1841-1886
287
STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.
HONG KONG.
No. 24.
145
Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor SIR HERCULES ROBINSON to the Right Honourable EDWARD CARDWELL, M.P.
SIR,
(No. 110.)
Hong Kong, July 26, 1864.
I HAVE the honor to forward the Blue Book of Hong Kong for the year 1863, with a report upon it by the Colonial Secretary.
As this officer was in the administration of the Government during the whole of the period embraced in these returns, I consider it unnecessary to add any remarks of my own upon occurrences which did not come under my personal observation.
Mr. Mercer accounts satisfactorily for the decrease in the revenue, and shows that in all other respects the material interests of the Colony have steadily advanced.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) HERCULES G. R. ROBINSON.
To the Right Honourable E. Cardwell, M.P. &c. &c. &c.
Enclosure in No.
SIR,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, July 19, 1864.
I HAVE the honour to lay before your Excellency the Blue Book for 1863. 2. The year, though differing in an important respect from its predecessors, shows substantial and satisfactory proof of progress.
3. The revenue is $576,375 (£120,078 2s. 6d.), or $54,884 (£11,434 3s. 4d.) less than that of 1862, but $10,000 more than what was estimated, and the one respect to which I allude fully explains the falling off from the preceding year. For the difficulties about Kowloon not having yet been arranged, there was little land to be brought into the market, and the estimated premium on land sold being $72,000 (£15,000 0 0), only $6,490 (£1,352 0 0) of this was realized; against $142,612 (£29,710 0 0) realized in the year 1862.
4. As a further and conclusive proof of the satisfactory state of the general revenue, I may point out that putting aside this item of premium, what I may call the ordinary or permanent revenue for the three past years stands as follows:-
1861 $435,158 (£90,658 0 0) 1862 $488,647 (£101,801 0 0) 1863 $569,885 (£118,726 0 0)5. It may be said that the ground at Causeway Bay might have been put forward for sale, but with the district of Bowrington (nearer the centres of business) sold and still unbuilt over, this would not have been a prudent measure, and subsequent events (not belonging to 1863) have justified the delay in disposing of it.
Expenditure.
6. In the expenditure there is a slight decrease as compared with the previous year, less being spent on public works, but a considerable augmentation being shown under Police and Gaols. It is about $10,000 over the revenue, and $33,800 less than the expenditure estimated.
Ordinances.
7. The Ordinances passed are eight in number, of which three may be particularly mentioned. No. 4 of 1863 for the Regulation of Gaols; this was rendered necessary by the receipt of orders from home to provide for the reception and custody of prisoners at Stonecutters' Island, and the opportunity was taken to revise and amend the rules under which the gaol in Victoria has been managed.
No. 5 of 1863 for the better Collection of the Rates leviable in the Colony: the great delay and difficulty in the collection of them, called for an improved system, which came into operation on the 1st July, and the result was shown in there being the sum of $2,500 outstanding on 31st December 1863 against $8,052 on the previous 31st December.