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A Form of Government was organised, a Chief Magistrate, and Harbour Master were appointed. 50 lots of land were sold in 1841, to Messrs Jardine Matheson & Co., Macgowan, Dent & Co., Fox Rawson & Co., Innes-Lindsay and various other persons, the annual rent of which amounted to £3224. Each lot was required to have a building erected within six months of the appraised value of $1000; and a deposit of $500 was required to be lodged with the treasurer as a security for the performance of this engagement.
Building commenced with great spirit; the Government spent very large sums of money on the island, and the harbour was filled with ships and transports. The island has now had a fair trial of more than three and a half years. We shall inquire what progress it has made.
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On taking possession of Hong Kong it was found to contain about 1500 inhabitants scattered over 20 fishing villages.
The requirements of the fleet, and troops, the demands for labour to make roads, and houses, and the servants of Europeans increased the number of inhabitants, and in March 1847 the number was counted at 19,361. In April 1841 the number of Chinese on the island is computed at 19000, including about 1000 females, children, servants, and slaves.
There were 97 gambling houses, and several opium shops. After six years and a half of continued settlement, there is not one respectable Chinese inhabitant to be found.
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