HONG KONG.
[In continuation of Colonial Possessions Reports Nos. 77 and 84,]
Acting Governor FLEMING to LORD Knutsford.
MY LORD,
Government House, Hong Kong, September 15, 1890.
I HAVE the honour to forward the Blue Book of this Colony for the year 1889.
Revenue.
2. It is satisfactory to find that the revenue continued to increase. Sir G. William Des Voeux, in his Despatch of the 31st of October, 1889,* remarked that the revenue for 1888 ($1,557,300) was larger than in any former year. But the revenue for 1889 was $1,823,549, exceeding that for the previous year by $266,249.
3. There was a continued increase on the amount derived from "Stamps" and "Assessed taxes," the former rising from $187,150 in 1888 to $213,479 in 1889, the latter from $360,291 to $374,857.
The very large amount of business done during the year on share transactions must have given rise to this addition in stamp revenue, however much this speculative business may have proved detrimental in other respects.
The increase in "Assessed taxes" may in great measure be attributed to the number of houses built during the year, but the better assessment of property no doubt tended to further the increase.
4. The large increase of $246,325 derived from opium is owing to an agreement which was entered into in March 1889, in virtue of which the opium monopoly was sold for a period of three years at $477,600 per annum, being $295,200 over the price previously obtained.
5. Another important increase is that of $10,582 on leased lands, which is to be accounted for by several land sales that took place during the year.
6. The decrease of $12,586 under the heading of fines tends to show a falling off in the number of convictions before the Police Magistrate's Court, while the increase of fees is some proof that the business before the Supreme Court had not lessened.
* Colonial Possessions Report No. 84.
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