CO129-023 - Sir John Davis - 1848 [1-3]

deducted from the total charge for the year, leaves 35,790l. for the fixed expenditure, being only 4,712l. beyond the revenue.

The shipping return for 1847 amounts to 229,465 tons for European vessels, and for Chinese junks 840,990 piculs. The statement appended to this statement of the sugar trade, lately established, is of itself sufficiently satisfactory.

I have anticipated the recommendation of the Committee, that the jurisdiction of the Consuls over civil suits should be extended beyond 500 dollars, by Consular Ordinance No. 3 of 1847, which enacts that the Consuls, with certain assessors, shall have jurisdiction over all civil suits whatever, subject to an appeal to the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, with the further appeal to the Privy Council in all cases above 500l.

I have likewise added to the efficacy of the criminal jurisdiction of the Consuls, by adopting, in Consular Ordinance No. 2 of 1847, the provisions of an order by Her Majesty in Council for the government of British subjects in the Levant.

Page 198

Inclosure 2.

RETURN of Ships arrived in Hong Kong during 1847.

Great Britain. British Colonies. United States. Foreign States. Total. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. With merchandize and general cargoes 42 16,283 11 4,890 With coals From Sydney, Hobart Town, and Swan River, with coals, sandal-wood, flour, timber, general cargoes, and in ballast 33 10,364 From India, with cotton, opium, general cargoes, troops, and Government stores, and 13 steamers 114 66,329 168,175 From Boston and New York, with general cargoes, spurs, and ice 53 21,173 From South America, Manila, Batavia, Bally, and South Sea Islands, with copper ore, rice, rattans, sandal-wood, sundries, and in ballast 3 From East Coast of China, with teas, silks, specie, salt, alum, sundries, and return opium vessels in ballast From Canton River, C. Moon, with silks, teas, sugar, opium, sundries, and in ballast

Inclosure 3.

IMPORTS into Hong Kong in Chinese vessels.

Description 1846 1847 Number of piculs Value per picul Total sterling Number of piculs Value per picul Total sterling Sugar 26,000 0 17 0 231,000 0 17 0 £196,350 Alum 3,000 0 6 0 900 7,000 0 6 0 2,100 Sulphur 500 0 8 0 200 Rice 214,200 0 4 2 £64,350 235,000 0 13 0 152,750 Nut Oil 139,230 1 2 0 110,000 1 2 0 121,000 Salt 642,700 309,000 840,990 0 8 0 320 2 0 20,719 £325,780 £493,239

Victoria, Hong Kong, January 21, 1848.

(Signed)

JOSE M. MARQUES,

Acting Registrar-General.

Inclosure 4.

EXPORT of Sugar from Hong Kong during 1847.

No. of Vessels Piculs Estimated Value To Great Britain 25,325 at 16s. 6d. per picul £20,893 To India 15 44,946 at 16s. 6d. per picul £37,076 New South Wales 14 57,706 Tubs, 20,626 at 20s. per tub £20,626 (Piculs, 74,753 at 14s. per picul £52,660 To Shanghae 5 Tubs, 332 at 20s. per tub £332 Piculs, 16,446 at 16s. 6d. per picul £13,568 £144,827

Harbour-Master's Office, Victoria, Hong Kong, January 21, 1848.

(Signed) WILLIAM PEDDER, Harbour-Master.

Harbour Master's Office,

Victoria, Hong Kong, January 21, 1847.

(Signed)

WILLIAM PEDDER,

Harbour-Master.