GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL.
3
and into Hongkong, and jointly to both, so as to show the share of Hongkong in Chinese commerce during the period of ten years:—
Years.
Imports of British Produce into China.
Imports of British Produce into Hongkong.
Total into China and
Hongkong.
1864
£3,093,865
£1,618,867
£4,711,478
1865
3,603,595
1,548,698
5,152,293
1866
5,090,074
2,387,017
7,477,091
1867
4,996,469
2,471,809
7,468,278
1868
6,312,175
2,185,972
8,498,147
1869
6,842,840
2,130,837
8,973,677
1870
6,139,633
3,407,930
9,547,563
1871
6,628,236
2,787,714
9,415,950
1872
6,624,511
2,872,673
9,497,184
1873
4,882,701
3,411,968
8,294,669
It will be seen that the British trade with Hongkong underwent great fluctuations in the ten years from 1864 to 1873, but which corresponded throughout with the general Chinese commerce, differing only in so far as showing but a slight increase in the value of the British imports coming direct to China during this period, and about a doubling in those arriving by way of Hongkong.
(From the China Pilot.)
Hongkong Island.-About 9 miles long, N.W. by W. and S.E. by E., 2 to 5 miles broad, and with an area of about 29 square miles, lies between Lamma Island and the main, from which it is separated by a narrow channel a quarter of a mile wide, named Ly-ee-moon Pass. The appearance of the island is somewhat picturesque, but on the whole it is generally barren and unprepossessing. It consists for the most part of rocky ranges, on the highest summit of which, Victoria Peak, 1,825 feet above the sea level, at the north-west part of the island, is a signal station, which communicates with the town of Victoria on the north and the ocean on the south. The island was first ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Canton, in January, 1841, and again by the treaty of Nanking in August, 1842. The British settlement of Victoria is on its north side, nearly abreast of Kowloon Point, the extreme of the peniusula of the mainland which forms the west side of Kowloon Bay, and which was ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of 1860. Water abounds everywhere, and is supplied to shipping by tanks.
The shores of Hongkong are indented by numerous bays, of which the most considerable are on its south-east shore. There is good anchorage throughout the entire channel between the island and the main, except in the Ly-ee-moon Pass, where the water is deep but the best anchorage is in Hongkong Roads, in front of the Settlement, where the depth is from 5 to 9 fathoms, over good holding ground. During the Typhoon months the anchorage in the northern part of the roads is considered preferable, in consequence of the shelter afforded by Kowloon peninsula to the north- east, the point from which the wind blows hardest. The inner anchorage in Victoria Bay is in 6 and 7 fathoms water, about half a mile off shore, abreast the ordinance jetty, where a vessel will be sheltered from the eastward by Kellett's Island and the rocks off east or Matheson Point, and be out of the strength of the tide.
Docks.-There is excellent dock accommodation in Hongkong. The "Hope Dock" at Aberdeen, and the "No. 1 Dock" at Kowloon, both belonging to the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, are capable of taking vessels of over 400 feet in length, and with a draught of 24 feet. There are also several minor docks and slips, which leave nothing to be desired in the facility with which vessels can be refitted in the shortest time; possibly in this respect, being unequalled by any other port of equal extent in the world.