CO882-(1-2) — Page 383

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

1844.

1854.

Paid by

Great Britain.

Paid by Colony.

Paid by Great Britain.

Paid by Colony.

Civil Establishment

£ 2,849 13 4

&

d.

£

#.

Contingent Expenditure

5

FE d d. 997 18 10 8,813 8 2

1,756 17

J.

£

d.

4,316 5 10

752 0 2

Customs alaries and con-

tingent expenditure

Judicial Establishment

410 0 0

1,300 0

1,562 15

0

Contingent Expenditure

90

163 16 11

0 0 1,800 0

0 N

250 0 0

Ecclesiastical Establishment

1,148 14 0!

200

0 0

1,389 0

264 1 11

0

1

Contingent Expenditure..

53 14 6

49 8 0

Miscellaneous Expenditure

6,181 7 5

4,482 1 5

Pensiona

72 1 3

£4,559 13

411,904 4 10 4,813 8 211,574 18 7

1844.

1854.

£ 4. d.

Paid by Great Britain

Paid by Colony

..

4 4,559 13

11,904 4 10

Paid by Great Britain

Paid by Colony..

£ s. d 4,813 8 2

11,574 18 7

Total

..

£16,403 18

2

Tots!

£16,388 € 9

REVENUE FOR THE YEARS 1844 AND 1854.

1844.

1854.

8.

B.

d.

Colonial Revenue Parliamentary Grant

17,260 5 7

4,040 13

4

11,837 12 0

4,049 13

4

Total

£21,309 18 11

15,887 5

4

HONG KONG.

IN Hong Kong public affairs are administered by a Governor, an executive, and a legisla tive council, which last is composed of official people and of merchants. When Hong Kong was acquired from the Chinese, Great Britain necessarily had to support it. At first it cost us £49,000 a year, exclusive of the military charge; but by the application of a just and rigorous economy, aided by the gradual advance in com- mercial prosperity, the Parliamentary grant for the maintenance of ita civil establishment is no longer required.

The revenue of the island in 1854 was £27,045, the civil expenditure £34,635, the dif- ference being made up by a Parliamentary grant.

In 1854 the revenue was in excess of 1853 by £2,344, whilst the expenditure was £1,713 less. The military expenditure in 1854 was £41,540, and £8,805 less than that of the previous year. In the Chinese population a remarkable increase has taken place. In 1853 it consisted of 37,536, in 1854, 54,072. This is principally in Victoria, and is attributable to the troubles at Canton and its neighbourhood inducing emigrants to resort to the British settlement for safety. They have, however, not been useless people; many are tradesmen who have brought business with them and increase of trade.

I append a return, showing the progress of Hong Kong from 1848 to 1853, inclusive.

G

26

HONG KONG.

Years.

Population exclusive of Troops.

Revenue.

Parlia- mentary Grant.

Police Rates

Square-

Expen- included diture.

rigged Vessels arrived.

under

Revenue. No.

Tons.

£

£

£

£ 1848 21,514 25,091 25,000 62,658 2,575 1849

23,617 29,507

25,000 88,296 8,116 1850 38,292 28,526 20,000 34,811 2,811 1851 32,983 23,721 15,500 34,115 1852

37,058 21,831 12,000 84,765 1853 39,917 24,700 9,200 36,418

700

228,818

902 888

293,465

299,009

2,958 1,082

377,084

2,325 1,097

443,888

2,704 1,102

447,058

Victoria, Hong Kong,

(Signed)

J. G. BONHAM.

T

7th April, 1854.

A. B.