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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
No. 972.
HONG KONG.
(For Report for 1916 see No. 923.)
REPORT ON THE BLUE BOOK FOR 1917.*
1.-FINANCES.
The revenue for the year amounted to $15,058,105, being $1,816,105 more than the estimate and $1,224,718 more than the revenue for the previous year.
Compared with the returns for 1916 there were increases under every head with the exception of Light Dues, Rent of Government Property, and Land Sales.
The expenditure amounted to a total of $14,090,828, inclusive of a sum of $1,567,907 spent on Public Works Extraordinary, and one of $2,000,000 being a contribution to the Imperial Government for war expenses.
The total expenditure brought to account amounted to $14,090,828, being $1,694,673 more than the estimate, and $3,010,913 more than the expenditure in 1916. Compared with the estimates there were decreases under 19 heads as against 5 heads where there were increases. The excess, amounting to $2,648,503, under Miscellaneous Services, was due to the war contribution stated above, in addition to another contribution ($504,984) referred to below; grants in aid of sufferers by the disasters at Tientsin and Halifax; expenditure on houses and house allowances; and other miscellaneous items. Military Expenditure was larger than the estimate by $41,788 on account of the revenue for 1916 having been under-estimated. The Harbour Department spent $15,123 extra, chiefly for acquisition of buoys in the harbour and repairs to launches; and the items, Public Works Recurrent and Extraordinary were responsible for an excess of $87,544 between them. Decreases were mostly due to savings on Personal Emoluments and high exchange.
The balance to the good on the year's working was $967,277, and the assets and liabilities account showed on the 31st December a credit balance of $3,268,062.
The following is a statement of the revenue and expenditure of the Colony for the five years 1913-1917 :-
1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 Revenue. $8,512,308 11,007,273 11,786,106 13,833,387 15,058,105 Expenditure. $8,658,012 10,756,225 15,149,267 11,079,915 14,090,828 净* A Sketch Map will be found in the Report for 1914, No. 856: