1841-1886
181
No. 10.
Export of treasure, import of opium,
P. 339.
No. 11.
Report on the junk trade, pp. 339, 310.
No. 12.
No. 13.
No. 14.
No. 15.
Civil, criminal, and police cases, pp. 320-323.
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
past year was 1,097, of an aggregate burden of 433,383 tons, which, compared with 1851, shows an increase of fifteen vessels and 56,299 tons. The returns following the above, at page 197, prove that seventy-four vessels imported and seventy-nine exported goods to and from the colony.
16. "This return shows that treasure to the value of $6,074,845, or 1,265,592l. 14s. 2d., has been remitted to India during the past year by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers alone. This large amount of specie is chiefly in return for the opium brought thence, and sold to the Chinese along the coast. The quantity of this drug imported by the same vessels is also shown in the return. Both items, however, fail to afford anything like an approximation to the real amount, as other vessels, owned by or consigned to the principal merchants of the colony, from whom no returns can be obtained, the port being entirely free, are also employed for the freight of both opium and treasure.
17. The trade with California continues with undiminished activity; and the supply of different articles for that market has afforded constant and remunerative employment to the tradesmen and artisans of the colony. I am informed that during the past year no less than 30,000 Chinese embarked hence for San Francisco, whose passage money, at the rate of $50 per head, would give a sum of $1,500,000 to shipowners and consignees resident at Hong Kong.
18. I beg to annex the customary annual report on the junk trade of the colony.
Crown Lands.
19. The revenue from this source for the year ending 31st December 1852 was derivable as follows:
Mercantile firms £ s. d. 4,808 2 4 Private individuals 4,419 8 10 Chinese 1,552 4 11 10,779 16 220. The felony cases that came under the cognizance of the police during the year 1852 were 523 in number, being thirty-five more than during the previous twelve months.
21. I enclose returns for the past year of criminal cases tried in the Supreme Court; of civil cases tried before the chief justice, and actions commenced in the Supreme, and Vice-Admiralty Courts; and of causes which came under the cognizance of the chief magistrate and the Court of Petty Sessions.
General Observations.
22. In conclusion, I beg to observe, that I consider the past year to have been a very favourable one for this colony. Its commercial prospects are slowly but certainly extending, and assuming a character of greater permanency; its sanitary condition is satisfactory; the wants of its community are readily supplied in the city; and the Chinese inhabitants, so far as I can judge, continue to repose confidence in the Government. The only subject of regret is the extent to which piracy prevails in the neighbouring waters. This, indeed, is one of great importance, but being carried on chiefly between Chinese, it is altogether impossible for the British Government to suppress it without some active co-operation on the part of the Chinese Government. This co-operation I have repeatedly requested from its authorities without avail; and, in the present disorganized state of the sea-board part of the empire, it is now useless to expect it.
At last, &c. I am, &c.
The Duke of Newcastle.
&c.
&c. &c. &c.
(Signed) S. G. BONHAM.
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