426
22
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.
for some months the immigration of coolie labour from Hong Kong into Singapore, and the local boarding house keepers and others interested in the business suffered heavily in consequence.
A series of earthquake shocks in February caused some alarm though the resulting damage was inconsiderable. The neighbouring port of Swatow suffered very severely.
In the same month, in the course of the annual race meeting, some temporary stands which were occupied mainly by Chinese collapsed and were almost immediately consumed by fire, over 600 persons losing their lives.
In June an Ordinance was passed for the raising of a force for Military Service outside the Colony, its application being confined to men of British race.
The very large majority of available men of military age had already left as volunteers for active service but certain of the younger men who were retained in essential occupations pressed to have their position made clear, and a tribunal was accordingly established with powers to decide who should be required to go, and who should remain exempt. In the result the tribunal dealt with 206 men and decided that 54 should be sent on active service.
Towards the close of the year the price of rice, the staple food of the native population, rose rapidly, partly because of the failure of crops in the producing centres and partly owing to the large demand from Europe caused by the general shortage of foodstuffs. The price subsequently fell somewhat, though it did not reach its normal level.
The finding of wolfram in considerable quantities in Chinese territory immediately adjacent to the Colony and the general rise in the price of metals and minerals led to considerable activity in prospecting, with the result that wolfram was mined in small quantities and traces of various other minerals were discovered. The prospecting is still being energetically carried on.
Sir Henry May, Governor of Hong Kong, left the Colony in September on urgent private affairs and he subsequently resigned his appointment on grounds of health. His service under the Crown extended over 38 years and practically the whole of his career was passed in Hong Kong. He served the Colony wholeheartedly, with all his mind and with all his strength, and its ever increasing beauty and prosperity stand as a monument in record of his work.
M. FLETCHER.
12th May, 1919.
Colonial Secretary.