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A Canadian Pacific Railway steamer enters Shanghai, pays 66 cents a ton for a few hours, and proceeding to Hongkong, lies here three weeks at a cost of 2 cents a tou. The entry at Shanghai on the return voyage reduces the cost of the "Grand Chop" to 33 cents, but only by making 2 complete trips in 4 months can she reduce her payment to China to about 30 per cent. more than for these trips she has paid in this British port.
So much for the "trunk liners."
On the other hand, a "Douglas" or "Indo-China" steaner enters, pays the same 2 cents a tou, remains here for 12 or 24 hours, and, returning again in three days from Canton or the Coast, has to again pay light dues.
A quarterly or half-yearly port tax, seems, therefore, to be the fairest. Vessels could then go in and out continually, availing themselves of the lights, or lie in harbour occupying space, as may seem best for the peculiar circumstances of each branch of trade. But, of course, that tax could not remain at 24
cents a ton.
Then again as to the present dues paid by river steamers. Twenty years ago or thereabouts when light dues were first imposed on European shipping, (junks had contributed to the revenue for 8 years previous to this), these river steamers were given exceptional rates in order to foster a particular trade. That trade has now arrived at a position quite capable of paying a fair share of the expenses of a Govern- ment under the aegis of which it was created.
At the present rate of light dues these vessels, under the special privilege of paying only one-third of the fixed rate, and that only for those of them which arrive at night, (all the other being free of the port,) paid last year $3,506 for a total tonnage arriving, amounting to considerably over a million and a half of tons, or at the rate of less than of a cent per ton, and side by side with this they have been paying, if my information is correct, about $17,000 at Canton for the same period.
They thus contribute to the Chinese revenue about 5 times more than to the revenue of the Colony whose flag they fly and the protection of whose laws they crave.
I am not advocating the cause of the Chinese methods of obtaining revenue, I merely wish to illustrate to those, who are accustomed to hear a sort of "commination service" read, having the
freedom of the port" for its theme, how very mild our methods are in Hongkong.
36. The lighthouses were maintained as usual during the year. The new lenses for Gap Rock, to replace those injured by the typhoon in October 1893, arrived from England and the light was restored to its original condition of efficiency in May.
37. Telegraphic and telephonic communication, with some few breaks, has also been kept up with the Gap Rock and Cape D'Aguilar during the year. From the former station, 373 vessels have been reported as passing, and in addition 233 messages were received and 1,915 sent, including the daily weather report for the Observatory.
From Cape D'Aguilar 983 vessels were reported, and in addition 31 messages were sent and 106 received.
38. The means of communication with Gap Rock are not, in my opinion, satisfactory. In 1893 severe damage was sustained by the Light and buildings, and the keepers were in a position of no little danger. Telegraphic communication being broken by the typhoon, information of the state of things only reached Hongkong through the courtesy of the captain of the P. & O. steamer Clyde, who, in answer to a signal, sent a boat to communicate with the Rock. With considerable difficulty the immediate wants of the keepers were relieved the following day.
Now, the station is in more or less danger from every typhoon which affects Hongkong, and we ought to be in the best possible position to satisfy ourselves as to their condition at any time during a typhoon, and to send succour to them if necessary immediately the weather permits. Such a position we are not in at the present time, the more severe the typhoon and thus the greater the danger to the keepers, the more likelihood is there that the telegraphic communication will be interrupted, and, with that condition of things, the people may be in the greatest peril without our knowledge, and if, as happened on one occasion, the Fame could not be spared by the Dock Company until 24 hours after the weather had moderated, the knowledge might eventually come too late.
The Light has been established at considerable expense, no reasonable expenditure should be grudged
to ensure its efficiency and the safety of those in whose charge it is,
The station was not damaged to a great extent by the typhoons of 1894, though in the one of 4th to 5th October the sea was washing up to the buildings, the derrick was carried away, and other minor damage was sustained.