1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS. ANNUAL.
No. 85.
HONG KONG,
[For Report for 1890 see Colonial Report (Annual) No. 29.]
103
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SIR W. ROBINSON to the MARQUESS of RIPON.
MY LORD Marquess,
Government House, Hong Kong, June 10, 1893.
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for Your Lordship's information, the Blue Book for 1892. The following is the Report thereon by the Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary,
REVENUE.
The revenue amounted to $2,236,933.37, an increase of $211,630.86 on that for 1891.
This increase may be explained as follows under various heads,
viz.:
Assessed Taxes, including the Water Account.—Increase $76,771. Of this some $50,000 may be set down to the energy of the Treasury in the middle of the year in the collection of arrears,
Carriage Licences. Increase $18,100. In 1891, by an Order of the Governor in Council, the monthly fee for a jinricksha license in Victoria was raised from $3 to $6 thus bringing in a total increase of $18,000 in respect of the 500 vehicles permitted in the town.
Opium Monopoly.—Increase $18,000. The previous opium farm, let for three years up to the end of February, 1892, yielded a monthly rental of $35,800 after reduction by consent of the Government, whereas the present farm, let from 1st March, 1892, yields only $28,400 per mensem, so that the revenue from this source during the months of January and February was greater by $14,800 than what will be obtained in the two corresponding months in any year under the present contract.
But by agreement with the Government the last opium farmer was permitted to hold over till 1892 a payment of $50,000 which was due in 1891, thereby making a difference of $100,000 in a
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