122
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
112. REPORTS, EXHIBITING, THE PAST, AND, PRESENT
HONG KONG. only amounted to 5.06 per cent on the average number of prisoners confined, and this has decreased during that of 1849, to 4.08 per cent. The enclosure bearing on the subject will show, the average number of prisoners to have been 147, of whom, six, died of incidental diseases. The average number of Europeans in confinement during the year was 12, among whom no casualty occurred,
7.
8.
Education.
Trade.
From the annexed table your Lordship will observe that out of a population of 17,013, including Victoria, and certain villages, the whole number, of ascertained deaths amongst the Chinese was only 104 or 0.61 per cent.; but no confidence whatever can be reposed, in Returns of this nature, as all who have the means leave the colony and return to their native places when attacked by any serious disease.
Dr. Morrison's Report, which I have caused to be appended to the Blue Book, contains copious details regarding the medical statistics of the colony.
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8. At page 185 of the Blue Book will be found a Return of the different schools in the colony, from which it will be seen that there are four for the education of the children of Europeans (one of which also receives those of Chinese Christians) and six for Chinese. Three of these last receive a small monthly allowance from Government, and are under the inspection and superintendence of the colonial chaplain and the chief magistrate of police. The Report of these gentlemen, which I append hereto, shows that the number of scholars has materially increased during the past year. As a proof of the estimation in which the schools are held by the Chinese community, and of the importance which they attach to education, I may mention that the inhabitants of Wongneichung, one of the poorest villages on the island, have lately petitioned me to afford some slight pecuniary aid towards establishing a school in their neighbourhood; and I have thought it right to accede to their application by granting them a similar sum to that bestowed on the others, commencing from the 1st instant, a measure which, I trust, will meet with your Lordship's approval.
9. Eight hundred and ninety-six vessels arrived at Hong Kong during 1849, of an aggregate burthen of 293,711 tons, showing an increase over the preceding year of 196 vessels and 64,893 tons. Of these ships 167 are reported to have imported and 147 exported goods into and from the colony. From the Returns in the Blue Book, under the head of "Imports and Exports," furnished to me by the harbour-master, it will be seen that treasure to the value of 10,057,086 dollars, equal to £2,095,413 15s., have been shipped at this port for exportation, as follows:
To Great Britain Dollars. 1,200,644 equal to £250,134 3s. 4d. £1,813,384 15s. 10d. To Manila 28,095 £5,853 2s. 6d. To Whampoa & Canton 125,000The greater part of the sums shipped for London and India has no doubt been in return for opium.
The estimated value of sugar exported from Hong Kong during 1849, was £21,103 14s., being £126,833 less than in 1848.
I have attached to the Blue Book a short Return prepared by the harbour-master, showing the quantity of tea exported from Hong Kong during 1849, to be about 900,000 lbs.
It is satisfactory to state that this port has lately become a place of resort for American whalers for the purpose of refitting and refreshing their crews. Thirteen vessels of this description anchored here during the past year, their cargoes aggregating 21,585 barrels, equal to 679,927 gallons of oil and 266 tons of bone. Three hundred and forty-four tons, or 108,360 gallons of oil and 52 tons of bone were transhipped from three of them, and exported to England.
I beg to annex a memorandum of the native trade of the colony, drawn up by the Assistant Chinese Secretary.
The absence of a custom-house, or any other description of office having any legal power to insist on correct returns of the imports and exports, no doubt affords facilities to the European trader and encouragement to the Chinese settlers and others engaged in trade, who are extremely jealous of any interference with them, in their commercial transactions; but at the same time it prevents any accurate return of the trade of the colony being prepared. The statements under this head in the Blue Book are therefore, in my judgment, not...