1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1905.
(B.) ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
At the end of the year 1905 the assets of the Colony amounted to $15,560,894.98, or including arrears of revenue $15,891,606.13. The total liabilities were $15,119,399.32, so that the surplus of assets over liabilities amounted to $772,206.81.
(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 £37,611 14s. 4d.
5.
An advance by the Crown Agents of £1,100,000 for the purposes of a loan to the Viceroy of the Hu-Kuang Provinces is referred to under the heading of "General Observations" at the end of this report.
II.-TRADE AND SHIPPING, INDUSTRIES, FISHERIES, AGRICULTURE, AND LAND. (A.) TRADE AND SHIPPING.
**
The following table, in which the figures represent tonnage, shows the principal articles of import in the year 1905 in vessels of European construction, compared with similar returns for 1904:
Articles. 1904. 1905. Increase. Decrease. Beans 750 2,113 1,363 Bones Coal 400 400 1,152,454 1,083,987 68,467 Cotton yarn and cotton 19,350 32,949 13,599 Flour 115,921 54,508 61,413 Hemp 19,382 26,784 7,402 Lead Kerosine (bulk) 56,965 43,411 (case) 13,554 100,692 74,506 26,186 3,563 800 2,763 Opium 2,955 2,983 28 Liquid fuel 9,727 850 8,877 Rattan 5,080 3,430 1,650 Rice Sandalwood Sulphur Sugar 823,339 3,300 187 205,696 Tea 66,200 66,324 Timber 566,171 257,168 3,386 86 311,787 106,091 900 900 124 General ... 1,564,678 1,594,262 30,184 Total Transit 4,150,639 3,869,751 159,777 3,151,926 3,415,418 263,492 Grand Total 7,302,565 7,285,169 423,269 440,665 Nett 17,396 25,081A B
29.