2-

there were decreases under 20 heads as against 4 heads where there were increases. The excess amounting to $5,229,871 under Miscel- laneous Services was due to the war contribution stated above, in addition to another contribution ($1,052,761) referred to below; expenditure on houses and house allowances; and other miscellaneous items. Military Expenditure was smaller than the estimate by $30,138 on account of the Revenue for 1917 having been over- estimated. The item Public Works Recurrent was responsible for an excess of $103,975. Decreases were mostly due to savings on Personal Emoluments and high exchange.

- 3

PLA

The following is a statement of the revenue and expenditure of

the Colony for the five years 1914-1918-

Revenue.

1914 1915

Expenditure. $

$ 11,007,273 10,756,225

11,786,106

15,149,267

1016

T

13,833,387

11,079,915

1917

1918

15,058,105 18,605,248

14,090,828

16,252,172

+

EXPENDITURE,

Governor

73,308

Colonial Secretary's Department and Legis-

Lature -

60,089

Secretariat for Chinese Affairs

50,118

Audit Department

32,841

Treasury

63,078

Harbour Master's Department

174,414

Imports & Exports Department

747,264

Royal Observatory

20,028

Miscellaneous Services-

5,676,571

Judicial and Legal Departments

398,765

Police and Prison Departments

873,864

Medical Departmenté

237,538

Sanitary Department

370,170

Botanical and Forestry Department

50,456

Education -;

343.418

Military Expenditure

2,788,722

Public Works Department

375,203

Do

Recurrent

712,675

Po.

Extraordinary

1,578,149

Post Office

J

181,208

Kowloon-Canton Railway

387276

Charge on account of Public Debt Pensions

783.391

228,402

Charitable Services

44,624

TOTAL,

$16,252,177

The balance to the good on the year's working was $2,413,076,

and the assets and liabilities account showed on the 31st December

a credit balance of $5,681,138.

The amount of the consolidated loan stands at £1,485,733. Against this there is at credit of the Sinking Fund a sum of £283,002. The Local Loan under Ordinance No. 12 of 1916 amounts to $3,000,000 and there are the sums of $212,000 and £33,300 at credit of the Sinking Fund.

Under Ordinance No. 18 of 1917 a tax of 7% on Assessments was imposed to provide an Annual Contribution to the Imperial Government for purposes of the war.

A new Valuation was made for the year commencing 1st July, 1918, resulting as follows:-

Increases :-

The City of Victoria, $978,880 or 8:31%.

Shaukiwan, Saiwanho, and Quarry Bay, $11,007 or 2-70%.

Hongkong Villages, $20,042 or 13 72%

Yaumati, $84,780 or 2412%.

Mongkoktsni, $64,000 or 28*83%. Kowloon Point, $14,735 or 2·32%.

Hung Hom and Hok Un, $20,050 or 671%.

New Kowloon, $13,736 or 12-37%, Kowloon Villages, $13,128 or 1391%.

Decrease:-

The Hill District, $1,375 r 042%.

The rateable value of the whole Calony amounted to $15,638,736

being an increase of $1,228,583 or 8:52%.

For the period 1900-1918 the assessinent of the whole Colony has risen from $10,750,902 to $15,038,736, an increase in rateable valne of 44 53%.

The circulation on the 31st December of notes of the three Bauke having futhorised issues was as follows:

Hongkong & Shanghai Bank,

Chartered Bank of India, Australia, & China, Mercantile Bank of India,

$22,401,355

8,718,777

1,008,380

$32,$18,512

7.0.0.

440

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