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REPORT ON
not leading to any place-surrounded by no trading or populous com- munities, with various commodities for barter-and disadvantageously situated at the most impoverished part of a coast-line of 2000 miles, and which, for half the year, is only readily accessible in one direction.
Singapore is most advantageously placed at the southern point of the rich Malayan Peninsula, and at the entrance of the Straits of Malacca, which may be considered the high road between Eastern and Western Asia. It is surrounded by, or lies contiguous to, the most fertile, wealthy, and populous islands and countries in the world- Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, Macassar, Penang, Siam, Cochin China, Tonquin, Birmah, &c. The harbour of Singapore is capacious, perfectly sheltered, easy of access from every point of the compass, and never experiencing a tempest. The climate is very salubrious. The island is of great beauty and salubrity, with an undulating surface, and an area of 120,000 acres, all capable of tillage, and of which 20,000 acres are now under the luxuriant and profitable cultivation of sugar- cane, nutmegs, pepper, rice, betel-nut, gambier, cocoa-nuts, &c.
The sugar made by Mr. Ballastier with a steam-engine, or by Mr. Montgomerie by water and cattle-mills, is equal in quality to the produce of the West Indies. The nutmeg-trees are already yielding abundantly; the black pepper produced during the past year amounted to 38,000 piculs (a picul 1331bs); the gambier to 85,000 piculs; and there are 10,000 cocoa-nut trees in full bearing. Live stock, bread, water, and delicious fruits and vegetables of every kind, and at mode- rate prices, are at all times ready for the shipping, who enjoy the advantage of a perfectly free port. Eighty-six miles of excellent roads have been completed, and extensive communications are in progress. Land is being sold in fee-simple at a minimum and maximum price of five to six rupees, or ten to twenty shillings per acre. Fifty thousand industrious and skilful inhabitants are spreading cultivation in every direction. Four companies of Sepoys constitute the sole military force of the island, which has not even a fort for its defence. The revenue in 1842 amounted to rupees 509,087, and the disbursements (including rupees 165,955 for troops, and rupees 49,789 for Bengal and Madras convicts), to rupees 494,029, leaving a surplus of income to the extent of rupees 15,083; and under the able management of the present Governor, Colonel Butterworth, it is one of the most lucrative posses- sions of the British Crown.
The remarkably eligible position of Singapore for a commercial emporium led to its establishment by Sir Stamford Raffles as a British colony in 1819, when there were but a few Malay fishermen on the island, who disputed with the tiger for their occupancy.
In 1821 the trade of the colony amounted to 1,000,0007. sterling, in 1824 to 3,000,000%. sterling, and last year, and indeed for several years the commerce of the island has averaged 5,600,0007. sterling per annum. This trade is carried on with many countries: with Great Britain, to the extent of 3,000,000 dollars; with Calcutta, 2,800,000 dollars; with Java, 1,500,000 dollars; with foreign Europe, North and South
There are no
Austrian, Prussian, Greek, Turk, &c., now in port; and six steam-vessels from Trieste, Malta, Alexandria, Constantinople, Smyrna, Athens, &e. fortifications. Why should Hong Kong require fortifications?
HONG KONG.
America, Madras, Bombay, Arabia, Ceylon, Penang, Malacca, Birmah, Siam, Cochin China, Manila; with Hainan, Formosa, and the whole coast of China; with Sumatra, Borneo, Rio, the Moluccas, Mauritius, Australasia, &c. Traders from all these places meet by common consent at a central mart close to the equator, and exchange the productions of Asia for those of Europe and America.
It is erroneously supposed that Singapore has been created by its trade with China. Such is not the fact. Singapore in 1838-39, in square-rigged vessels, was 178,796 tons, of The total import tonnage of which that from China was 32,860. The native tonnage for the same year was 48,000, of which the Chinese vessels constituted 8000 tons.
The Straits' produce which the Chinese require are brought to Singapore by Malay or other coasting craft, who would not proceed to the northward; and the proprietors of the Chinese junks, with whom time is no object, and who go down the coast to the Eastern Archipelago with one monsoon, and return with the other, prefer the speculation with their varied cargoes, and the visiting of their countrymen at the different islands.
But sufficient has been stated to show that there is no analogy whatever between Hong Kong and Singapore, and that the geographical, territorial, and commercial advantages, which have contributed to the prosperity of Singapore, are totally and entirely wanting, and can never be created at Hong Kong*.
Financial point of view.-There is no apparent prospect of Hong Kong ever yielding any revenue adequate to more than a very small civil government. The limited size and rocky nature of the island,-the absence of agriculture, manufactures, or commerce,--and the fluctuating and predatory character of the population, forbid the hope of an income
* Dr. Gutzlaff, in November 1844, wrote the following opinion on Hong Kong, which Governor Davis forwarded to Lord Aberdeen
"Hong Kong, with its fine harbour, has not yet proved a place of trade, on anticipations founded at the opening of the port on the previous flourishing condition of the floating colonies at Lintin, Kamsingmoon, and Kapsingmoon.
"The whole state of things is now, however, materially and radically changed. The violent prohibitions against opium have ceased to be carried into effect, and the smuggling vessels are now everywhere scattered on the coast. Every raw and manufactured article may be bought, nearly as cheap as at Hong Kong, at any of the four emporiums; what should therefore induce the Chinese to fetch them from a distant mart? The Chuc Chew race of mariners and merchants have not yet made this island their abode, and unless they commence in earnest, the motley group now inhabiting our shores will never rise beyond the sphere of pedlars.
In the same ratio as the northern trade expands, the limits of the southern will be more and more narrowed; and unless matters are replaced in their former state-which is perhaps beyond the range of possibility-we cannot expect that Hong Kong will become a large emporium. Its only chance is, that troubles might arise at Canton, and the commerce be carried on here for security sake: local advantages that can in the smallest degree compete with Chusan, Hong Kong does not possess. sacrifice of human life will be enormous, and the public expenditure in the same If the climate continues as it has hitherto been, the proportion, without any solid advantage."
The "Overland Friend of China," of 31st December, 1845, says that a "native who has been in the colony from its earliest days, has brought all his property, con- sisting of sixty houses, into the market. Other natives are desirous to sell, and leave the island."