Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
Treasury, for accomplishing the various objects of public improvements which are likely to be most substantially and permanently useful. These will of course be the subjects of special reports.
6. The topic of the public health occupies the constant attention of the Government. Exaggerated statements as to the mortality in the colony having been industriously circulated, and false reports prevailing as to the prevalence of fatal epidemics, I caused an investigation to take place, the result of which shows, that for the months of February, March and April the average mortality, did not exceed 1 in 7000 per day.
7. I think it is desirable that there should be in the colony a re-distribution of duty, and a revision of salaries, and that the recommendations of the Colonial Secretary are entitled to much consideration; but the inquiries and investigations must naturally take a more distinct and special shape. It would, however, be useful to know that Her Majesty's Government looks favourably on proposals for a readjustment of functions and their appropriate recompense.
8. I see no adequate cause for anticipating any such defalcation of the revenue as will be incompatible with the proper payment of officials and the progress and management of useful public works.
9. I would not venture, even supposing there were a chance of the proposal being entertained by Her Majesty's Government, to support the recommendation from the Colonial Secretary of a differential duty in favour of teas shipped for England from Hong Kong. In my view the whole system of differential duties is obnoxious in principle, fraudulent in practice, and disappointing in result. Nor can I suppose that Parliament would ever sanction so retrogressive and unsound a measure, especially in the case of a self-supporting colony, not producing in itself a single chest of the article in question.
(Signed)
The Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P.,
I have, &c.
JOHN BOWRING
&c.
&c.
&c.
Enclosure in No. 44.
(No. 289.) SIR,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hong Kong, April 25, 1856,
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Excellency the Blue Book for the year 1855, the perusal of which will I believe fairly prove that the past year has been the most promising since the foundation of the colony.
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2. The two points most worthy of notice are, the increase of the population and the favourable result of the land sales.
3. Within the last eight years the population has been more than trebled; while an increase of nearly 17,000 is shown over the returns of 1854. The number as given in the Registrar General's Comparative Table is, for the past year, 72,607; for the previous year, 1854, 55,715; and for 1848, 23,998.
4. The state, still somewhat unsettled, of the neighbouring province, is of course the moving cause of this influx of people, and it is useful to observe that during each of the past years the increase has been at about an equal rate.
5. One natural and necessary result of the increased population is the increase of trade, which is admitted on all sides, though the Government is unprepared to prove it by statistics, owing to the, in all other respects, wise and judicious absence of a custom house.
6. Several merchants have, however, during the past six months, remarked to me on the large trade (and this a ready money trade) springing up here, in a manner for which they are unable to account; and only yesterday one gentleman informed me, that but a short time back he sold an entire ship's cargo, to the value of some $30,000, in the course of a single morning.
7. The class of Chinese traders, notwithstanding, is comparatively low, and not wealthy, as evinced in part by the high rate of interest ruling in the colony, which may be quoted at 3 per cent. per mensem, or 36 per cent. per annum.
8. But now that the large European and American houses have, to some extent, fixed branch or head establishments here, as many have during 1855; it is possible that the richer native men of business may be induced to follow; and I think we may now begin to entertain a hope that such firms as the Chin-Chew.