1841-1886
REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PRESENT STATE
Imports, Exports, and Shipping.
7. No reliable statistics can be looked for at a free port in reference to imports and exports, but that the general trade of the Colony, both foreign and native, is in a very healthy state may be reasonably inferred from the increase of the number of ships over 1869 by 2,433, with a carrying capacity of 311,028 tons.
The Harbour Master attributes the great increase in the number of junks to less zealous performance of their duties by the officers in charge of the adjacent Custom Houses; but his information in such respect is not to be altogether relied upon, as although there may have been some slight relaxation of that close vigilance which was observed on their first establishment, still there is no doubt that the great increase in the number of junks is owing to the system adopted by the superior officials of the Chinese Customs at Canton of selling duty chops at reduced rates on goods carried in native bottoms.
In consequence, the Canton steamers carry but little goods, as being unable to compete with the reduced rates of the junks for freight and duty.
Grants of Land.
8. There has been but one grant of land during the year, viz. six acres for 999 years, at a yearly rental of 47. There is no immediate prospect of any further extension of occupancies at Kowloon. On the contrary, there is rather a disposition on the part of the lot-holders to surrender their leases than add to their land investments.
Gaols and Prisoners.
9. The total number of prisoners convicted at the Supreme Court has increased from 75 in 1869, to 80 in 1870; and the convictions in the Police Magistrates' Court have advanced from 4,917 to 6,311.
I mentioned in the Report of last year that to the system of deportation, as carried out by Sir R. G. MacDonnell, was greatly owing the reduced number of prisoners under confinement in the gaol, and I also expressed an opinion that any relaxation of the system would result in as marked an increase as had been the decrease.
Results have proved the accuracy of my conclusions, as I find that up to the 1st of June, 1870, the average number of prisoners in jail was 350, and that on the removal after that date of the practice of branding prisoners on deportation and flogging them when returning, the numbers went up to an average of 500.
Resorted to as is Hong Kong by the worst of characters from Canton and the mainland, it is greatly to be regretted that precautions so salutary and deterrent cannot be permanently adopted.
It is satisfactory to note that notwithstanding that the prison wards have been thronged in excess of 1869, there has been but little sickness, whilst the mortality was 25 per cent. less.
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