HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, FOR THE YEAR 1906.
No. 23
• 1907
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.
1.-Revenue and Expenditure.
(See Tables 1 a to Id.)
The revenue collected during the year amounted to $177,284.21 and exceeded the amount collected in 1905 by $4,336.32. The estimated revenue for the year was $170,250.00. The principal increases are under the heads-Hawkers and Markets. The number of Hawkers' Licences was 14,165 compared with 13,782 in 1905.
The increase of $3,976 in the revenue from the lease of market premises comes princi- pally from the Central, Western and Hunghom Markets, but the new Mongkoktsui Market also contributes $849. This market contains 40 stalls and by the 1st April they had all been let at a monthly rental of $104.50. In the usual course rents began to find their proper level and had fallen to $79.90 ja December. The New Western Market was completed during the year and by the end of November the poultry and fish-dealers had been transferred from the old to the new market. The tenants complain that there has been a great falling off in their business since their removal to the new premises and I believe there is some foundation for the complaint. The accommodation provided for the poultry dealers has been found in- sufficient.
The licensing of Postmen and Postal Hongs was taken over by the Post Office on the 1st May, and the licensing of boats by the Harbour Department at the close of the year.
The total expenditure du the year was $36,947.46 compared with $31,761.32 in 1905. Of this increase $3,73 3 were spent on the Census which was taken on the 21st November. The actual expenditure fell short of the estimate by $9,415.45, of which a litt -over $8,500 is due to the height of Exchange and changes in the Staff.