paid, and substantial sums carried forward to the current half-year, as for instance in the case of the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company. (Vide report published in local papers 31.1.93.)
20. Moreover, from whatever cause ships come to Hongkong, whether it be to land goods or to tranship them, the result on the Revenue of the Colony is the same, as the only direct tax on shipping is "light dues," which increase in direct proportion to the increase of tonnage inwards, and it is worthy of note that, notwithstanding the depression in the shipping trade all over the world, our tonnage inwards slightly increased last year, which-if only so far as the Revenue is concerned-cannot be considered as anything but satisfactory.
REVENUE.
21. The total Revenue collected by the Harbour Department during the year was $181,057.85. This is an increase of $16,485.93 over last year, and compared with the average of the last 5 years it shows an increase of $53,549.24.
It was made up as follows:-
1. Light Dues,
2. Licences and Internal Revenue,
3. Fees of Court and Office,
$ 92,309.62
29,939.70
58,808.53
181,057.85
STEAM-LAUNCHES.
22. On the 31st December, there were 137 steam-launches employed in the Harbour, of these 51 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, 59 were privately owned, 11 were the property of the Colonial Government together with a floating Steam Fire Engine, and 5 belonged to the Imperial Government, in the charge of the Military Authorities. All these launches, except those which belong to Her Majesty or to any Foreign Government, are obliged to have a certificated Master and Engineer; the Certificates of these men are liable to suspension or cancellation should they prove negligent or incompetent. One Master's Certificate was suspended during the year for a period of one month.
EMIGRATION.
23. The promise held out in 1891 of a revival of Emigration has to some extent been realised, the numbers last year amounted to 52,143, being an increase of 6,981 over the previous year. Until however new fields are opened, we cannot hope for any substantial revival in this branch of trade.
During the year 476 ships reported having brought to Hongkong 97,991 Chinese passengers returning from various places to which they had emigrated.
REGISTRY OF Shipping.
24. During the year 4 vessels of 2,146 tons were registered under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1854, and 5 Certificates of Registry with a total of 3,592 tons were cancelled. Return No. XVIII shows the remainder of the work done in this branch.
MARINE MAGISTRATE'S COURT.
25. 79 cases were heard in this Court with 178 defendants. Refusal of duty (17) and assault (7) were the principal offences in the case of ships; Breach of Harbour Regulations (12) and Leaving without Clearance (12) in the case of Junks.