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HONG KONG.
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REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
30. From the shipping report another and very fair proof of the favourable position of the colony may be gathered. Whereas in 1854 the number of vessels anchored in the harbour was 1,100 with a tonnage of 443,554, in 1855 the returns show 1,736 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 604,580. This gives a large increase of tonnage, and a comparatively large increase of ships, from which results, if statistics, or I should say if these statistics, are to be relied on,
I would draw this inference, that the average of a ship being in 1854 403 tons less than the average ship in 1855, the increase has been in the larger vessels, that is, in those employed not in the coasting trade, which trade is the life and strength of the colony.
31. On the subject of education, with special reference to the present and future provision of interpreters, your Excellency some time back appointed a commission of inquiry. This being a question so purely of personal and individual opinion has considerably embarrassed the commission in forming a conclusion, but I trust that a report may be shortly presented. In the meantime I may not be out of place in noting that negotiations are on foot for regaining the valuable assistance of Mr. Caldwell, whose secession from the service was attributable to no act of the Colonial Government.
32. In the month of November the Government, after full and mature reflection, published its project of a praya on the sea front of the city, and I remark this as one of the important events of the past year, and the introduction of a great future improvement and much benefit in many ways to the colony.
33. Another useful project was a new carriage road to Stanley, but this has been abandoned for the time, as the estimated outlay exceeded £6,000, a sum too large to be borne by the colony, now deprived, as it is this year for the first time, of all assistance by parliamentary grant.
34. There is one all-important subject for which I may observe no provision seems to be made in the headings officially furnished for the compilation of the Blue Book, but which cannot be, and I think never has been, passed over in this document. I refer to the subject of health, which is introduced in the annual report of the colonial surgeon.
35. In that report I have not much to notice, save that the colonial surgeon seems to be unaware that much has been done during the past year to improve the sanitary condition of the city. Tanks to ensure a proper supply of water are nearly completed, Captain Cowper is engaged in a thorough revision of the sewerage and drainage, and an ordinance to regulate buildings and suppress nuisances has recently passed the legislative council.
36. Another ordinance on the subject of health has been referred to the Home Government, and this important matter is receiving every attention.
37. It is satisfactory to find that, notwithstanding the large increase of the population, the past year is pronounced very healthy for foreigners, and I do not find that the colonial surgeon states it to have been more fatal than its predecessors to the Chinese inhabitants; and on communication with the superintendent of police I am confirmed in my belief that there has been no special mortality beyond what increased population will account for; and, further, that this city is not considered by the Chinese more inimical to health than the towns of the mainland.
38. The civil hospital should be enlarged, and measures to effect this are in course of adoption.
39. There is one point that I wish to take this special opportunity of bringing to your Excellency's notice. The numerical strength, construction, and several duties of the Government departments.
40. The Colonial Secretary's office should be relieved of various duties accidentally but unavoidably imposed upon it. The harbour master should act as registrar of shipping, and should perform the various details required in other places from the regular custom house officer, such as giving certificates of the landing of goods, &c. which have been required during the war, and are given by the colonial secretary on the oath of those applying.
41. The emigration business I have already suggested should go to an assistant harbour master, an officer who would relieve the harbour master of certain of his duties.
42. There seems to be some lack of knowledge in the harbour master's department of the shipping in the harbour and the particulars connected with them.
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
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43. The Treasury and Audit Office should be relieved from all care of and control over the monies and financial concerns of the superintendency and consulates.
44. The shrievalty should be severed from the magistracy, and a different arrangement made for the performance of the duties of coroner.
45. The gaol staff requires reorganization, and the immediate head of that establishment should be of a higher class than gaoler, say one officer with the customary title of governor of the gaol, and emoluments according.
46. But these propositions and some other similar have, if I recollect rightly, been already made, and will receive every attention from your Excellency and the Home Government.
47. One subject more occurs to me, and that is the position of the servants of government as to pay and retiring pension.
48. With more inducement in the form of either, and especially the latter, I am of opinion that the departments might be better served.
49. The pay is a matter of colonial consideration, and a question here of means, but the pension concerns the Imperial Government, and I remark that in all acts and regulations on the subject of superannuation the colonial service of Hong Kong, where the health of the government officers is comparatively exposed to much danger, and where the casualties among them have been so many and so fatal, is placed on no better footing than the service at home, in the possession of a bracing and temperate climate, surrounded by every luxury and every convenience for the prolongation and enjoyment of life.
50. I foresee in the course of the current year several changes in the various offices of government, and upon the future efficiency of the service; even the promise that this subject shall receive consideration from Her Majesty's Government will have a beneficial effect.
51. I would notice another point before concluding,
52. I have said that the expenses of the colony will rise with its prosperity; I add that the increased revenue will not suffice for the many improvements advisable.
53. The grant from parliament is no longer available, and it becomes a question whether the necessary improvements are to be set aside for years, or whether some means of carrying them out may not be devised.
54. In consideration of the many expenses incurred by the colony on account of the general trade with China, from which the mother country reaps so abundant a harvest, may we not justly receive some favour in compensation for the loss of the grant.
55. A suggestion was once made that the Home Government should impose a differential duty of, say, 1d. a pound on teas shipped for England from Hong Kong; (see a letter written by Mr. J. R. Morrison under instructions from Captain Elliot, dated Macao, 28th June 1841.) If this measure were adopted, the result needs no demonstration.
56. I take the liberty of bringing the point once more forward, and of submitting it to the consideration of your Excellency.
have, &c. (Signed) W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
Sir John Bowring, Knight, LL.D., Governor, &c.
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HONG KONG.