No. 59.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Report of the Harbour Master, with Returns annexed, for the year 1875, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th March, 1876.

J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT,

HONGKONG, 15th February, 1876.

SIR,- have the honour to forward the Annual Returns of this Department connected with the Trade, &c., of the Colony for the year ending the 31st December, 1875.

I. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels entered.

II. Number, Tonnage and Crews of Vessels cleared.

III. Number, Tounage 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 of 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 showing the monthly Increase or Decrease of the Junk Trade.

SHIPPING.

1. The grand total of all vessels, foreign and Chinese, arriving in Hongkong during the year under peview has been 587 vessels and 412,672 registered tons in excess of the arrivals in 1874. This is a more satisfactory condition of things than I was able to give in any last Annual Report, which shewed large falling off of tounage as compared with the year 1873. This increase of vessels includes the Bunk trade, but as that trade will be dealt with under its proper heading, the remarks under the head Shipping will refer only to cargoes carried in European and American built vessels, including the

rade in such vessels ns are owned by the Chinese Merchants' Company.

1. Of the arrivals at this Port in European and American built ships, steam as well as sailing, there is a total increase of 418 vessels and 412,509 tons. Of this increase, 68.65 per cent of vessels End 76.6 per cent of tons is due to vessels under the British flag; 11 per cent of vessels and 8 per cent of tons to vessels under the French flag; 6.18 per cent of vessels and 5.82 per cent of tons to vessels pader the Chinese flag; 6 per cent of vessels and 4 per cent of tons to vessels under the German flag; the remaining increase is distributed in small proportions over the vessels of other nations.

1. Although the numbers of vessels have largely increased, the grand total of increase in tonnage Is but slightly more than the total increase of tonnage in foreign bottoms only. This is caused by the reduced sizes of the Junks which now frequent the Colony.

1. The tonnage in vessels under the United States flag, although showing a decrease on what it as in 1874, is not really so in fact. Before light dues were collected, the gross tonnage of the Pacific Mail Company's ships were included in the returns, but since April last these ships have the measure- ents of Engine room spaces, &c., deducted, bringing them on the same footing as vessels of other bations with regard to their light dues, and this reduced tonnage is inserted in the present returns.

1. The only sensible decrease is in vessels under the Peruvian and Siamese flags, there having been 15 fower vessels in the former instance, and 19 fewer vessels in the latter instance arrived in 1875 than entered the Colony in 1874.