HONG KONG, 1904.
(B.) ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
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At the end of the year 1904, the assets of the Colony amounted to $1,445,381.80, exclusive of arrears of revenue, which, with the sum just mentioned bring the total assets up to $1,651,470.98. The total liabilities were $1,147,658.97, so that the surplus of assets over liabilities amounted to $503,812.01.
(C.) PUBLIC DEBT.
There is a public debt of £341,799 15s. 1d. outstanding. The original debt was incurred in connection with the Praya Reclamation, the Central Market, and Water, Drainage and Sewerage Works.
Interest at 3 per cent. is payable on the loan, which is being paid off by a sinking fund now amounting to £34,375 7s. 6d.
II. TRADE AND SHIPPING, INDUSTRIES, FISHERIES, AGRICULTURE AND LAND.
(A.) TRADE AND SHIPPING.
The following table shows the principal articles of import in the year 1904 in vessels of European construction, compared with similar returns for 1903. The figures represent the tonnage:
Articles 1903 1904 Increase Decrease Beans Bones Coal 1,186,586 1,152,454 34,132 咖啡 Cotton yarn and cotton Flour 20,795 19,350 1,445 Hemp Kerosine (bulk) 120,430 115,921 4,509 Kerosine (case) Lead 24,149 19,382 4,767 Opium 40,607 56,965 16,358 Liquid fuel Rattan Rice 82,960 100,692 17,732 蒲 400 400 Sandalwood 550 3,563 3,013 Sulphur 4,997 2,955 2,042 Sugar 1,000 1,000 Tea 9,727 8,727 1,000 Timber 4,020 5,080 1,060 General Total Transit 3,983,410 4,150,639 274,699 107,470 2,874,950 3,151,926 276,976 Grand Total 6,858,360 7,302,565 551,675 107,470 Nett 414,205 22023A 3
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