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On the 13th of March, the Legislative Council nccepted Sir John Oakley's award respecting the transfer of Military Lands, though it was felt that the values having been paid during the land hoom here were too high.
The Colony was visited by a number of distinguished aviators throughout the year. Captain Doisy arrived in May on his flight from Paris to Tokio. The American round-the-world diers arrived early in June, and later in the same month came the Portuguese aviators on their flight from Lisbon to Macau. Finally at the end of the month arrived Squadron Leader Maclaren in his attempt 16 fly round the world.
There was much distress in the neighbouring province of Kwang-tung owing to floods, and the Colony gave-practical proof of its sympathy when on the 31st July the Legislative Council voted $50,000 in aid of the sufferers.
Ilis Excellency The Govenor accompanied by Lady Stubbs paid an official visit to Manila in February.
On the 13th of February Mr. W. W. Hornell was installed na Vice-Chancellor of the University, and the degren of LL.D. was conferred on the Right Honourable the first Vice-Chancellor, Sir Charles Eliot, O.C.M.G. and on Sir William Branyate, K.C.x,,, the second Vice-Chancellor.
The Report on the Development of the Port by Mr. Johu Duncan the Port Engineer was made public on the 7th of December.
Sir Henry Cowper Collan was appointed Chief Justice in succession to Sir William Rees-Davios on the 15th October.
1.- FINANCES.
The revenue for the year amounted to $24,209,040 being $2,839,706 more than the estimate and $574,123 less than the revenue for the previous year.
Compared with the returns for 1923 there were increases under all the heads except Kowloon-Canton Railway and Land Sales.
The expenditure amounted to a total of $26,726,428 inclusive of a sum of $8,112,785 spent on Public Works Extraordinary
The detailed figures for 1924 are feet ont in the following
statements :-
Light Dues
HEADS OF REVENCE.
Light Dues, Special Assessment
Licences and Internal Revenue not otherwise
specified
Fees of Court or Office, Payments for specific
C.
150,689.01 105,639.40
16,701,771.25
purposes, and Reimbursements in Aid - Port Office
1,659,524.00
825,352,72
Kowloon-Canton Railway
420,186,15
1.203,637.40
721,810.40
391,793.53
$22,300,403,86
Rent of Government Property, Land, and
Houses
Interest
Miscellaneous Receipts
TOTAL, (Ordinary-
Land Sales, (Premia on New Leases)
TOTAL
1,909,235.86
$24,200,639.72
The total expenditure brought to account amounted to $26,726,428 being $1,801,761 less than the estimate, and $5,154,524 more than the expenditure in 1923. Compared with the estimates there were increases under 16 heads as against 11 heads where there were decreases. The excess amounting to $313,338 under Miscel Janeous Services was due to :—
Rent Allowances (Asiatic Staff) Stationery
Transport of Government servants
$
G.
31,164.00
59,732,00
99,147.00
Flood Relief Fund
50,000.00
Purchase of "The Bracket'
13
36,000,00
Crown Agents commission
7,658,00
Gratuity to Mr. T. L. Perkins
8,571.00
Contribution to British Empire Cancer
Campaigu
8,490.00
Grant to Hongkong Boy Scouts Association-
4,000.00
$304,766.00
187