Felonies reported:
294
1854 1,677. 1863 - 1,265.
162
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
The superintendent of Victoria Gaol, in speaking of insane prisoners (question 20) states three were deported from the Colony.
The circumstances under which this occurred were that these lunatics were taken care of for a short time in order to ascertain if they had any friends in the Colony. Not having any, and being Chinese subjects, they were sent to the British Consul at Canton, to be placed in an asylum.
During the year a few European prisoners were sent to Stone Cutter's Island, where their labour has been found useful.
Comparing the criminal returns of the courts for the year with those of 1862 and 1863, it would appear that fewer criminals were brought to trial in 1864 than in either of the two previous years, though the Captain superintendent's return of felonies reported shows that 412 more crimes were brought to the notice of the police in 1864 than in 1863.
I do not altogether blame the police, as I think it would be unjust to do so; no doubt they might do better, but it must be allowed that they have great difficulties to deal with; among others the number of Chinese that are daily brought down from Canton by the river steamers. These steamers charge 20 and 25 cents for the passage, a distance of over 90 miles; formerly the fares were as low as 10 cents, or 5d. sterling; the consequence was (and is) that the Colony was inundated by Chinese of the lowest and worst classes, who were starving in their own country, and whose sole resource on arrival here was robbery. It is stated that as many as 1,500 have come down in one steamer.
It is easy to conceive under such circumstances why crime is on the increase in the Colony; it is not so easy to devise a remedy, as the ordinary punishments of our law have no terror for the Chinese criminal.
In conclusion I must note the sale of a lot of ground at Kowloon to the Union Dock Company. This company proposes to construct a large dock, having 21 feet water at low water.
This work will be a great boon to the shipping interest, as notwithstanding the docks at Aberdeen, numbers of vessels go to Whampoa, paying towage to tug owners, tonnage dues, &c. to the Chinese government, charges to which they would not be subject were there a dock in Victoria Harbour.
I have, &c. (Signed) W. H. ALEXANDER,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
His Excellency W. G. Mercer, Esq.,
c.
&c.
&c.
Encl. 2 in No. 24.
Enclosure 2 in No. 24.
MEMORANDUM.
Although no return of imports and exports properly so called can be obtained, the Registrar-General at my request has supplied me with some notes of the native trade in the Colony which I think worthy of being brought to notice.
Opium (prepared).
The export from May 1st, 1864, to 1st April 1865, was to California, Tientsin, &c., 48,700 taels weight; a tael of prepared opium is worth about 60 cents.
Sold by retail in the Colony, boxes 167=6,617 balls, value about $20,000.
Sugar.
There is a large trade in this commodity. It is chiefly produced in the district of Tungkoon, which lies somewhat inland to the right of the Canton River.
The imports may be roughly estimated at 6 to 700,000 piculs, or upwards of 93,000,000 pounds. The largest amount is exported from here to Shanghae and Tientsin.
Flour
The Tungkoon district also produces flour (wheat) that finds its way to Hong Kong, about 4,000 piculs being imported annually. "Wheat is grown in small quantities in many places and taken to the mills at Sheklung in the Tungkoon district.
Salt.
This chiefly comes from Tin pák in the Fokien province, though a large quantity is gathered in the immediate vicinity of Hong Kong. The amount imported is about 60,000 piculs per annum.
Wood (Fire and Planking),
Is brought here from the Kwangsai province and from the north of Kwangtung. There is a trade of about $40,000 a year.
Earthenware,
Comes entirely from the potteries at Shekwán near Fa-tshan in the district of Nám-hoi (Canton is in this district), and the annual value is estimated at $2,000.
China Ware.
Japan and Kongsai supply the chinaware that is received here, and from this it is distributed to all the smaller ports and villages near.