No. 79.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Annual Report from the Harbour Master, with the Returns accompanying it, is published for general information.
By Command,
W. H. MARSH,
Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 16th March, 1880.
[No. 49.]
HARBOUR DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 26th February, 1880.
SIR,-I have the honour to forward the Annual Returns of this Department for the year ending the 31st December, 1879.
I. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels entered.
II. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels cleared.
III. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels of each Nation entered.
IV. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels of each Nation cleared.
V. Total Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels entered at each Port.
VI. Total Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels cleared at each Port.
VII. Return of Junks entered from Macao.
VIII. Return of Junks cleared for Macao.
IX. Return of Junks entered at each Port from China and Formosa.
X. Return of Junks cleared at each Port for China and Formosa.
XI. Gross Total Number of Junks entered at each Port,
XII. Gross Total Number of Junks cleared at each Port.
XIII. Return of Junks (Local Trade) entered.
XIV. Return of Junks (Local Trade) cleared.
XV. Summary of Arrivals and Departures of all Vessels, and of all Chinese Passengers.
XVI. Return of Vessels registered.
XVII. Return of Vessels struck off the Register.
XVIII. Amount of Fees received under Ordinance No. 10 of 1860, (Imperial Registry).
XIX. Return of Chinese Passenger Ships cleared by the Emigration Officer.
XX. Return of Vessels bringing Chinese Passengers to Hongkong from Places out of China.
XXI. Return of Marine Cases tried.
XXII. Diagram of Tonnage of Vessels entered.
SHIPPING.
2. Hongkong, like all other parts of the World, has suffered somewhat from the depression of trade and the present returns shew a reduction of 5.28 per cent on the arrivals published last year. Vessels under Continental flags have declined the most. There is also a decrease in the arrivals and departures of Chinese Junks.
3. The decrease of the Junk trade may be partially accounted for by the increase of 30,895 tons in 1879 on 1878 carried in foreign built ships under the Chinese flag. These vessels have greater privileges than vessels under foreign flags, as the whole of the Ports of China are open to them, and their movements must necessarily affect the Junk trade.
4. Of the whole inward trade of the Colony amounting to 4,122,668 tons, the Chinese, by Junks and in foreign bottoms, have the conveyance of 42.36 per cent of the tonnage.