332
16
(Extract.)
No. 405.
SIR,
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
Enclosure in No. 2.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, September 10, 1870.
I HAVE the honour to submit to your Excellency, for transmission to the Secretary of State, the Blue Book of this Colony for the year 1869.
Revenue.
2. The revenue for the year was 192,464l., 17s. 2d., showing an apparent decrease of 43,810l., 14s. 1d. as compared with 1868. In reality, however, there has been some increase, as credit was erroneously taken in 1868 for the sum of 55,659l., 14s. 5d. arising from the Play-houses Licences.
Expenditure.
3. The expenditure, amounting to 192,309l., 1s. 7d., was much less than that of the preceding year; but this, as in the case of revenue, has arisen from exceptional causes, viz. the remittance, in 1868, of the then arrears of the Military Contribution, and the closing of the Mint in 1869.
Public Works, Roads, and Buildings.
4. The sums expended on public works and roads have been considerable, amounting to no less a sum than 39,958l., 13s. Of this, 17,093l., 17s. 3d. have been spent on the Pokfoohun Water Works, which yet remain unfinished, and may be expected to draw largely on the resources of the Colony in 1870 and 1871. When completed, there will be no reason to regret the outlay, as proof has already been afforded during the past drought of the great benefits resulting from considerable water reserves, and the regular supply of the town therefrom.
Mint.
5. This establishment has now been effectually closed by the sale of the plant to the Japanese Government for the sum of $60,000. The buildings, too, have since been disposed of for $65,000, and thus the Colony has realized a total of $125,000 as the result of an outlay but three years previously of close on half a million of dollars. It is very melancholy to contemplate such results, knowing, as we do, with what great benefit the funds might have been applied to the erection of a hospital, the improvement of very defective sewerage, and the furtherance of those many public works and buildings which must, at no very distant date, entail very considerable expenditure.
City Hall.
6. The City Hall cannot in strict sense be called a public building, inasmuch as it has been erected by private individuals, and is under their entire control. Any allusion to it, therefore, in a Report upon the Blue Book might, under ordinary circumstances, be considered out of place. The opening, however, of this capacious and handsome building by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, on the 4th of November, was a circumstance of such deep interest to the colonists that it would be unwise to pass over an event which was a source of much pride and pleasure to them, and must be ever memorable in the annals of the Colony.
Population.
7. As compared with 1859, the population would appear to have greatly increased, viz. from 86,941 at the former date to 121,979 by the census of 1869; but the accuracy of earlier calculations seems to have been much questioned, and it would be as well to build no hopes upon any early increase, as without doubt the population has been pretty much the same through the years immediately preceding, viz.:—
Europeans and Americans Indians and others of mixed blood Chinese 4,889 2,810 114,280 121,979