520
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(D.) Climate.
(1.) Rainfall. --The total rainfall for the year was 57.025 inches. In 1897 it was 100.03. The wettest months were June (14.25 inches) and August (9.9 inches). The driest month was December, with 0.025 inches. The greatest rainfall on any one day was that on August 25th (2.585 inches). On 213 days there was no rain. The relative humidity of the atmosphere throughout the year was 74.6%; December was lowest with 52%, May and June were highest with 83%. The sunshine throughout the year was 5.8 hours, as compared with 4.78 in 1897. On 41 days only, no sunshine was recorded.
(2.) Temperature.--The average monthly temperature throughout the year was 72.29°F., as compared with 71.7°F. in 1897. The maximum monthly temperature was in July, with 81.7°F.; the minimum in January with 60.1°F. The highest recorded temperature was on May 30th, with 91.5°F.; the lowest on January 25th with 46.1°F.
(3.) Direction and Force of Wind.--The typhoons of 1898 were above the average as regards both number and intensity. Telegraphic connections were interrupted 12 times as well as during some thunderstorms. The maximum wind velocity for any month was 62, in August; the minimum 26, in September.
VIII. POSTAL, TELEGRAPH, AND TELEPHONE SERVICES.
(A.) Postal Service.
I have already transmitted to you a copy of the Postmaster General's Report in which he makes a number of recommendations regarding the future administration and expansion of the Postal Department.
I need not, therefore, refer here to his proposals beyond calling your attention to the urgency of many of the present requirements of this important branch of the public service.
As compared with 1897, the amount of international correspondence shows an increase of 734,460; the local correspondence--by which is meant correspondence with the Agencies where Chinese covers; the sale of stamps increased to Post Offices are now established--shows an increase of 26,930 covers.
The nett increase of Revenue derived from all postal sources in 1898 compared with 1897 was $68,563.50. The corresponding increase in Expenditure was $34,480.83. The balance of Revenue over Expenditure was $93,618.47, an increase of $34,082.27 above that shown in 1897.
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The working expenses of 1897 were only $15,666.25 less than those of 1898; yet the deficit of $20,000 in the former year has become a surplus of $95,000 in the latter.
In ten years this Department has paid into General Revenue $278,189.11.
The Postmaster General reports that he is able to speak highly of most of the seniors on the staff, but that the juniors lack a sense of responsibility, and it is doubtful if many of them intend to remain in the Service.
IX.--MILITARY FORCES AND EXPENDITURE.
(1) Regular Forces.
The following Table shows the numbers and nature of the Forces employed in the Colony during 1898:-
EUROPEAN INDIAN CHINESE TOTALS General Staff Garrison Staff Royal Artillery 10 10 Hongkong-Singapore Battalion, R.A. 404 404 Royal Engineers 8 8 Chinese Sub.-Miners 434 434 1K.O. Royal Laner. Regt. 459 459 Army Service Corps 10 171 182 Hongkong Regiment 69 953 1,010 Royal Army Medical Corps 5 7 38 Ind. Sub-Med. Dept. 3 3 A.O.D. and Corps 14 6 21 A.P.D. and Corps, Educational 9 2 97 TOTAL 220 1,606 1,419 3,222(2.) Volunteer Forces.
The Field Battery numbered 117, of whom 93 were efficient; while the figures for the Machine Gun Company were 38 and 43 respectively.
X.--GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The establishment of penny postage, together with the reduction of the local rate from 10 cents to 4 cents per half ounce with the United Kingdom, its dependencies and Canada, has been estimated to cause a probable loss of $80,000 during the current year.
The most important event of the year 1898 as regards this Colony was the grant by China of a lease for 99 years of a portion of the Mainland and some of the surrounding islands to Great Britain as an extension of the Colony.
The Honourable J.H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary, who was on leave in England, returned to Hongkong, and in August visited the territory thus granted, upon the capabilities of which he made an exhaustive report.
The occupation of the extended area was not effected during the year under review and will be more properly dealt with in the report on the Blue Book for the current year.
Branch Post Offices were opened during 1898 at Kowloon and West Point.
The money passing through the Money Order Office was about the same in 1898 as in 1897, namely, $521,711 in the latter year and $527,413 in the year that has passed.
The nett commission collected, however, was $360 more in 1898 than in 1897.
The year 1898 witnessed a recurrence of the Plague which carried off 1,175 people.
The proportion of Europeans attacked was somewhat greater than during the preceding epidemic.
So far Medical Science appears to be equally at fault as to its prevention or its cure.
The most active measures were taken by the Health Officers and the Sanitary Board, but without any apparent effect upon the course of the epidemic, which appeared, increased, declined and disappeared synchronously with the epidemic at Canton and other towns where no attempt whatever was made to check its ravages.
The terror inspired by the epidemic of 1894 among the Chinese has apparently ceased as there was no exodus during 1898.
The coolies who are almost exclusively the victims seem to accept the possibilities with stoical equanimity.
Year Revenue Expenditure Surplus/Deficit 1889 $142,309.11 $20,818.15 Deficit 1890 $148,459.98 1891 $142,770.03 $2,605.02 Surplus 1892 $157,699.03 $3,450.73 Surplus 1893 $167,596.77 $14,309.81 Surplus 1894 $192,172.42 $8,820.27 Surplus 1895 $244,449.71 $50,209.44 Surplus 1896 $245,280.33 $56,999.16 Surplus 1897 $268,616.40 $61,536.20 Surplus 1898 $337,179.99 $95,618.47 SurplusEmigration decreased as compared with 1897.
At the Emigration Office 8,497 women and children were examined under the “Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1889,” and allowed to proceed to their destination.
In 1897 the numbers were 8,501.
Immigration from China to the Colony is considerable, and among the immigrants, as is inevitable, there are many representatives of the vicious and criminal classes of the Mainland, who add considerably to the difficulties with which the Hongkong police have to contend.