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the City of Victoria and Kowloon, whose junks were held up on several occasions between Bocca Tigris and Wong Lin while being towed to the depôts at Wong Lin Village in the Shun Tak District. It appeared on investigation that for years past the contractors had been in the habit of paying considerable sums to the bands of pirates and robbers who infest the reaches of the Canton River in the neighbourhood of Bocca Tigris in order to obtain immunity from molestation, and on a refusal to pay increased demands the junks were attacked. Representations were made through H.B.M.'s Consul-General at Canton to the Provincial Authorities, which resulted in protection being afforded by patrols and in the punishment of some of the marauders.
There were no other serious acts of piracy during the year affecting the trade of Hongkong, or the lives and property of residents in the Colony, and this immunity must be attributed to the successful steps taken by the Provincial Government and in some measure to the successful working of the Piracy Prevention Ordinance referred to in the report of last year under the head of Legislation.
2. Even greater damage than in the previous year was caused by floods in the West River during the month of July. The water rose to a height unknown for seventy years, and the City of Canton itself was submerged to a depth of several feet.
The Government again contributed a sum of $50,000 to the Relief Fund, which was at once organized, while the large sum of $551,238 was raised by public subscription including subscriptions from Chinese abroad. The credit for this fine result is due to the generosity of all sections of the community and to the commendable and efficient exertions of the Tung Wah Hospital.
The Committee appointed to administer the fund worked with great energy in affording immediate relief to the starving population, and measures are under consideration for carrying into effect engineering works which it is hoped will lessen the disastrous results of these periodical inundations.
3. The various relief funds in connection with the war were well supported during the year. It was decided to close the Prince of Wales' Fund on the 31st December, on which date the total sum raised in the Colony and its vicinity was £31,447. 4s. 3d.
A committee representative of all sections of the community was constituted, with the title of the War Charities Fund Committee, to receive subscriptions from the public to War Charities in general and to support such charities as may be considered desirable from time to time, any subscriptions specially earmarked for a particular charity being applied as desired.
4. During the year good progress was made with the winding up of enemy firms in the Colony. Dulness of trade and difficulties in bringing forward cargo from enemy steamers which had sought refuge on the outbreak of war in neutral ports imposed inevitable delays.
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the City of Victoria and Kowloon, whose junks were held up on several occasions between Bocca Tigris and Wong Lin while being towed to the depôts at Wong Lin Village in the Shun Tak District. It appeared on investigation that for years past the contractors had been in the habit of paying considerable sums to the bands of pirates and robbers who infest the reaches of the Canton River in the neighbourhood of Bocca Tigris in order to obtain immunity from molestation, and on a refusal to pay increased demands the junks were attacked. Representations were made through H.B.M.'s Consul-General at Canton to the Provincial Author- ities, which resulted in protection being afforded by patrols and in the punishment of some of the marauders.
There were no other serious acts of piracy during the year affect- ing the trade of Hongkong, or the lives and property of residents in the Colony, and this immunity must be attributed to the successful steps taken by the Provincial Government and in some measure to the successful working of the Piracy Prevention Ordinance referred to in the report of last year under the head of Legislation.
2. Even greater damage than in the previous year was caused by floods in the West River during the month of July. The water rose to a height unknown for seventy years, and the City of Canton itself was submerged to a depth of several feet.
The Government again contributed a sum of $50,000 to the Relief Fund, which was at once organized, while the large sum of $551,238 was raised by public subscription including subscriptions from Chinese abroad. The credit for this fine result is due to the generosity of all sections of the community and to the commendable. and efficient exertions of the Tung Wah Hospital.
The Committee appointed to administer the fund worked with great energy in affording immediate relief to the starving population, and measures are under consideration for carrying into effect engi- neering works which it is hoped will lessen the disastrous results of these periodical inundations.
3. The various relief funds in connection with the war were well supported during the year. It was decided to close the Prince of Wales' Fund on the 31st December, on which date the total sum raised in the Colony and its vicinity was £31,447. 4s. 3d.
A committee representative of all sections of the community was constituted, with the title of the War Charities Fund Com- mittee, to receive subscriptions from the public to War Charities in general and to support such charities as may be considered desirable from time to time, any subscriptions specially earmarked for a particular charity being applied as desired.
4. During the year good progress was made with the winding up of enemy firms in the Colony. Dulness of trade and difficulties in bringing forward cargo from enemy steamers which had sought refuge on the outbreak of war in neutral ports imposed inevitable delays.
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