SIR,
1887-1903
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL
No. 245.
HONG KONG.
(For Report for 1896, see No. 210.)
ACTING GOVERNOR BLACK to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
Government House,
Hong Kong,
31st August 1898.
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I HAVE the honour to forward to you the Blue Book for 1897, together with the subjoined report on that year.
FINANCES.
The revenue collected during the year amounted to $2,686,914.70, as against $2,609,878.94 collected in the preceding year, and as against $1,427,485.79 collected in the year 1887: this shows an increase of revenue during the last ten years of $1,259,428.91 (or approximating to 100 per cent.), whilst the population, during the same period, has only increased by 35,759 or 16.79 per cent.
The receipts from land sales during the year show a decrease of $46,358.40, but this is necessarily an uncertain and, in a sense, a speculative source of revenue during any fixed period; the receipts on other more settled accounts are more satisfactory.
Under the more reliable items of revenue the following most substantial increases are shown as compared with the year 1896:
Assessed Taxes $26,924.21 Stamps 36,699.20 Official Signatures 13,895.11 Queen's College Fees 3,512.00 Sunday Cargo-Working Permits 4,275.00 Postage 23,336.15 Leased Lands 24,516.31 Interest 4,576.84 Profit on Coins 4,819.71 Water Account 21,207.41704-75-10/98 Wt 21620 D & S-3 (B)
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