Appendix A (1)
REPORT ON THE FINANCES FOR THE YEAR 1925.
REVENUE.
The total revenue for the year amounted to $23,244,365 being $1,431,665 more than the estimate and $965,275 less than the revenue in 1924.
Compared with that year there were decreases under all the heads except Licences and Internal Revenue, Kowloon Canton Railway and Miscellaneous Receipts of which the first two show slight increases and the last named has been more than doubled.
2. The principal sub-heads showing excess over the estimate were as follows:-
Excess.
(a) Assessed Taxes, ... $297,793
(b) Carriage, Chair, etc. Licences... 25,220
(c) Stamp Duties 2,331,598
(d) Court Fees 63,762
(e) P. O. Message Fees ... 21,178
(f) K. C. R. Passenger Service (Home Line) ... 84,421
(g) Rent of Government Buildings. 47,783
(h) Rent of Government Market ... 26,540
(i) Other Miscellaneous Receipts... 516,129
The above increases were chiefly due to (a) more property assessable (b) greater number of licences issued (c) estate duties collected in respect of large estates (d) more legal proceedings (e & f) more traffic (g) property resumed and made available for renting (h) new markets opened (i) sale of securities.
3. The principal sub-heads showing deficits compared with the Estimates were as follows:-
Deficits.
Light Dues 22,886
Light Dues, Special Assessment 26,669
Kowloon (West) Ferry Licences, ... 44,377
Liquor Duties ... 59,074
Liquor Licences 57,381
Opium Monopoly, ... 107,619
Pawn Brokers Licences 20,800
Tobacco Duties, 203,141
Deeds Registration ... 25,331
Medical Examination of Emigrants. 24,026
Sunday Working of Cargo Permits. 60,500
Water Excess Supply & Meter Rents. 61,964
P. O. Postage... 95,933
K. C. Railway Pass. Service Foreign Line... 36,381
K. C. Railway Goods Service Foreign Line ... 423,647