CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8]

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12. The Village Rolls throughout the Colony have been carefully revised, and the houses wholly re-numbered. I take this opportunity to thank the Honourable the Director of Public Works for the valuable assistance rendered by Mr. KING, the Land Bailiff, in obtaining squatters' names, and in the identification of houses where the numbers had been obliterated, or where from other causes difficulties arose.

As the Village Lists are now more complete than has been the case previously, I have the honour to suggest that an Annual Valuation of the outlying districts is not necessary. If arrangements could be made for the Land Bailiff to supply me with a periodical return, half-yearly or yearly, of all changes in ownership which come under his observation, together with a list of new dwellings, &c. and those pulled down or removed, a general revision of the country districts, excepting the more important places, such as Shau Ki Wan, Aberdeen, Hung Hom and Yan-na-ti once in three or five years, or even less frequently, would be quite sufficient.

13. I annex Table "A" giving a comparison of the Valuations of 1892-93 and 1893-94 for the City of Victoria, the amount increased or decreased in each district, and the net decrease; Table "B", giving similar comparisons for the Hill District, Hongkong Villages, Kowloon Point and Kowloon Villages; Table "C" a summary for the whole Colony.

14. I venture to express the opinion that the result of the year's work as shown above cannot be considered other than gratifying. It certainly proves that "the Colony as a whole is progressing."

15. Mr. LAU HI To, my late Interpreter, died from Beri-beri on 3rd December last, and his place has been efficiently filled by Mr. IP Yuk Pui, who is employed temporarily. The Clerk to Assessor, Mr. Ch'an Pui, continues to give satisfaction.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

ARTHUR CHAPMAN,

Assessor.

The Honourable X. G. MITCHELL-INNES,

Colonial Treasurer.

Table A.

CITY OF VICTORIA.

DISTRICT. VALUATION 1892-93. VALUATION 1893-94. INCREASE. DECREASE. Per-centage. 1 Kennedy Town $17,225 $18,940 $1,715 9.96 2 Shek Tong Tsui $109,110 $113,964 $4,854 4.45 3 Sai Ying Pun $637,115 $640,770 $3,655 0.57 4 Tai Ping Shan $333,855 $325,810 $8,045 2.41 5 Sheung Wan $418,345 $412,830 $5,515 1.32 6 Chung Wan $1,288,080 $1,278,005 $10,075 0.78 7 Ha Wan $148,270 $143,815 $4,455 3.00 8 Wan Tsai $114,395 $112,440 $1,955 1.71 9 Bowrington $48,210 $42,710 $5,500 11.41 10 So Kon Po $57,565 $56,125 $1,440 2.50 City of Victoria $3,167,170 $3,145,409 $10,224 $31,985 Deduct Increase $10,224 Total Decrease $21,761 0.68

Table B.

THE HILL DISTRICT, HONGKONG VILLAGES, KOWLOON POINT, KOWLOON VILLAGES.

LOCALITY. VALUATION 1892-93. VALUATION 1893-94. INCREASE. DECREASE. Hill District $93,260 $87,230 $6,030 Hongkong Villages $99,118 $126,612 $27,494 Kowloon Point $100,080 $102,270 $2,190 Kowloon Villages $171,318 $175,672 $4,354

Table C.

THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.

LOCALITY. VALUATION 1892-93. VALUATION 1893-94. INCREASE. DECREASE. City of Victoria $3,167,170 $3,145,409 $21,761 Hill District $93,260 $87,230 $6,030 Hongkong Villages $99,118 $126,612 $27,494 Kowloon Peninsula $271,398 $277,942 $6,544 Total $3,680,946 $3,637,193 $34,088 $27,791 Deduct Decrease $27,791 Total net Increase in the Rateable Value of the whole Colony $6,247 0.17 per cent.

ARTHUR CHAPMAN,

Assessor.