2
HONGKONG,
ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT FOR 1919.
PREFACE.
Hongkong is situated off the south-eastern coast of China be- tween 22° 9′ and 22° 17′ N. latitude and 114° 3′ and 114° 18′ E. longitude. The island is an irregular ridge, stretching nearly east and west; its peaks rising to the height of nearly 2,000 feet above the sea level. Its length is about 11 miles, its breadth from 2 to 5 miles, its area about 32 square miles.
In 1898 an extension of Hongkong territory was agreed to by an area adjacent to British Kowloon, including Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, being leased for 99 years.
The Colony, then a desolate island. sparsely inhabited by fishermen, was ceded to Great Britain in January, 1841 the cession was confirmed by the Treaty of Nankin in August, 1842; and the charter bears date 5th April, 1843. The additions subsequently obtained on the mainland have been noted above.
Trade increased with the opening up of China to foreign trade. Large local banking, dock, steamboat, and insurance companies were established between 1865 and 1872, and the trade was greatly in- creased by the opening of the Suez Canal.
The city is the depot for an incessant flow of Chinese emigration and immigration; excluding China ports.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
During the year, consequent on the cessation of the great war, the trade of the Colony began to recover, though the continued shortage of shipping and the high rate of freights prevented any hope of a return to normal conditions for some time.
The differences between North and South China, which caused continued fighting between the various factions in the adjacent provinces, had a very serious effect on the trade of the Colony, and an influx of bad characters to the City of Victoria was inevitable. The measures taken by the Police, however, checked to a large extent the crimes of violence which had been so prevalent in the previous year.
Owing to the abnormal situation in the Straits Settlements and Ceylon, the Hongkong rice market was seriously affected and it became necessary for the Government to take steps to ensure that the poorer classes of the Colony were able to obtain this commodity, which is their staple food, at a reasonable price. The Government therefore took general control of the rice trade in the Colony and made large purchases to tide over the threatened crisis. This action no doubt saved the Colony much trouble from the working classes who had shown signs of restlessness on account of the ever increasing price of rice which reached as high as $18.50 per picul for grades which normally could be purchased for $5.
(2950) Wt. 29921/507 6pfs. 3/21 Harrow G.75
3
Colebrations in connection with the declaration of peace were held on the 18th and 19th July. Processions of various descriptions paraded the City of Victoria and the whole Colony participated in the effort to show in a suitable manner their satisfaction at the termination of the long and disastrous war.
The Colonial Secretary (Mr. Claud Severn) administered the Government from the 1st January until the arrival of Sir Edward Stubbs, who arrived in and assumed the government of the Colony on the 30th September.
1.--FINANCES.
The revenue for the year amounted to $16,524,975 being $359,240 more than the estimate and $2,140,273 less than the revenue for the previous year.
Compared with the returns for 1918 there were increases under every head with the exception of Licences and Miscellaneous Receipts. The expenditure amounted to a total of $17,915,925 inclusive of a sum of $2,235,002 spent on Public Works Extraordinary and one of $546.712 being a contribution to the Imperial Government for war expenses.
The total expenditure brought to account amounted to $17,915,925 being $3,238,029 more than the estimate, and $1,663,753 more than the expenditure in 1918. Compared with the estimates there were decreases under 18 heads as against 6 heads where there were increases. The excess amounting to $3,821,704 under Misccl- laneous Services was due to losses on rice and exchange and to increased allowances on salaries pending revision. Military Ex- penditure was more than the estimate by $251,833 on account of the Revenue for 1918 having been under-estimated. The item Public Works Recurrent was responsible for an excess over the estimates of $120,510. Decreases were mostly due to high exchange Public Works Extraordinary not proceeded with, and arrears of transit charges brought to credit by the Post Office.
The balance to the debit on the year's working was $1,390,950 and the assets and liabilities account showed on the 31st December a credit balance of $4,290,188.
The following is a statement of the revenue and expenditure of the Colony for the five years 1915-1919 :
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
Revenue.
8
11,786,106
Expenditure.
$ 15,149,267
13,833,387
11,079,915
15,058,105
14,090,828
18,665,248
16,252,172
16,524,975
17,915,925
The amount of the consolidated loan stands at £1,485,733. Against this there is at credit of the Sinking Fund a sum of £310,469. The Local Loan unler Ordinance No. 12 of 1916 amount to $3,000,000 and there are the sums of $224,720 and (80,628 at credit of the Sinking Fund.
Under Ordinance No. 18 of 1917 a tax of 79% on Assessments was imposed to provide an Annual Contribution to the Imperial Government for purposes of the war. This was discontinued on the 30th June.
77