1841-1886
241
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT
Ι
diate vicinity, solely occupied in devising plots against both life and property in the city of Victoria, demanded unceasing vigilance on the part of the executive. By the great goodness of God the Government and the community have passed unscathed through these varied trials; and instead of the colony having suffered, I may confidently assure your Excellency that more real substantial progress has been made and improvement effected, in 1857, than in any previous year; and if, in the face of such trials, every portion of our revenue has given signs of a steady movement in advance, slight fears need now be entertained for the future prosperity of Hong Kong.
Three undertakings, which must necessarily exercise a great influence on the commercial prosperity of the island, the comfort of its inhabitants, and the appearance and safety of its capital, have been successfully commenced during the past year: the docks now in progress at Aberdeen, the rebuilding of the public markets, the erection of several new ones, and the construction of the Bowring praya. The docks are a private enterprise, fraught with most important consequences to that portion of the island which has been selected for their site, and the conditions upon which they are built will always afford to Her Majesty's ships the means of repairing all accidents which may occur to them in the China seas. By a judicious sale of certain portions of the market property, ample funds have been obtained for rebuilding and constructing all the edifices necessary for a thorough re-arrangement of the market system, and there is every reason to suppose that the result of the change will be the destruction of a system of almost monopoly, which was injurious to the consumer, and not beneficial to the finances of the Government, and that the next Blue Book may tell of both an increased revenue from and diminished prices in the markets. That part of the Bowring praya which abuts on the Chinese portion of the town is in course of construction, and although the European Crown lessees apparently manifest less inclination to meet the wishes of the Government on this score, I can hardly doubt that persistence in a firm but conciliatory line of conduct with regard to them will eventually be successful. One great step in advance has at any rate been effected with regard to all; the value of the encroachments on the sea frontage has been assessed and levied, and no slight addition thereby made to the rent roll of Crown lands.
Striking changes have also been effected in the thorough lighting of the town, the numbering and registration of all the houses, the complete organization of the night pass system, the most beneficial police measure which has hitherto been carried into effect in this colony, and, finally, the registration of houses of ill-fame, and their restriction to certain portions of the town.
It is no slight satisfaction to me to be enabled to report that only one act of peculiar atrocity, the murder of the oldest English resident in China, Mr. Markwick, by his own servant, appears worthy of notice in the year's calendar of crime; and there the swift punishment which followed a criminal who seemed to have escaped beyond our jurisdiction was a source of satisfaction to the whole community, and a lesson full of warning to the Chinese population.
The Legislative Council has also assumed an entirely new character during the past year; its numbers have been increased by three official and one un-official members, whilst the vacancies created by the two original non-official members have been supplied. It must, therefore, be considered more in the light of a legislative body than has hitherto been the case; and its last act in the session of 1857 having been to decide unanimously on the publication of the records of its proceedings, no complaint can hereafter be fairly raised against it of a desire to avoid public comment on its acts.
I now proceed to make such observations as occur to me on the different topics suggested by the Blue Book.
1.—Legislature.
The Legislature passed during the year 12 Ordinances and one Rule of Court. Of these, the last named, and Ordinances 1, 4, 7, 8, and 9, had at the end of the year been confirmed by Her most Gracious Majesty the Queen; Ordinance 2 was suspended by your Excellency in Council, in consequence of instructions to that effect received from the Colonial Office; Ordinances 3, 5, and 6 were still under consideration; and Ordinances 10, 11, and 12 were passed too late in the year to admit of any notice with regard to them being received from home.
The general character of the legislation has been important, and presents more ground for remark than most preceding years. Ordinances 2 and 9 have enabled the Executive to keep our large Chinese population in hand during a season of great anxiety and some danger; and there is every reason to believe that the restrictive measures therein legalized
Page 260
Page 261